This course introduces students to the philosophy and methods of modern statistical data analysis and inference, with a particular focus on applications to the life sciences. The course has a strong emphasis on computing and graphical methods, and uses a variety of real-world problems to motivate the theory and methods required for carrying out statistical data analysis. This course makes extensive use of R statistical analysis package interfaced through R Studio.       

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Summarise and graph data appropriately;
2. Work with random variables and probability distributions and describe the rationale behind them;
3. Describe and use the normal distribution appropriately;
4. Identify when and how to carry out basic statistical inference including confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression and analysis of variance; and,
5. Identify contexts in which particular statistical methods may be inappropriate.

Research-Led Teaching

This course aims to provide you with a foundation in statistical thinking and evidence-based logic, two elements that are integral to any academic program and life in the work force beyond your university degree. Almost all areas of research require both elements. Any research that involves data also involves statistical computing. We do so with the software package R (https://www.r-project.org) at an elementary level. I will also introduce examples, whenever applicable, from my current research areas in class to further illustrate concepts and the use of statistics.

Examination Material or equipment

There is no mid-semester exam following an ANU-wide policy. The final exam will be centrally timetabled by Examinations, Graduations & Prizes prior to the examination period and will be held in person. You will require a scientific calculator for the final exam.

Required Resources

Course text (free e-book): OpenIntro Statistics, 3rd Edition by David M Diez, Christopher D Barr, Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel (https://www.openintro.org/stat/ )

Recommended Resources

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• in lectures where general comments are given to the whole class;
• in tutorials through interactions with tutors and discussions with other students;
• through assessments where students' work will be marked and solutions will be given;
• through consulting teaching staff during their consultation time.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to data	No tutorials in Week 1
2	Probability	Tutorials begin
3	Discrete random variables	Release of Quiz 1
4	Continuous random variables	Quiz 1 due
5	Sampling distribution
6	Point and interval estimators and introduction to hypothesis testing
7	Hypothesis testing and introduction to comparing two populations
8	Comparing two and more populations
9	Chi-square tests	Release of Assignment
10	Simple linear regression
11	Multiple linear regression	Assignment due
12	Multiple linear regression (continued)

Tutorial Registration

Tutorials will be held weekly (starting from week 2). All tutorials will be held on campus. Students should enrol in a tutorial using MyTimetable.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Quiz 1	5 %	12/03/2025	14/03/2025	1,2
Tutorial Participation	10 %	22/05/2025	23/05/2025	1,2,3,4,5
Assignment	20 %	05/05/2025	16/05/2025	1,2,3,4,5
Final exam	65 %	29/05/2025	26/06/2025	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Course content delivery will take the form of lectures and weekly tutorials, all delivered in person on campus. Lectures will be recorded on Echo 360 but tutorials will not be recorded. In-person participation in both lectures and tutorials will give you the best learning opportunities. Attendance at lectures and tutorials, while not enforced, is expected in line with “Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning”, paragraph 2(b). Consultations with the lecturer will be available both in-person and on Zoom. If possible, please email first to avoid clashes between in-person and zoom discussons, but if you don't get a chance you're still welcome to attend with prior notification. Tutorial consultation sessions will not be offered, as there will be sufficient time in tutorials to ask tutors question. However, if you need tutor consultation and find that the tutor does not have time to assist you, please contact the lecturer to discuss your needs.

Examination(s)

Centrally scheduled examinations through Examinations, Graduations & Prizes will be timetabled prior to the examination period. Please check ANU Timetabling for further information.

Assessment Task 1

Quiz 1

Quiz 1 will operate as a Wattle Quiz. The quiz window will open in Week 3. You will need to use the tools you learned in Weeks 1 and 2 to analyse a dataset and use R to do some simple calculations and plotting. The marked quiz will be returned to students by the end of Week 4. The quiz is not redeemable.

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Participation

You will be marked out of 10 for tutorial participation, with 1 mark allocated for each of the 11 weeks with tutorials (up to a maximum of 10 marks). Participation will consist of loading R and attempting R-based tutorial questions, in-person in the tutorial venue. This assessment is redeemable against the final exam. Tutorial attendance and participation are not compulsory. If you are unable to attend one or more tutorials due to extenuating circumstances, you should email the lecturer, attaching supporting documentation such as a medical certificate.

Assessment Task 3

Assignment

The assignment will be released by the end of Week 7 and will be due on the Monday of Week 10. Students will be asked to source a data set of their choice, and will be required to conduct exploratory data analysis and run statistical hypothesis test(s) to answer the research question(s) of their choice based on their chosen data set. The assignment is to be done individually. The assignment is to be submitted online on Wattle via Turnitin. Turnitin is a text-matching software to check for plagiarism. Although verbal discussions with others (fellow students, tutors, lecturer) are encouraged, the contents of your assignment must be produced by you as an individual and must comply with academic integrity policies given at

http://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/academic-integrity and https://www.cbe.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies/examinations-assessment/. The

assignment will be returned to students by the end of the semester. The assignment is not redeemable.

Assessment Task 4

Final exam

The final exam will be a two-hour closed book exam held in-person. Students will be able to take a scientific calculator and a double-sided A4 page of notes into the exam, but no other materials (including dictionaries). The lecturer will be present during the exam in case of questions and students are still able to apply (in advance) for permission to use a dictionary via the Associate Dean (Education) if they have a valid reason. The exam will be centrally timetabled and details of the final examination timetable will be made available on the ANU Timetabling website. The onus is upon students to acquire their own scheduling details. Further information on exam format and conditions will also be provided on Wattle no later than week 10. The final exam is not redeemable.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin. As a further academic integrity control, students may be selected for a 15 minute individual oral examination of their written assessment submissions. Any student identified, either during the current semester or in retrospect, as having used ghost writing services will be investigated under the University’s Academic Integrity Rule.

Hardcopy Submission

There is no hardcopy submission in the course.

Late Submission

No submission of any assessment tasks is permitted. If an assessment task is submitted after the due date, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Marked assignments will be returned online.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments after the due date is not allowed.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students