Getting Started with Inferential Statistics

Book Now
BOOK NOW
A black-and-white photograph of people studying in a library with partitioned desks. A large teal ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

 

In Person 

Inferential statistics aims to draw conclusions from a sample of data. This typically involves specific hypotheses that you believe might explain the data. This training will introduce you to the framework of null hypothesis testing, a simple test of mean differences (t-test), p-values, what they really mean and how to adopt them in your research. 

 

This course will be taught by Ponrawee Prasertsom and Chris Oldnall. 

 

After taking part in this event, you may decide that you need some further help in applying what you have learnt to your research. If so, you can book a Data Surgery meeting with one of our training fellows. 

More details about Data Surgeries. 

Those who have registered to take part will receive an email with full details on how to get ready for this course. 

If you’re new to this training event format, or to CDCS training events in general, read more on what to expect from CDCS training. Here you will also find details of our cancellation and no-show policy, which applies to this event. 

 

Level  

This workshop requires the following pre-knowledge: 

  • Familiarity with descriptive statistics, minimally: mean, standard deviation and variance. This can be obtained via the CDCS course “Getting Started with Descriptive Statistics”.
  • Minimal working knowledge of R, and RStudio. Ability to use the dplyr pipe (%>%),  mutate(), filter(), and summarise() is beneficial but not required. This base can be obtained via the CDCS course “Getting Started with R for Research”

 

Learning Outcomes 

  • Explain and critique the conceptual basis of null hypothesis significance testing.
  • Interpret and evaluate p-values within the context of statistical inference.
  • Conduct and report on a t-test in R. 

 

Skills  

By attending this course, you will familiarise yourself with the following skills.

  • Critical evaluation skills for interpreting and assessing research that uses hypothesis testing.
  • Programming skills in R for performing and interpreting hypothesis tests. 

 

Explore More Training

 

Return to the Training Homepage to see other available events

Room 4.35, Edinburgh Futures Institute

This room is on Level 4, in the North East side of the building.

When you enter via the level 2 East entrance on Middle Meadow Walk, the room will be on the 4th floor straight ahead.

When you enter via the level 2 North entrance on Lauriston Place underneath the clock tower, the room will be on the 4th floor to your left.

When you enter via the level 0 South entrance on Porters Walk (opposite Tribe Yoga), the room will be on the 4th floor to your right.

You might be interested in

black and white photograph of a person drinking tea out of a flaks on top of a hill.

CDCS December Fika

graphic of a black and white Christmas tree background with colourful baubles and snowflakes. The text "Dorothy Berry, CDCS Annual Lecture 2025" is overlayed."

CDCS Annual Lecture 2025

Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Working with Named Places: How and Why to Build a Gazetteer. Silent Disco’ The background is a sepia photograph of people working at desks in a large hall with overhead lamps. A large green ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

Silent Disco: Working with Named Places: How and Why to Build a Gazetteer

Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Getting Started with Inferential Statistics.’ The background is a black-and-white photograph of people studying in a library with partitioned desks. A large teal ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

Getting Started with Inferential Statistics

Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Introduction to Geographical Data with QGIS.’ The background shows an old map of the world with detailed illustrations. A large teal ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

Intro to Geographical Data with QGIS

Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Using Prompting Efficiently for Research.’ The background shows an aged, torn book page with visible text. A large green ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

Using Prompting Efficiently for Research

Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Using API for Research.’ The background is a black-and-white photograph of people working with printing equipment and patterned sheets. A large magenta ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

Using API for Research

an old map of Acotland with the text "Jennifer Smith & Brian Aitken, Project deep Dive"

Who Speaks Scots Where: What Crowdsourcing Reveals

Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Getting Started with Descriptive Statistics.’ The background is a black-and-white photograph of people reading and working in a library. A large magenta ampersand featuring an illustration of Ada Lovelace is placed on the left. The logo of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society (DCS) appears in the top right corner.

Getting Started with Descriptive Statistics