Getting Started with Stats

Statistical Services and Consultancy Unit

University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Contact: Neil Spencer (statistics@herts.ac.uk)

19th October 2011, 22nd February 2012

An extended version of this course is also offered in our two-day Starter Course in Statistics course which also incorporates presentation of data and questionnaire design. All courses take place on the University's state-of-the-art de Havilland campus.

Who is it for?


This course is aimed at those who need to learn about the very basics of analysing and presenting statistical data. As well as being open to delegates from outside the University of Hertfordshire, this course also forms part of the training available to research students at the University along with our Comparing Groups and Relationships in Data courses.

What prior knowledge is assumed?


No prior knowledge of statistics is assumed. Anyone who needs to deal with data in their work should be able to participate fully.

What does the course cover?


The topics covered in the course are:

  • Excel
  • SPSS
  • descriptive statistics
  • probability
  • the Normal distribution
  • confidence intervals

Course fee: £300 (£250 excl VAT), including teas/coffees and lunch

Discounts are available for those attending more than one course (such as the follow-on Comparing Groups, Relationships in Data), research students, those on limited incomes and University of Hertfordshire staff and students.

Please see below for a draft programme and click here to see how to apply (and details of fees/discounts). For enquiries, please phone 01707 285574 or e-mail statistics@herts.ac.uk.

Please click for details of accommodation available and maps/travel information.

Draft Programme


10:00 Registration and tea/coffee

10:15 Domestic announcements and introductions

10:20 Descriptive statistics

10:50 Presentation of data

11:30 Confidence intervals

12:10 Sample size determination

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Introduction to SPSS

14:30 Introduction to statistics in Excel

15:15 Tea/Coffee

15:30 Confidence intervals in SPSS and Excel

17:00 End of day

Please note that this programme is intended as a guide only and may be subject to change.