ENVS1134 Statistical methods for analyzing environmental data (5 cr)

Study level:
Advanced studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English, Finnish
Responsible organisation:
Department of Biological and Environmental Science
Curriculum periods:
2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023

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Analyzing environmental data with the R program.

Description

An advanced course related to analyzing environmental and spatial data with R Statistics software. Main topics include statistical inference, multivariate methods (for modeling, classification, clustering, and dimension reduction), meta-analysis, analyses of time series, community composition analyses, and analysis methods for spatial data.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student should be able to

  • Study the assumptions of statistical methods, like normality and homoscedasticity.
  • Study bivariate correlations using relevant methods for different data types.
  • Fit regression models to data containing independent observations, and perform variable and model selection.
  • Fit non-linear dose – response models.
  • Use regular statistical tests, like analysis of variance and non-parametric methods, correctly, and perform multiple comparisons.
  • Analyze data obtained from repeated measurements studies.
  • Calculate effect sizes and response ratios, and combine results from several research studies with suitable meta-analysis methods.
  • Describe the basic principles of statistical learning, and resampling methods.
  • Use classification, clustering, and projection methods for high-dimensional data.
  • Use methods related to the analysis of time series, both in time domain and in frequency domain.
  • Use community composition analysis methods.
  • Read spatial data into R, and perform some rather simple spatial analysis methods with it.
  • Use the R Statistics software well enough to solve an exercise work with it.

Description of prerequisites

TILP2500, TILP2600 (Basics of statistics), and BENA4033 Basics of geoinformatics (or other basic knowledge of geoinformatics).

Study materials

Lectures and exercises (including their solutions) will be put into Moodle.

Literature

  • Hastie T., Tibshirani R. & Friedman J. 2009. The Elements of Statistical Learning, 2nd Edition. Springer.; ISBN: 978-0-387-84857-0
  • Zuur A., Ieno E.N., Walker N., Saveliev A.A. & Smith G.M. 2009. Mixed Effects Models and Extensions in Ecology with R. Springer.; ISBN: 978-0-387-87457-9
  • Cryer J. & Chan K.-S. 2008. Time Series Analysis with Applications in R, 2nd Edition. Springer.; ISBN: 978-0-387-75958-6
  • Bivand R., Pebesma E. & Gomez-Rubio V. 2013. Applied Spatial Data Analysis with R, 2nd Edition. Springer.; ISBN: 978-1-4614-7617-7

Completion methods

Method 1

Description:
Both a seminar presentation during the course and an exercise work after the course need to be passed. They will be evaluated with scale 0-5.
Evaluation criteria:
Exercise work report 50%, seminar presentation 50%.
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Parts of the completion methods
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Teaching (5 cr)

Type:
Participation in teaching
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English, Finnish
Study methods:

Lectures 12 x 2 h, computer exercises 12 x 4 h, seminar, exercise work.

Teaching