Geographical Data Analysis
Code
711041067
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Geografia e Planeamento Regional
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Fernando Ribeiro Martins
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To recognise the specificity of geographical data;
b) To critically reflect on data and information sources;
c) To master concepts, methods and techniques of descriptive statistics in geographical information processing;
d) To correctly utilize methods and techniques in geographical information processing;
e) To identify relations between variables;
f) To utilize suitable techniques to graphically represent information;
g) To interpret graphical representations;
h) To utilize a spreadsheet in the exploration and analysis of data.
Prerequisites
None
Subject matter
1. Geographical objects, statistical units and spatial units: i) Individual Spatial entities and statistical variables; ii) Properties of spatial units; iii) Statistical conformity of spatial units.
2. Statistical populations, geographical populations: i) Heterogeneity of geographical populations (definition of geographical population; differences in weighting between spatial units; differences in meaning of a variable at different scales of analysis; ii) Spatial exhaustivity; iii) Dependence and independence of observations.
3. Distributions and degree of spatial differentiation: i) Distribution as an indicator of spatial structure; ii) Distribution parameters; iii) Central distribution, skewedness and kurtosis measurements and spatial regularities; iv) Heterogeneity and concentration measurements.
4. Measurements of spatial relationships: i) statistical models and geographical reality; ii) simple regression; iii) simple, partial and multiple correlation; iv) linear and non linear spatial relationships: introduction to the non linearity of phenomena in Geography.
5. Geographical data processing: i) Exploration and analysis of spreadsheet data; ii) Graphical representation of variables.
Bibliography
BARROSO, Mário et al, Exercícios de Estatística Descritiva Para as Ciências Sociais, Lisboa, Sílabo, 2003
CHAMUSSY, Henri, Initiation aux Pratiques Statistiques en Géographie, Paris, Masson, 1994, 203 p.
PESTANA, D.; VELOSA, S., Introdução à Probabilidade e à Estatística, Vol. I, 4ª Ed., Lisboa, FCG, 2010.
Teaching method
Lectures: 20% expositional and 70% participative, through student resolution of exercises.
Seminars: totally dedicated to various solutions of individual exercises.
Evaluation method
Each student is required to read texts and autonomously carry out practical exercises. Parameters of assessment :
- A written test in the middle of the semester (30% of final grade);
- A written test at the end of the semester (65% of final grade);
- The remaining 5% of the assessment depend on attendance (minimum 60% attendance of practical classes) and participation.