Statistical Information Resources

Watch and Learn

Hans Rosling's famous lectures combine enormous quantities of public data with a sport's commentator's style to reveal the story of the world's past, present and future development. Now he explores stats in a way he has never done before - using augmented reality animation. In this spectacular section of 'The Joy of Stats' he tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers - in just four minutes. Plotting life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, Hans shows how the world we live in is radically different from the world most of us imagine.

If you do not see the video, please click on the link to view it in a new window or tab (you will leave this page):

Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats

Top Tips

Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.  It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments. Check out Penn State's tutorial on basic statistics.

The Nature of Data and Variation
Although natural phenomena in the real life are unpredictable, the designs of experiments are bounded to generate data that varies because of intrinsic (internal to the system) or extrinsic (due to the ambient environment) effects.

Uses and Abuses of Statistics
Statistics is the science of variation, randomness and chance. 

Design of Experiments
Design of experiments is the blueprint for planning a study or experiment, performing the data collection protocol and controlling the study parameters for accuracy and consistency. 

Statistics with Tools (Calculators and Computers)
All methods for data analysis, understanding or visualizing are based on models that often have compact analytical representations (e.g., formulas, symbolic equations, etc.) Models are used to study processes theoretically.

Source: "Probability and statistics EBook" by Statistics Online Computational Resource (SOCR) is licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY License


Statistical Information Resources

Enhance your Learning

Stan's Cafe, a Birmingham based theatre company has devised a brilliant way of bringing statistics to life ... using grains of rice!

If you do not see the video, please click on the link to view it in a new window or tab (you will leave this page):

Making Statistics Fun

Enhance your Wellness

While you’re a student, a lot of your time can be spent on schoolwork while other important activities might be forgotten. You have 24hours each day and many choices about how you spend those hours. Be intentional with your time and ensure you engage in fun and healthy activities outside of school!

What’s one of the most important choices you can make for your health?

For more wellness resources, see https://services.viu.ca/counselling/health-wellness-resources.

Student Support Areas

Computers with SPSS software

  • Bldg 305 (Library), Library Commons (includes SPSS and ArcGIS)
  • Bldg 356 Room 340 (includes SPSS) - 20 workstations + 1 Instructor station
  • Bldg 250 - Room 115 (includes SPSS & Simply Accounting) - 36 workstations + 1 Instructor station
  • Bldg 356 - 2nd Floor Atrium* (includes SPSS) - 19 workstations

Help With Math and Statistics

Help with Math and Statistics

Supports to help you with spreadsheets, graphs and calculations

Value for Me?

Statistics provides tools that you need in order to react intelligently to information you hear or read. In this sense, statistics is one of the most important things that you can study.

Visualize Topic

What is an Infographic?

What is an Infographic?