Statistics and Research Methods - Part 2: Data Analysis and Hypothesis Testing
Move beyond exploration and learn how to test hypotheses and interpret uncertainty in research data
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
4 hours
Statistics and Research Methods - Part 2: Data Analysis and Hypothesis Testing
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Learn to test hypotheses and interpret statistical results
Find new ways to test whether your research findings are meaningful or just due to chance. Once you know how to explore data, the next step is testing ideas with confidence.
This course introduces core tools of hypothesis testing, showing you how to compare groups, estimate uncertainty, and interpret statistical results in context. It’s designed for learners who want practical understanding rather than just formulae.
You’ll develop skills to move from description to formal analysis with confidence.
Understand hypothesis testing
Learn how statistical hypotheses are formed and how tests are used to evaluate them. You’ll explore confidence intervals, p-values, and statistical significance in a clear and applied way.
Understanding these concepts helps you connect statistical tests to real research questions meaningfully.
Compare groups with confidence
Practise using common parametric tests, including one-sample, two-sample, and paired approaches. You’ll learn how to decide which method is appropriate for a given question and dataset.
These skills help you move from description to formal analysis with greater confidence and rigour.
Interpret results responsibly
Focus on what results mean in context, not just whether they’re statistically significant. You’ll learn how assumptions affect tests and why interpretation matters as much as calculation.
By the end of this course, you’ll be better equipped to draw careful conclusions from data and communicate findings appropriately.
Syllabus
Week 1
Making Inference
Making Inference
Learn the basics of statistical inference and the central limit theorem. Understand standard errors, construct and interpret confidence intervals, recognize assumptions, and apply data transformations when assumptions are not met.
Week 2
Significance Testing
Significance Testing
Learn the principles of significance testing, interpret p-values, understand their relationship with confidence intervals, and check the assumptions required for parametric statistical tests.
Week 3
Paired Data
Paired Data
Understand how to analyse paired data with non-independent measurements, recognise paired datasets, choose appropriate statistical tests, interpret results, and check assumptions for paired significance testing.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Discuss the fundamental principles of statistical hypothesis testing and uncertainty.
- Identify appropriate parametric tests for comparing means across different group structures.
- Classify the components of a confidence interval and its associated p-value.
- Describe the concept of statistical significance within a given research context.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for students, researchers, and professionals who need to compare groups and interpret statistical findings in applied settings without requiring advanced mathematical background.
Who developed the course?
UCL (University College London)
UCL was founded in 1826. It was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, and the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it.
What's included?
This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.
- Unlimited access to this course
- Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
- Tests to validate your learning
- Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
- Download and print your Certificate of Achievement anytime
Still want to know more? Check out our FAQs
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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