Data Analysis Methods
Code: 106220 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2504235 Science, Technology and Humanities | OB | 2 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Xavier Roque Rodriguez
- Email:
- xavier.roque@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
External teachers
- Ana Arribas Gil
Prerequisites
There are none.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This course deals with basic ideas on Probability and Statistics, with the objetive of providing the necessary tools and concepts that allow analysing and managing quantitative information.
Competences
- Analyse questions related to science and technology in society, using basic, essential forms of mathematical and statistical reasoning.
- Innovate in the methods and processes of this area of knowledge in response to the needs and wishes of society.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse data rigorously to draw conclusions from them.
- Apply the main statistical distributions, the concept of regression to the mean and the basic notions of statistical inference to specific problems.
- Collect and interpret data to substantiate the conclusions drawn, including, where necessary, a reflection on social, scientific or ethical matters.
- Explain some findings from the forefront of science in terms that are accessible to students without in-depth knowledge of the subject matter.
- Explain the basic mathematical concepts and gain familiarity with mathematical reasoning.
- Formulate and apply programming models and languages to basic problem solving in statistics and probability.
- Make competent use of software for analysing, synthesising and transmitting quantitative information, especially through graphs and computer graphics.
- Make estimates of order of magnitude and avoid common fallacies and errors in the use of numerical information and in the interpretation of scientific results (diagnostic tests, clinical trials, etc.).
- Summarise the fundamentals of data management and analysis technologies, and tools for representing information.
Content
Introduction: data, information, knowledge
Where to find information: resources, research techniques, reliability
Numeric alphabetisation: percentages, magnitude orders, linearity and non linearity
Graphical information representation techniques and scientific visualization
Spreadsheets as tools for basic data management and representation
Correlation and causality. From data to theory
Discrete correlation: the classification problem. Sensibility and specificity. Bayes theorem
Signal and noise: random phenomena. Binomial, normal and Poisson distributions
Continuous correlation: regression to the mean
Introduction to inferential statistics: surveys and clinical trials
Fundamentals of programming for data analysis
Methodology
Theory: Theory classes with materials available on the web.
Practices: Problem classes. Computing classes using statistical software.
Group tutorials for resolution of problems, doubts etc.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lectures | 33 | 1.32 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 6, 3, 9, 7 |
| Practical lectures | 16 | 0.64 | 1, 8, 3, 7 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Essay supervision | 4.25 | 0.17 | 1, 2, 7 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study and essay writing | 94.75 | 3.79 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 6, 3, 9, 7 |
Assessment
Continuous evaluation
Two written tests counting 40% of the final grade.
Group project counting 10% of the final grade.
Final exam
End of course exam counting 50% of the final grade.
In the extraordinary exam, the student will sit a new written exam and will receive a grade equal to the maximum of the exam grade or a weighted average of the exam (50%) and coursework (50%) in the same way as the usual convocation.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 5, 8, 3, 7 |
| Essay 2 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 5, 8, 3, 7 |
| Final exam | 50% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 6, 9 |
| Group final essay | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 5, 8, 6, 3, 7 |
Bibliography
Basic references
C. Criado Pérez. La mujer invisible. Descubre cómo los datos configuran un mundo hecho por y para los hombres. Barcelona: Seix Barral, 2020.
D. Huff. Cómo mentir con estadísticas. Barcelona: Crítica, 2015.
D. Peña y J. Romo. Introducción a la Estadística para las Ciencias Sociales. Madrid: Mc Graw Hill Interamericana, 1997.
I. Portilla. Estadística descriptiva para comunicadore. Pamplona: Editorial EUNSA, 2004.
Additional references
D. Rowntree. Statistics Without Tears. London: Penguin Books, 2018.
G. Klass. Just Plain Data Analysis. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2012 (2nd. ed.).
Software
No specific software is required.