Postgraduate Module Descriptor

SOCM029: Data Visualisation

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content and order of syllabus coverage may vary, it is envisaged that it will include the following topics:

Course Introduction, Terminology

Introduction to R. Types of data

Main principles of data visualization

Types of statistical graphics

Cleaning and preparing data for visualisations. The package dplyr.

Basic Charts and Plots, Multivariate Data Visualization

The package ggplot2: structure of plots and commands

Principles of Perception, Color, Design, and Evaluation

Text Data Visualization

Temporal Data Visualization

Geospatial Data Visualization

Network Data Visualization

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
20	130	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Lectures with lab	20 hours in total	10 x 2 hour lectures and labs .These lectures cover the main concepts of the course. These practical sessions cover the application of techniques
Independent study	60 hours	Reading and preparing for lectures and labs (around 4-6 hours per week);
Independent study	70 hours	researching and writing assessments and assignments (researching, planning and writing the course work).

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

http://r4ds.had.co.nz/data-visualisation.html

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
In-class exercises	15 minutes each x 4	1-8	Peer and oral feedback

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Practical Exercise 1 using the skills/techniques developed to investigate a research problem relevant to the students chosen discipline.	50	1500 words & up to 5 data figures	1-8	Written Feedback
Practical Exercise 2 using the skills/techniques developed to investigate a research problem relevant to the students chosen discipline.	50	1500 words & up to 5 data figures	1-8	Written Feedback
	0
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Practical Exercise 1	Practical Exercise 1	1-8	August/September reassessment period
Practical Exercise 2	Practical Exercise 2	1-8	August/September re-assessment period