Study Unit

Outcomes

Assessment Criteria

MODULE 1 (US 246515)

ANALYSE PUBLISHING RESEARCH DATA

At the end of the learning cycle the learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Selecting and using appropriate analysis tools.
• Finding relationships between data parts.
• Recording final analysis for accessibility by decision-makers.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Identify the purpose of analysis within given specifications.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Select analysis tools for their relevance to specific projects or the organisational requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Brake down given data into logical parts or facts by applying selected analysis tools.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Compare data parts based on the purpose of analysis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Identify differences between data parts are based on the purpose of analysis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Find correlations and conjunctions between data parts are based on the purpose of analysis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Identify trends in the data based on the purpose of analysis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Contextualise findings are within the purpose of analysis and organisational requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Complete he analysis is within the agreed time frames and budgets.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

State and record defensible assumptions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Formulate conclusions are in accessible formats.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Make recommendations relevant to organisational requirements are made.

MODULE 2 (US 262539)

UTILISE ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO COLLECT DATA

At the end of the learning cycle the learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Data collection methods.
• Basic principles of data collection.
• Surveys
• Questionnaires.
• Simple survey objectives

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Describe different data collection methods to compare their advantages and disadvantages.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Evaluate a specific data collection method used in a survey in view of the survey objectives and resource constraint.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Select a data collection method for a survey in view of the survey objectives and resource constraint.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Explain the difference between primary and secondary data sources to distinguish methods of data collection in each case.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Explain the term survey to distinguish it from other data collecting activities such as census and experiment.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Identify a given data collecting activity as a census, a survey, an experiment or an administrative data collection

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Describe the various stages of primary data collection to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches used at each stage.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Describe the key functions of an enumerator to reflect the qualities of a good enumerator.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Describe the key functions of a supervisor to reflect the qualities of a good field supervisor.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Define the basic terms associated with surveys to prepare for survey planning activities.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Identify and define basic terms not limited to population, sample, sampling units and sampling frame.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Describe the main stages in planning a survey in order to reflect a comprehensive survey process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Explain the importance of sensitivity to social profile in planning a survey to reflect the way it affects data collection.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Construct a few survey questions in order to obtain information relevant to the survey objectives.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Examine survey questions critically to assess their relevance to the survey objectives.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Modify survey questions in order to improve the chance of obtaining reliable responses.

MODULE 3 (US 262538)

USE STATISTICAL METHODS TO ANALYSE DATA

At the end of the learning cycle, the learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Use graphical methods to explore and present data.
• Calculate and interpret sample statistics.
• Fit and interpret linear regression models.
• Perform chi-square tests.
• Perform non-parametric tests.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Produce graphical and tabular representations to explore data in view of the purpose of the investigation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Interpret graphical and tabular representations in order to draw preliminary conclusions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Utilise graphical and tabular representations are to detect outliers in the data.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Use graphical and tabular representations are to present results.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Calculate different and appropriate numerical summary statistics to explore the behaviour of the data.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Interpret the calculated values of summary statistics in terms of the survey objectives.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Select a numerical summary statistic in order to make comparison between data.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Explain the limitations of the summary statistics in order to assist their interpretation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Calculate Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient to examine the strength of relationship between variables.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Construct a scatter plot using a computer software to explore the relationship between variables.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Interpret a scatter plot in order to decide whether a linear relationship exists between variables.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Calculate least squares estimates using computer software in order to fit a regression line.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Perform residual analysis to determine validity of the normality assumption.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

State appropriate null and alternative hypotheses for a given problem.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Organize data into a contingency table to prepare for a chi-square test.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Perform a chi-square test in using computer software to test for independence or homogeneity.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Interpret a p-value from the test in order to draw conclusions about the study problem.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

State assumptions of the chi-square test in order to evaluate the validity of the test.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Select and perform appropriate non-parametric test for testing a hypothesis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Discuss the limitations of the specific non-parametric test in order to assess the validity of the test.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

State the assumptions of a non-parametric test so as to make correct use of the test.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Compare non-parametric tests to facilitate choice of an appropriate test for use in a given context.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Calculate Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to examine the strength of relationship between variables.