Objectives and competences

This course aims to train specialists with solid skills and a broad domain of scientific basis in the area of Probability and Statistics, to carry out quality research, namely with the approach of the conceptual assumptions of the scientific method applied to research and data collection, with emphasis on research areas.

• Outlines of systematic investigation in areas of interest.
• Types of research and their strategies for collecting, analyzing and interpreting results.
• Interpretation and writing of academic/scientific documents.
• Selection and use of appropriate statistical tools for scientific purposes.
• Solving statistical problems with the help of software and interpretation of results.

Teaching Methodologies

Reflection and discussion are fundamental elements of the work carried out in the discipline of MIPAD, giving particular attention to the problems of research, collection, treatment, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Its program is developed in theoretical classes and in theoretical-practical classes, with different duration and weekly frequency. The first ones are held once a week (1h) and are aimed at all students of the discipline, being essentially dedicated to the introduction or synthesis of the main aspects related to the topics under study.

Theoretical-practical classes will be weekly and with modules of 2h, where the contents will be worked by the students in different ways, such as practical work, using computer tools such as EXCEL and SPSS in the application of statistical methods and discussion about the scientific results.

During the semester, students will be asked to carry out an individual work or in small groups. Participation in the activities proposed in the discipline often includes research and analysis of support material, namely texts and other written technical documents.

Syllabus

THEORETICAL CLASSES
PART 1 - BASIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1. Identification of the subject to be investigated
2. Identification of study variables
3. Identification of the study population and sample
4. Definition of the study design - Factorial Design
5. Planning of data collection and analysis
6. Interpretation of results (and report preparation)

PART 2 - BASIC STATISTICS

1. Sampling Techniques
2. Sample Sizing
3. Nature of variables
4. Independent versus dependent observations
5. Estimation versus Hypothesis Tests: generalities

PART 3 - EXPLORATORY DATA STATISTICS

1. Introduction to SPSS - computer application
2. Exploratory data analysis - Descriptive statistics

PART 4 - PARAMETRIC STATISTICAL TESTS

1. tests for independent and paired samples
2. Analysis of variance
3. Analysis of variance - Repeated measures

PART 5 - NON-PARAMETRIC STATISTICAL TESTS

1. Tests for independent and paired samples
2. Tests for proportions

PART 6 - CORRELATION AND REGRESSION
PART 7 - FACTOR ANALYSIS
PART 8 - CLUSTER ANALYSIS