Urban Demography and Statistics (PLAN90001)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2024
About this subject
Overview
| Fees | Look up fees |
|---|
This subject provides an introduction to quantitative data analysis for the social sciences, focusing on the data and techniques commonly used in analysis of cities. It develops understanding and skill in the use of the collection, interpretation, analysis, and representation of information.
The subject is presented in two parts. Part 1 introduces common demographic and economic data available from secondary sources, including Census data. Students learn the fundamentals of data analysis, including how to define units of analysis, develop appropriate quasi-experimental designs, and construct reliable and valid indicators. Students also learn techniques for analysing and interpreting population data, as well as population forecasting techniques.
Part 2 provides an introduction to basic statistical analysis of small-sample and large-sample data. Topics include descriptive statistics, confidence intervals and power, hypothesis testing, measures of association, and an introduction to regression techniques
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of census data and indicators and arrange them in a coherent narrative to describe a place, it's relationship to the region in which it sits, and its change over time
- Create effective maps, tables, and figures that support this narrative
- Communicate this narrative using a common format, a poster session
- Critique indicators from planning reports and professional publications
- Project the population of a place in ten years' time
- Formulate hypotheses and perform statistical hypothesis tests to analyze these hypotheses, choosing the appropriate method from a set of available methods
- Describe the relevance to the normal curve to variation in nature and human behavior
- Identify the area under the normal curve and apply this to solving problems where there is uncertainty
- Describe the Central Limit Theorem and its contribution to statistics
- Compute point estimations of mean and central tendency
- Compute confidence intervals and estimate required sample sizes to achieve a specified confidence
- Estimate bivariate and multivariate regression models
- Control for spurious factors in regression and descriptive analysis.
Generic skills
This subject aims to develop the following general skills:
- A working knowledge of some of the secondary data available for planning and social science analysis
- Basic tools of demographic and economic analysis using secondary data
- A foundation in understanding statistical techniques, and their application to social science problems
- Ability to write about and present findings of these analyses
- Written, verbal and graphic communication of data and findings
- Identification of key social and spatial issues
Last updated: 1 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABPL90135 | Analytical Methods | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 1 April 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Draft Team Narrative - Short writing assignment. Students can work in pairs, or groups of three or four. The assessments are scaled according to the size of the group.
| Week 3 | 10% |
Problem Set 1
| Week 7 | 15% |
Problem Set 2
| Week 9 | 15% |
Group work peer and self-assessments. Students can work in pairs, or groups of three or four. The assessments are scaled according to the size of the group.
| Week 10 | 10% |
Problem Set 3
| Week 11 | 20% |
Presentation of Community Profile. Students can work in pairs, or groups of three or four. The assessments are scaled according to the size of the group.
| Week 11 | 10% |
Community Profile - Report. Students can work in pairs, or groups of three or four. The assessments are scaled according to the size of the group. 2500 words total (the 2500 words for this assessment task incorporates work from the Team Narrative and Problems Sets 1, 2, 3. 1000-1250 words equivalent of original work is required for this assessment task (per student).
| Week 14 | 20% |
Last updated: 1 April 2025
Dates & times
Not available in 2024
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 1 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 1 April 2025