ACE1017 : Micro-Computing and Data Analysis 1 (2009)
| Semester 1 | 10 Credits |
| ECTS Credit Value | 5.0 |
Summary
The module introduces the student to the use of Word and Excel in the context of reporting the output of scientific research. Document formatting and the production and presentation of graphs and other other graphics is followed by the use of Excel to analyse data statistically for standard deviation, standard error, coefficient of variation and confidence intervals. The module ends with use of t-test and its variants. To maintain relevance to the degrees the examples used are specific to the degrees and the assignments may be different where this is appropriate. The module ends with the students analysing data from a small experiment which was recorded by them earlier in the module, and presenting their report in the form of a scientific paper.
Aims
To develop basic skills in operating computer software within a Windows environment. To introduce the application of statistical techniques to agricultural and animal data. To use the IT skills developed to present and interpret such data.
Outline Of Syllabus
1.Word Processing - text entry, formatting, styling, presentation, tables, printing
2.Spreadsheeting - data entry, use of formulae, basic functions, formatting, charts, printing
3.Data collection, summarisation in tables, figures, presentation. Errors and outsiders - avoiding problems.
4.Variation - populations, distribution of values, samples from the population, measures of variability and dispersion, variation within and between groups.
5.T-tests - the one sample and two sample tests. Paired comparisons.
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
The students will be able to both understand the relationship between the sections in a scientific report and be able to prepare a report in that format and analyse straightforward data and present it in standard ways. They will also realise the connection between how experiments are planned, recorded and the data from them analysed and reported. This will help them both with reading scientific reports and with preparing reports from their own work.
Intended Skill Outcomes
(1) That students develop a basic understanding of the computer, including keyboard and mouse skills.
(2) That students are able to manage files and folders in a Windows environment and that students develop networking skills
(3) That students are able to use the word processing package Microsoft Word to produce a variety of documents and the spreadsheet package Microsoft Excel for data entry, manipulation and presentation
(4) That students gain the basic techniques necessary to analyse biological, physical and agricultural data.
Teaching Rationale And Relationships
The module is a combination of skills acquisition and knowledge of statistical analysis of data and its relationship to the reporting of scientific data from experiemnts. As such it has a large amount of time spent on practising skills with Word and Excel. It also includes doing an experiment on barley germination to enable the students to record data from a replicated trial and then to analyse it and report the results. This is related to scientific papers on similar subjects. By using this approach the student is brought as close as possible to the whole process of doing experiments and analysing the information from them and presenting it; at each stage the necessary skills or knowledge are provided in the lecture and associated practical. The assesments which are done each week - but are not all summative - enable the student to become conversant with the whole process from plananing to output.
Reading List
- Statistical methods in agriculture and experimental biology (Essential reading)
Author: Mead, R & Curnow, R.N.
Notes: 1983, Chapman and Hall, London - Tables for Statisticians (Essential reading)
Author: White, J.A. & Skipworth, G
Notes: 1979 (3rd Edition) Thornes
Staff
| Dr Robert Stanley Shiel |
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