Postgraduate Module Descriptor

SOCM029: Data Visualisation

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 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
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	20	10 x 2 hour lectures and labs .These lectures cover the main concepts of the course. These practical sessions cover the application of techniques
Guided Independent Study	60	Reading and preparing for lectures and labs (around 4-6 hours per week);
Guided Independent Study	70	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	1,500 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	1,500 words & up to 5 data figures	1-8	Written Feedback

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 (1500 words & up to 5 data figures)	1-8	August/September reassessment period
Practical Exercise 2	Practical Exercise 2 (1500 words & up to 5 data figures)	1-8	August/September reassessment period