EDUC9762 Introduction to Statistics

This topic is designed for students who wish to understand basic educational statistics. Concepts covered include: graphs, charts, frequency distributions, central tendencies, dispersion, correlation, sampling errors, estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression methods. A central goal of the topic is to enable students to critically evaluate contemporary educational research that uses basic statistical methods. The topic will examine a range of policies, practices, and findings where statistical techniques and assumptions have been misused, especially in areas such as racial and ethnic stereotyping, gender attributions, and social learning outcomes.

This topic aims to:

• Introduce students to considerations necessary for the proper choice of statistical techniques in a given situation and appropriate interpretation of results
• Develop an understanding of how philosophical, political, cultural and social understandings inform and influence the use of statistics in education
• Enable students to participate in basic statistical discussions involving educational issues
• Introduce students to basic statistical procedures and analyses in educational research

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how epistemological understandings and social contexts inform and influence the use of statistics in education
2. Make use of basic statistical analyses in educational research
3. Appraise basic statistical discussions in the public and professional literature
4. Select and justify the use of appropriate statistical techniques for educational problems