Data Analysis Portfolio DAT401

CRN

52708

Level

4

Assessment title

Data Analysis Portfolio

Weighting within module

This assessment is worth 100% of the overall module mark.

Module

Leader/Assessment

set by

Dave Lowe

Submission deadline date and time

Wednesday 30^th April 2025, by 16.00

Any submission received after 16:00 (even if only by a few seconds will be considered as late).

For coursework assessments only: students with a

Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) or Carer Support Plan should check your plan to see if an extension to this submission date has been agreed.

How to submit

Data Analysis Portfolio must be submitted via the Assessment submission point on the Blackboard module.

As the University will mark assessments anonymously where this is possible, please use your student roll number and not your name on your submission.

General Instructions

The report must adhere to standard academic documentation standards:

? Use appropriate citations and references according to the APA 7th edition Harvard in order to avoid plagiarism. Cases of plagiarism will be penalised in accordance with University regulations.

? Use 1.5-line spacing.

? Use your own words to convince that you understand what you are writing, and not just copy and paste. Your own words must account for not less than 80% of the total word count.

? Write within 2000 words (+/- 10%), excluding reference list, appendices, personal portfolio of evidence, diagrams, figures, tables etc.;

Assessment Criteria

Explain how students can find information about assessment criteria, including the marking rubric.

You should look at the assessment criteria to find out what we are specifically looking at during the assessment.

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Complete the following LinkedIn Learning Courses and submit a screenshot to prove completion and/or your certificate from LinkedIn Learning:

1. Introduction to Formulas and Functions

2. Introduction to Charts and Graphs

3. Introduction to Formatting

4. PivotTables for Beginners

Individual Report (1500 words)

Introduction - A brief background to your organisation, describe the importance of data, explain and define the meaning of data analysis.

Data Analysis The main body of your report

1. Discuss the meaning, uses, and differences of business intelligence versus data analytics including methods of data analysis

2. Select and apply appropriate techniques to analyse and interpret your chosen data. Present data in appropriate formats and generate insights to aid in decision making

3. Identify and discuss common sources of data bias as a limitation and link appropriately to your data analysis.

Conclusion Summary of the project including recommendations for use of data analysis in your organisation (150 words)

Reflection (500 words)

The individual reflection will be assessed on your ability to apply a reflective model such as Kolbs Learning Cycle or Gibbss Reflective Cycle with accuracy to support and compliment your own experience. Therefore, your introduction should briefly explain the theoretical model including the project that you are reflecting on. (50 words)

This is the main body of your reflective statement. Therefore, everyone will be assessed on how well they introduce and interpret the reflective model when applied to their practical experience and knowledge. You should discuss your learning about the topic, your own personal development, did the process have a positive or negative impact on your self-confidence when working with data and Excel. Any weakness or limitations that you experienced should also be part of your reflection and remember to refer to the academic literature on reflective practice to present your discussion. Upon identification of the reflective issues, you must also look to provide solutions that will ensure you grow as an individual within the scope of your reflective development process. (350 words)

You will be assessed on how you developed a coherent discussion to affirm the challenges and situations that you encountered while working on this report. Your conclusion should draw out the key discussion points that were discussed in the main body and should consider how you overcame them, the actions you took, and what were the lessons learned with any future recommendations for self-development and academic improvement. (100 words)

Overview of weighting:

Knowledge and

Understanding

Practical,

Professional or

Subject Specific

Skills

Assessed intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:

1. Select data to use in exploratory data analysis or to answer a small-scale research question.

2. Select and apply appropriate techniques to analyse a business-related problem.

3. Recognise common sources of bias and limits to accuracy in quantitative results.

4. Identify limitations and common sources of bias in results.

5. Recognise that variability is natural, predictable and quantifiable, and that association is not the same as causation.

6. Select, organise and present relevant information clearly and logically.

7. Discuss and interpret results and present a well-structured report (written and verbal) in support of findings.

8. Present data in a variety of formats.

9. Discuss and interpret results, presenting data in a variety of formats.

Employability Skills developed / demonstrated.

You will develop a range of employability skills sought by employers through each assessment.

Through this assessment will have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate the following employability skills:

I = You will have been introduced to this skill

U = You will have developed an understanding of this skill in the context of your subject

A = You will be able to apply this skill in the context of your subject

D = You will have demonstrated an enhanced understanding and application of this skill in a wider context

Using Artificial

Intelligence (AI) Tools

For this assessment you may use tools, software, or features of software which use artificial intelligence to generate content such as text, images or data, in an assistive and supportive capacity. This means you may use the tool to explore the topic, generate or process data, or suggest draft structures and refine the wording or your work. However, the final work you submit must be your own. Use of AI to generate content to misrepresent your own abilities or mislead your assessor is academic misconduct.

When using AI tools, please use University provided tools within the requirements of the University's ICT Acceptable Use Policy, and do not upload sensitive or personal information.

Word count

Individual Report and Reflection 2000 words

(+/- 10% is the acceptable range)

Feedback arrangements

Formative Assessment

There will be the opportunity to submit draft work for formative feedback by email to your seminar tutor or d.a.lowe1@salford.ac.uk by 16.00 Wednesday 23^rd April 2025.

Summative Assessment

You can expect to receive feedback 15 working days after submission day on Wednesday 21^st May 2025.

Feedback arrangements

Feedback will be provided as per the Assessment and Feedback Policy.?

Academic Integrity and Referencing

Students are expected to learn and demonstrate skills associated with good academic conduct (academic integrity). Good academic conduct includes the use of clear and correct referencing of source materials. Here is a link to where you can find out more about the skills which students need:

Academic integrity & referencing

Referencing

Academic Misconduct is an action which may give you an unfair advantage in your academic work. This includes plagiarism, asking someone else to write your assessment for you or taking notes into an exam. The University takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously.

Assessment

Information and

Support

During the weekly sessions students will have the opportunity to practice for success in relation to the assessment strategy. This will include the opportunity to discuss the project plan with their supervisors each week to gain feedback on their work. Lectures will cover key skills related to report format, research and content.

You can obtain support for this assessment from your lecturers during the session or by appointment.