| Unit name | Social Statistics: Their Use and Abuse in Business, Politics and the Media |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GEOGM1407 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Harris |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites | |
| Co-requisites | |
| School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The purpose of this unit is to guide participants to an understanding of how social and environmental statistics are used (and abused) in business, politics and the media. The unit will look behind the key concepts and thinking behind statistical analysis and discuss good practice in the clear and honest presentation of statistical information. The role of statistics in sustaining and supporting a managerial culture of &�evidence-based&� decision-making will be considered by developing awareness of the political context within which statistical information is used to legitimise decisions. Key themes will include how (not) to lie with maps and statistics, how to present data honestly and effectively, the promise and pitfalls of geosurveillance, the role of statistics in social research, and how to make statistics geographical. Pre-requsite None Co-requiste None
