This course is intended to provide a introduction to practical statistics and data analysis using the R software environment. It will be led by the Bioinformatics Training Facility and is exclusively for Wolfson postgraduates.

The underlying philosophy of the course is to treat statistics as a practical skill rather than a theoretical subject, and as such the course focuses on methods for addressing real-life statistical problems (primarily using examples from the life sciences but the skills learned are applicable to all disciplines).

There are three core goals for this course:

Use R confidently for basic statistics and data analysis
Be able to analyse datasets using standard statistical techniques
Know which tests are and are not appropriate

In this course we explore frequently used statistical analysis techniques used with single categorical and continuous predictors. The focus of the course is on practical implementation of these techniques and developing robust statistical analysis skills rather than on the underlying statistical theory (so no maths!)

After the course you should feel confident to be able to select and implement common statistical techniques using R, and moreover know when, and when not, to apply these techniques.

Delivery and Timetable

All sessions (unless otherwise advised) are to be held as online sessions via Zoom, and students will be able to watch and interact live. The sessions are scheduled for a Friday afternoon over three days during Lent term.

Places are limited and so you must be able to attend all three sessions. If you cannot, please do not book a place on the course.

17 Feb 13:30 – 17:00 Core Statistics - S1 - Simple hypothesis testing
24 Feb 13:30 – 17:00 Core Statistics - S2 - Single categorical predictors
03 Mar 13:30 – 17:00 Core Statistics - S3 - Single continuous predictors

Most sessions will consist of a mix of lectures, interactive practicals and self-paced computational exercises.

All material, resources and datasets for practicals will be provided. Information will be provided ahead of the start of the programme.

A live support session will be available for 1.5 - 2 hours immediately following each lecture and it is expected that students will complete the practical material during this time. Live support will be available during this time via a help centre and 1-2-1 Zoom chats with teaching staff.

All material, resources and datasets for practicals will be provided. Information will be provided ahead of the start of the programme.

Pre-requisites

The course requires a basic understanding of the R software language. For any participants not familiar with the language, self-paced study guides will be provided for students to work through in their own time ahead of the first session, alongside an online help desk for anyone who has questions about the software. The link to the study guides will be provided when you book a place on the course.

Notes

The Bioinformatics Training Facility provides statistics training courses for a wide variety of institutes, departments and programmes including:

BBSRC/SBS DTP
MRC DTP
NERC DTP
Department of Chemistry
Metabolic Research Laboratories
Sanger Institute
MPhil in Basic and Translational Neuroscience
MPhil in Developmental Biology
MPhil in Therapeutic Sciences
as well as offering open access courses via UTBS (advertised as Core Statistics).

Please be aware that the material covered in this course will be very similar to some of the material presented in these alternative courses. Please do not book a place on this course if you will attend training as part of your degree programme.

Introduction to Statistics Programme: 17 Feb, 24 Feb and 3 Mar