Coursework Report on Statistical Analysis in Urology

Your Report

An analysis of this data is required. Section 1.1.1 describes requirements and Section 1.1.2 gives guidance on how your work is assessed. 

In this coursework you are to assume the role of an expert statistician writing for a general scientific audience. An analysis of a data set is required. You will be assessed on your timely submission of a written report on these analyses. 

You are to write a report which summarises the main features of a data set. Do not make the mistake of focusing on only high-level statistical models such as multivariable logistic regression. Instead, you should additionally consider simple ways of summarising and describing the meaningful features of the data (tables, figures, summary statistics) which relate to the aims of the analysis and consider using these analyses to help develop your models. 

You are positively encouraged to engage with the wider literature and to also reference wider reading. The area of application in this assignment is urology. You do not have to access the urology literature. The assignment does require you to produce advanced statistical models. Succinct jargon free interpretation of any final models should be given in your report.

You should hand in a single report which summarises your analyses. The grading of your work will be determined on content and presentation. The quality of the work is far more important than the quantity. Note that there is a page limit of 20 sides for your report; you will be penalised if you go beyond 22 pages. 

Exempt from this page limit is 
(a) Any front coversheet (UWE coversheet, or your report front page) 
(b) Contents page 
(c) Abstract 
(d) References 
(e) Reflection sheet 

Everything else is included in this page limit including Appendices (if needed), along with any and all Graphics and Tables. 

At the end of your submission you can optionally include a page answering the following three questions 

[1] What are the things you think you have done well in this assignment? 

[2] What are the things you feel less sure about? 

[3] What are the specific areas you would like feedback on?

A single structured report should be produced. Numbered sections should be used to help structure your report. Sections could be structured using sub-sections and possibly sub-sub sections but further sub-division is not needed. 

You should be selective in what you report. Presentation of results (tables, graphics) and interpretation are most important. All key findings must be in the main body of the report but other relevant output may be put in referenced appendices; however please structure your 
report so that a reader does not have to continually refer to the appendices to try and work out what you are talking about. 

This is a substantial piece of work. You may want to include a section covering “Further Work”; irrespective your report should finish with either a Summary or Conclusions or a Discussion as you deem appropriate. 

Reading around the subject area and referencing your reading will greatly improve the quality of your report. You do not have to delve into the urology literature. 

As a guide a percentage mark of less than 40% will be given on any submission which has major faults in its presentation or which indicates a poor understanding of statistical methodology including 

(a) inappropriate exploratory data analysis 
(b) incorrect conclusions drawn from data 
(c) incorrect application of methods 
(d) incorrect claims and explanations 

As a guide, a percentage mark of between 40% and 50% will be given to a submission which has a straightforward application of statistical techniques but suffers from minor faults in presentation or application, inferences or explanations. 

As a guide, a percentage mark between 50% and 65% will be given to a submission which clearly presents recognised and appropriate modelling procedures and draws correct conclusions.