Faculty of Mathematics & Numeracy

Further information on the LGS Mathematics Department can be found on our departmental website and X accounts:

LGS Maths Website: https://sites.google.com/sl.glow.scot/lgsmaths/ 

LGS Maths X Account: https://x.com/lgs_maths 

The general aim of the Statistics Award unit is for learners to develop knowledge, skills and understanding in statistical methods and techniques that can be applied to a variety of real-life contexts which may be new. 

This includes skills in interpreting and analysing graphs and statistical diagrams, applying skills to the normal distribution and determining the equation of linear regression and using it for prediction. 

Most of the Statistics Award will be completed on RStudio statistical software, which is used in real life data analysis to import, access, transform, explore, plot, and model data, and for machine learning to make predictions on data.

RStudio is widely used at University level to complete a range of questions linked to Statistical Analysis, and knowledge of RStudio at this stage will be beneficial to any University or College course incorporating Statistics.

At Lanark Grammar School, the Statistics Award is available to learners in S5/6 as an elective course. 

Note: The majority of this course will be computer based and prior experience in working with computer software is desirable. 

Course Content

The Statistics Award is covered in three parts: 

Part 1 - Graphical Displays & Summaries

The following areas will be covered: 

• Types of Data

• Populations & Sampling

• Errors & Biases

• Outliers 

• Frequency & Contigency Tables on RStudio

• Barplots on RStudio

• Pie Charts on RStudio

• Stem & Leaf Diagrams on RStudio

• Boxplots on RStudio

• Histograms & Normality Testing

• Descriptive Statistics

Part 2 - Correlation & Linear Regression

The following areas will be covered: 

• Dependent & Independent Variables

• Scatterplots on RStudio

• Correlation & Outliers

• Correlation vs. Causation

• Linear Regression Analysis

• Coefficient of Determination

Part 3 - Hypothesis Testing

The following areas will be covered: 

• Null & Alternative Hypotheses

• Significance & p-values

• Confidence Intervals

• Two-Sample (Unpaired) t-tests

• Paired t-tests

• z-tests for Two Proportions

• Errors in Hypothesis Testing 

Assessment

The Statistics Award is assessed in two outcomes: 

Outcome 1 (Written Paper)

Using statistical skills in real-life contexts by:

• Applying statistical literacy skills to data

• Applying statistical skills to normally distributed data

• Applying statistical skills to correlation and linear regression

• Applying statistical skills to data analysis, interpretation and communication

Outcome 2 (R Studio Paper)

Producing a statistical analysis on given data set(s) by:

• Undertaking a correlation and regression analysis

• Undertaking a data analysis

There is no external exam for the Statistics Award. 

To obtain a pass, learners must pass both mandatory course outcomes. 

The course itself is set at SCQF Level 6 (Higher) and learners will gain SCQF tariff points at Level 6 for use on their UCAS applications. 

Further Pathways

Skills Developed

Through the study of Statistics young people will develop skills in but not exclusive to the following areas: