Research Design and Statistics

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

This course provides an introduction to statistics for students in the research master Brain and Cognitive Sciences. It lays down the principles behind statistical analyses and prepares students to apply good reasoning to interpret data during their future Research Projects.

Specifically this course covers the following topics: 

1. The basics of programming in R

2. Data management and plotting

3. Introduction to classical and Bayesian statistics

4. Statistical testing and model comparison

5. Linear models and ANOVA

6. Generalized and multilevel linear models

7. Bayesian model fitting

Study materials

Software

• R & RStudio

• JASP

Other

• to be determined

Objectives

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of statistical theory and analyses
• Use R and JASP for common statistical analyses
• Identify appropriate statistical analyses given hypotheses and data
• Interpret and report statistical output in an appropriate manner
• Apply good data management practices
• Apply classical and Bayesian approaches

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Self-study

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. In the case of practicals, the student must attend at least 80%. Should the student attend less than 80%, he/she must redo the practical, or the Examinations Board may have one or more supplementary assignments issued.
2. In the case of study-group sessions with assignments, the student must attend at least 80% of the study-group sessions. Should the student attend less than 80%, he/she must redo the study group, or the Examinations Board may have one or more supplementary assignments issued.

Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

This course makes use of a Canvas page.

Last year's student feedback

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. M.D. Nunez PhD