Module Identifier GG21710  
Module Title ANALYSIS + PRESENTATION OF QUANTITATIVE DATA  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Bryn P Hubbard  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Mr Jonathan N Turner  
Pre-Requisite  
Course delivery Lecture   10 x 1 hr  
  Practical   Practicals / Field Days. 10 x 4 hrs  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Course Work: Continuous assessment based on the production of one workbook covering all 10 practical classes.  100%
Supplementary Assessment Continuous assessment  100%

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module students will be proficient in computer-based data handling, manipulation, and presentation, and in the use of a variety of computer software packages, including GIS and the world wide web.

Aims

To provide sound training in the computer-based generation, manipulation and presentation of quantitative data in geography and earth science. Many aspects of the course will be directly relevant to the undergraduate dissertation performed at Level 3.

Content

The module will be presented in 10 sessions, each comprising an introductory lecture of 1 hour following by a surgery class for 1 hour. Each session will be accompanied by a computer-based practical that students will be required to complete in their own time. We strongly recommend students complete their practical work in the week following the relevant lecture - allowing full use of the following week's surgery session and leaving time at the end of the semester to fine tune the completed workbook.

Familiarisation with the data handling, processing and presentation techniques involved will be achieved using data sets provided from a range of geographical and earth science settings. The course will cover discrete, but progressive, themes:

I. Data acquisition and description
sampling strategies; types of data; data storage; data description; data reduction and creating tables

II. Sample comparison
t-test and chi; analysis of variance

III. Plotting data
creating graphs; transforming data; interpreting graphs

IV. Correlation and regression
linear

V. Correlation and regression
non-linear and multiple

VI. Advanced graphic techniques
time series; histograms, multiple plots

VII. Plotting surface graphs and contours

VIII. Geographical Information Systems

IX. Geographical Information Systems

X. Presentation software

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Diamond, I. and Jefferies, J. (2001) Beginning statistics Sage
** Recommended Background
Ebdon, D. (1987) Statistics in Geography Blackwell
Johnson, R.J. (1980) Multivariate Statistical Analysis in Geography Longman
Kranzler, G. and Moursund, J. (1998) Statistics for the Terrified Prentice Hall
Shaw, G. and Wheeler, D. (1984) Statistical Techniques in Geographical Analysis David Fulton, London

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5