AMITY UNIVERSITY HARYANA

Amity Education Valley, Gurgaon (Manesar)

Course Manual Name of Institution: Department of Environmental Sciences (ASAS) Programme: M.Sc. Environmental Science and Management
Batch - 2013-2015
Subject : Statistical Tools and Research methodology Faculty Name: Dr. Kushagra Rajendra Designation: Coordinator and Head Course code: ENV 4104 Semester: I Email: krajendra@ggn.amity.edu

1. Course Overview: The course aims to address the issues related to acquisition and analysis of environmental data and use of statistics in solving them. An overview of extracting information and analysis of data through various statistical tools and techniques will be made. The students would be familiar with designing systems and various models. A preliminary introduction to fundamental concepts of research would make them understand the intricacies of writing and proposing research ideas and hypotheses.
2. Course Coverage: Units UNIT - I: Introduction UNIT - II: Statistical methods UNIT - III: Environmental system analysis UNIT - IV: Research methodology Lectures 8 12 8 4

3. Learning Outcomes:

The course will help to obtain knowledge of and proficiency with a broad range of statistical concepts and tools useful for statistical applications. It will develop critical thinking skills that enable application of Statistics in new and unusual settings. The students will become responsible and competent statistical professionals at all levels of employment and successfully pursue any further goals in research and other educational programs. 4. At the end of the course students will be able to: 1. Understandthataquestioncanbeaddressedwithappropriatedata,followed bythedevelopmentofathoughtfulplanforidentifyingandcollectingthenecessary data 2. Knowhowdatacanbedisplayedandsummarizedininformativeways. 3. Students will recognize the importance of variation and uncertainty in the world and understand how Statistics can improve decisions when faced with uncertainty. 4. Selectanappropriatedatacollectionstrategytoaddressaquestionofinterest. 5. Knowthetypeandscopeofconclusionsthatcanbedrawnfromdifferenttypesof statisticalstudiese.g.surveys,otherobservationalstudies,experiments.

6. Knowthecharacteristicsofgoodsamplingplans and welldesignedexperiments.

4. Main text
1. John J. Schiller, Seymour Lipschutz, Schaum's Outline of Probability and Statistics, 4th Edition, Tata McGraw-Hill Education. 2. Manly (2001) Statistics for environmental science and management, Chapman and Hall / CRC. 3. Wayne, R. Ott (1995). Environmental Statistics and Data Analysis, CRC Press. 4. Shaefer S.J. and Theodore L. (2007) Probability and Statistics Applications for Environmental Science, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 5. Additional Texts: 1. Csuros M. (1997) Environmental Sampling and Analysis, Lab Manual, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. 2. Strunk W. and White E.B. (1999) The Elements of Style, Longman; 4th Edition. 6. Web Resources: http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/ecology/journal/10651 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/ENVIRONMENT/ http://www.statistics.com/

7. Session Plan: 8. Examination Scheme: Components A CT HA EE 5 15 10 70 Weightage (%) A: Attendance, CT: Class Test, HA: Home Assignment, EE: End Semester Examination;

Statistical Tools and Research methodology

Total No Sessions - 32 Session Topics & Issues (s) 1-2 UNIT I: Introduction- Basic elements and tools of statistical analysis range 3-4 Measurement of central tendency measures of dispersion: absolute and relative measures; 5 Standard deviation, variance, quartile deviation 6 Coefficient of variability, skewness, kurtosis 7 Probability: probability distribution functions and their Readings/ Cases/Assignments Readings Readings Readings/ Assignments Readings Readings/ Assignments

8 9-10 11-12 13-15 16-18 19-20 21 22 23-24 25 26-27 28 29-30

31 32

applications Data sampling; sampling locations, times, distributions and types; sampling theory. UNIT II: Statistical methods: Hypothesis testing, significance and correlation, correlation coefficients Linear models and regressions: multiple regressions Distribution- normal, t and chi square test, test of hypothesis and significance Analysis of variance, computer-based modeling: linear, regression, validation and forecasting Difference among means: F-test: 1 way ANOVA; Ftest: 2 ways ANOVA UNIT III: Environmental system analysis: Mathematical modelsdeterministic and stochastic Generation of environmental data, stochastic processes in environment Approaches to development of model, linear simple and multiple regression model Validation and forecasting Models of population growth- lotkavolterra model, leslies matrix model Point source stream pollution model, box model, gaussian plume model UNIT IV: Research methodology: Prospective of research; sample proposals, framing a statement of the problem (objective), Background to the study, literature survey (previous study and gap in study so far) Methodology of research and pitfalls.

Readings Readings Readings/ Assignments Readings/ Assignments Readings Readings/ Assignments Readings Readings/ Assignments Readings Readings Readings/ Assignments Readings/ Assignments Readings

Readings Readings/ Assignments

The focus will be on using case-studies, videos and activities (simulations, role-plays, questionnaires) as part of class room teaching.