Critical Evaluation in Data Science: Data, the World, and You

Learn how data analytics affects everyone with the University of Adelaide

In an increasingly data-centric world, a working understanding of data analytics and quantitative methods is essential for all members of society.

This six-week course will teach you fundamental quantitative methods for dealing with data. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to interpret and critically evaluate claims you encounter in your day-to-day life.

Through case studies, you’ll explore the foundational concepts in data science and statistical thinking. You’ll also discover machine learning and data science methods, and understand both the possibilities and pitfalls of these emerging sciences.

Learn how to identify misleading statistics

When presented with claims in the media that are accompanied by statistics, diagrams, and outputs from technologies like AI and machine learning, how can we learn to not be fooled by these claims?

This course will help you understand misleading statistics and learn how to challenge them when they are presented to you.

Delve into sample, variability, and study design

Next, you’ll explore the different components of research including research questions, sampling, and variability.

Using case studies, you’ll explore how sampling can go wrong as you learn the best practices. You’ll then move on to study design to understand the types of studies you may encounter.

Unpack the rules for analysing data

On the final weeks of the course, you’ll explore how bias can infiltrate surveys. You’ll also discover basic rules for analysing data to ensure a fair result is achieved.

Armed with this knowledge, you’ll have the confidence to accurately read and interpret the data you are presented with in everyday life.

This course is designed for anyone interested in critically interpreting data and developing their data literacy skills.

It will be particularly useful for those who interact with data in their current role.

This course is designed for anyone interested in critically interpreting data and developing their data literacy skills.

It will be particularly useful for those who interact with data in their current role.

• Explain how data is created and collected in surveys.
• Explain common ways errors can be introduced into surveys and data collection practices.
• Identify some common ways statistics can be used to mislead people.
• Describe some common problems that can arise in research studies that impact research accuracy.