Assessment Task Information
Key details:
Assessment title:
Statistical Investigation
Module Name:
Statistics
Module Code:
FC301
Teacher’s Name:
Assessment will be set on:
Beginning of Cycle 3
Feedback opportunities:
Draft Submission -Statistical Investigation report
Tuesday, 13/05/2025 by 9:00 AM GMT
FC301 Statistical investigation Report ATI
Assessment is due on:
Tuesday 27th May 2025 by 9:00 am GMT
Assessment weighting:
50%
Assessment Instructions
What do you need to do for this assessment?
Task:
You are required to complete a written Statistical Investigation, which will involve researching a topic and question of
your choice. You will introduce the topic by providing a historical or theoretical background and you will explain how the
research question will be answered. You will collect data by either primary or secondary methods, or both, and
descriptively analyse the data by use of calculations and graphs. You will complete a written analysis of the data, which
will inform your conclusion. Any sources used will be referenced and examples of raw data will be included in an
Appendices section.
Your tutor will provide ideas for research topics if required and support with feedback during the weeks leading up
to the deadline. You must submit the Statistical Investigation on the VLE and via Turnitin by Tuesday 27 th May
2025 at 9:00 am GMT.
Guidance:
For this assessment, you should make use of the following formative activities that you have already completed. These
activities have been designed to support this summative assessment:
- Theme 1: MMMR
- Theme 2: Visual Methods
- Theme 3: Excel
- Theme 5: Practicalities
- Theme 6: Correlation & Regression
Please note:
This is an individual assessment so you should not work with any other student. Also, you should only use the concepts
that you have learned in the module.
For Microsoft Excel, no external concepts should be used such as ANOVA, t-TEST, f-TEST, multiple regression model
etc.
Before you submit this assessment, you will have an opportunity to receive feedback from your Tutors
You need to upload the draft copy of your investigation by 13 th May 2025 at 9:00 AM GMT;
You can act on their feedback and can enhance your final submission.Structure:
The Statistical Investigation will be typed as a Word document, with sections and subheadings. Any graphs created
using software such as Excel will be inserted into the Word document.
Your report should be divided into the following sections.
- Title page
When you submit a copy of your Report to Turnitin, you must include a title page with the following information:
- Module Code (FC301)
- Class/Group (e.g., GJan1, GJan2, GJan3)
- Module Title (Statistics)
- Assessment Type (Statistical Investigation )
- Module Tutor Name
- Student ID Number
- Date of Submission (Tuesday 27th May 2025)
- Introduction
The introduction of your report should identify the purpose of your research.
It covers background information, sets the context for your research, and explains to the reader why you
undertook this project, including the questions you hoped to answer.
Add all 3-research questions in this part only.
Also, add the data set on which you are going to work at least 20 data values for each variable.
- Methodology
From the data selected, you must highlight any:
possible measurement errors
- outliers
concepts that you will be using
- formulas you will be using
You must describe their effect on your conclusions.
You should select and justify what statistical methods you will use to identify any statistical links between the
variables in the data and to link this with the questions you wish to answer.
- Calculations and Graphs
You must include:
- A full numerical summary of the data, which includes the 12-number summary, measures of central tendency,
measures of variation, and skew and shape of the data.
Measure
Value
Minimum
Lowest value
First Quartile (𝑄
1
)
25th percentile
Median(𝑄
2
)
50th percentile (also known as the median)
Third Quartile (𝑄
3
)
75th percentile
Maximum
Highest value
Mean
Average
Mode
Most frequent value
Range
Difference between maximum and minimum
Interquartile Range (IQR)
Range of values within Q1 and Q3
Variance
Measure of data dispersion around the mean
Standard Deviation
Average distance of data points from the mean
Skewness
Measure of asymmetry in the data distribution
- Appropriate graphical representations (e.g., histograms, box plots, bar graphs, line graph ).
The graphs should be presented and labelled appropriately. At least 2 different graphs should be shown.
- A critique and explanation of your results including the possible presence of outliers.
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- Analysis of data
- a) Correlation and Regression Analysis
You must include:
- scatter plots
- best-fit regression line
- full calculation of correlation coefficient and regression line equation.
A critique and explanation of the correlation and regression coefficient, including the possible effects of any
outliers.
Also comment on the validity of the regression model, using the scatterplot, regression line, coefficient of
determination, and correlation coefficient.
- b) Time Series Analysis
You must include:
- time series graph
- line of best-fit
- full calculation of moving average or central moving average whichever is applicable.
A critique and explanation of the pattern of time series, including the possible effects of any important fact.
Also, you can try to predict any future value using the line of best fit.
Note: Correlation and Regression Analysis is compulsory part of your report, if your data follows time then you
can also add Time Series Analysis.
- Conclusion
You should summaries all the 3 research questions and any findings in the form of supported
recommendations.
- References
At least 4 references are required for your report.
- Appendices
You should add screenshots of your Excel work (calculations and graphs).
Theory and/or task resources required for the assessment:
You may use your textbook, notes, PowerPoints, etc. You will use a variety of academic sources from which you will
collect data. Your work and ideas must be your own and/or correctly referenced.
- You will have to demonstrate skills in finding the measures of location and spread and creating charts. You will
also need to compare scores on different datasets.
- You will have to demonstrate skills in creating scatter graphs, finding correlation and regression coefficients and
interpreting these results.
- You will have to demonstrate skills in the use of Microsoft Excel for data analysis.
You will have to make a reasoned written recommendation based on your analysis of the data.
Referencing style:
You should refer to a minimum of 4 relevant sources for your report. You must include a Harvard-style reference list at
the end of your report.
Expected word count:
You must include all of the recommended sections but there is no set word count. Ideally, your report should have a
minimum of 2000 words (±10% )
Learning Outcomes Assessed:
- Use descriptive statistical methods to analyse data using a relevant software package (Microsoft
Excel) and interpret the outcomes in relation to context
- Accurately present data in visual form (tables, graphs and charts), using appropriate software
(Microsoft Excel)
- Understand and apply statistical theory to gather, process and present data accurately using a range
of techniques appropriate to their field of study
Critically assess descriptive, predictive, and visual statistics from a range of sources with reference to statistical theory
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Submission Requirements:
You must include the following paragraph on your title page:
I confirm that this assignment is my own work.
Where I have referred to academic sources, I have provided in-text citations and included the sources in
the final reference list.
How to avoid academic misconduct
You should follow academic conventions and regulations when completing your assessed work. If there is evidence that
you have done any of the following, whether intentionally or not, you risk getting a zero mark:
Plagiarism & poor scholarship
- stealing ideas or work from another person (experts or students)
using quotations from sources without paraphrasing and using citations
Collusion
- working together with someone else on an individual assessment, e.g., your work is corrected, rephrased or
added to by another (both parties would be guilty)
Buying or commissioning work
- submitting work as your own that someone else produced (whether you paid for it or not)
Cheating
copying the work of another student
using resources or aids that are not permitted for the assessment.
Fabrication
- submitting work, e.g., laboratory work, which is partly or completely made up. This includes claiming that
work was done by yourself alone when it was actually done by a group.
Personation
claiming to be another student and taking an assessment instead of them (both parties guilty)
Specific formatting instructions:
You must type your assessment as a single Word document in Arial font 11, with single spacing.
You must submit the assessment electronically via the VLE module page. Please ensure you submit it via Turnitin by
Tuesday 27 th May 2025 at 9:00 am GMT
Assessments submitted after the submission deadline may incur penalties or may not be accepted.
Addition submission information – check you have done the following:
Formatting
Consistent font, spacing, page numbers, formatting and subheadings
Citations
Correct format and location throughout the report
Referencing
Harvard referencing system used correctly in the reference list
Summarising
Summarising the results of research
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing the contents of research findings
Spell check
Spell check the report
Proof-reading
Proof-reading completed
Grammar
Grammarly has been used to check the report| Kaplan International Pathways
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How will this assessment be marked?
The assessment will be marked using the following areas and weightings:
Use of Research methodology
20%
Presentation of data in visual form
20%
Use of Mathematical techniques
20%
Critical interpretation of results
20%
Presentation of written data
15%
Academic Integrity
5%
You will receive a % mark in each of these categories. The overall mark will be a percentage (0-100%).
Note: Marks are awarded/deducted per section. This is a formal report.
How will you get feedback?
Your tutor will mark the assessment and provide you with a written feedback sheet. You can use this feedback to guide
your further learning on the module.