Statistics with R Course at TUM 2024
Statistics with R Course at TUM 2024
The use of multilevel or structural equation modelling in the course provides benefits such as the ability to analyze complex data structures and relationships, including those across different hierarchical levels and latent constructs. These models enhance the capacity for detailed statistical analysis critical for advanced research, as taught in Week 12 .
Student performance in the course is evaluated based on weekly assignments, which account for approximately 45% of the final grade, and a final exam, which accounts for 55%. Assignments are designed to apply course materials, while the exam will test both understanding and application of students' learning .
Open science plays a significant role in the course curriculum by supporting the principle of transparency and reproducibility in research. It is covered in Week 6 as part of the discussions on the replication crisis in science, promoting practices that lead to more reliable research outputs .
The course prepares students for making causal inferences from observational data by teaching recent advances in research methods specific to causal inference. It provides a thorough understanding of statistical models and frameworks that facilitate the derivation of causative insights from non-experimental data, which are discussed in depth in Week 11 .
Class attendance is not mandatory to provide flexibility for students, but attending is beneficial as it allows participation in discussions on key topics, enabling deeper understanding through interaction with peers and the instructor. Attending helps students gain insights into practical applications of course content and engage in dynamic learning .
Learning R Markdown is important because it serves as a tool for ensuring the reproducibility of scientific research. The course emphasizes reproducibility as a means to address the replication crisis in science, and R Markdown facilitates this by allowing researchers to combine code, output, and descriptive text into a cohesive document that can be shared and reproduced .
Moderation and mediation are differentiated in the course by focusing on their roles in statistical modeling. Moderation involves interactions between variables where the effect of one variable depends on another, while mediation explores how one variable influences other variables through an intermediary. These concepts are specifically addressed in Week 10 .
The course addresses the replication crisis in psychology by familiarizing students with the ongoing discussions around the crisis and exploring solutions such as pre-registration and the use of R programming language to enhance reproducibility. This topic is specifically covered in Week 6 and aims to provide students with an understanding of the importance of transparency and reproducibility in research, which are key issues in the replication crisis .
Students are expected to complete the assigned readings before class to facilitate participation in discussions. Engaging in discussions helps them understand and apply the material effectively. The readings provide foundational knowledge required for in-class debates and the practical application of statistical concepts .
By the end of the course, students are expected to understand basic statistical models including correlations, linear models such as simple and multiple regressions, moderation, mediation, multilevel linear models, and causal inference models .