Referring to knowledge

Referring to abilities, skills

The teaching methodology for this subject emphasises face-to-face work and distance learning and comprises a range of activities:

1. Face-to-face theory classes, in which the main concepts of the subject are explained, and various practical examples are used to relate and assimilate newly acquired knowledge.

2. Face-to-face problem-solving practical classes, devoted to work on the concepts introduced throughout the course. Exercises and tests are set to be completed and submitted, and databases of social, economic and business information are provided. The R Commander application is used for database work. The aim of these sessions is to help students develop their ability to manage, summarise and interpret data. They take the form of tutored sessions directed by the teaching staff and represent a significant proportion of the face-to-face activities for continuous assessment.

Additionally, students are expected to complete exercises and practical work independently, outside class, which also forms part of the continuous assessment. The following supplementary material is available on the Virtual Campus:

• Online tests with answer sheets, by topic.
• Suggestions for practical activities.
• Model solutions and discussions of practical cases.
• Summaries of the concepts and issues most relevant to each topic.

Students may choose between two types of assessment: continuous assessment or single assessment. Students demonstrate that they have acquired a satisfactory understanding of the concepts and material covered during the course by obtaining at least a Pass grade.

Continuous assessment consists of:

— Activities set by the lecturer and carried out in face-to-face or online mode via the Virtual Campus (online questionnaires). The overall mark for these tasks represents 40% of the final grade. The exact dates will be announced at the beginning of the course via the Virtual Campus.

— A final examination set by the Academic Council in the standard academic calendar, which accounts for the remaining 60% of the final grade. The examination contains multiple-choice questions on the theoretical and applied content of the course.

For the marks for assessment tasks and the examination to be considered in the calculation of the final grade, students must complete a minimum of 80% of continuous assessment activities and obtain a mark of at least 3 in the final examination; otherwise, they are automatically entered for single assessment.

Students in the GIE group may request continuous assessment, subject to the criteria presented above.

Repeat assessment

Students are entitled to repeat assessment. This is a joint examination for students entered for continuous assessment and single assessment who have not achieved a pass grade for the course. Students sit a final multiple-choice examination on the theoretical and practical aspects of the course content. The examination is held on the date set by the Academic Council.

There will be no examinations outside of the official exam sittings.

Examination-based assessment

Students who do not wish to be assessed on a continuous basis are entered for single assessment, which consists of a final examination worth 100% of the final grade for the subject. The examination date is set by the Academic Council. This examination consists of multiple-choice questions on the theoretical and practical aspects of the whole course content.

Students in the GIE group may request single assessment, under the criteria described above.

Repeat assessment

Students are entitled to repeat assessment. This is a joint examination for students entered for continuous assessment and single assessment who have not achieved a pass grade for the course. Students sit a final multiple-choice examination on the theoretical and practical aspects of the course content. The examination is held on the date set by the Academic Council.

There will be no examinations outside of the official exam sittings.