Statistics
Overview
We use a variety of teaching methods including problem solving in pairs and groups, practical work, teacher presentations, student presentations, modelling and solving real world problems.
Course Outline
AS Level
Unit 1: Statistics 1 – students work with real data sets extending the work they have covered in GCSE Maths, such as the calculation of the numerical measures mean, median and mode, and the practical applications of correlation and regression. Elementary probability theory is also studied, and the Binomial and Normal distributions are introduced.
Unit 2: Statistics 2 – different methods of sampling are studied. The work on correlation and regression is extended to look at how it is applied in the world of Business (Time Series Analysis). The Poisson distribution and basic hypothesis testing are also introduced.
Unit 3: Statistics 3 – this unit covers topics which appear in such subjects as Biology, Psychology, Geography and Medicine, and includes Chi-squared Contingency Tables, Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient, and the Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
A2 Level
Unit 4: Statistics 4 – this unit extends the work on the Binomial, Poisson and Normal distributions covered at AS Level, and introduces further hypothesis tests for single samples.
Unit 5: Statistics 5 – the Rectangular and Exponential
distributions are introduced, together with further hypothesis testing.
Unit 6: Statistics 6 – this unit has a bias towards the industrial and manufacturing application of statistics, and covers Experimental Design, Analysis of Variance (including Latin Squares), Statistical Process Control and Acceptance Sampling.
Assessment
No Coursework
Examination (100%)
Examining Board – AQA.
Special Entry Requirements
Grade B or above in GCSE Mathematics higher level.
Prohibited Options
Mathematics and Use of Mathematics.
Career and Progression Opportunities
There is a countrywide shortage of people with strong statistical skills, for example Medical Statisticians, so career prospects are enhanced by taking this course. A number of degree programmes contain significant amounts of statistics. These include Psychology, Business Studies, Management Science, Medicine, Geography, I.T., Government and Politics, Pharmacy and others.
Other Information
This course is excellent preparation for the statistical content of higher education courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology, Geography, Biology and financial options, amongst others. It would suit those students who enjoy applying their numerate skills without the need to employ algebraic techniques. Students will need to purchase a Casio graphical calculator from College.
This information is correct for September 2012 entry.