Episode 1｜Seeing Association in Data: Scatter Plots and Correlation

This episode is based on the course syllabus and the first lecture of Applied Statistical Methods. The primary goal is to introduce students to applied data analysis using statistical tools.The lecture focuses on the analysis of association in data, with particular emphasis on graphical methods for describing bivariate relationships. Scatter plots are introduced as a fundamental tool for visualizing data and guiding statistical interpretation.Different measures of correlation, including Pearson, Kendall, and Spearman coefficients, are discussed and compared in terms of their assumptions, strengths, and robustness. Through these comparisons, the episode highlights how outliers and nonlinear relationships can affect statistical conclusions.The episode also provides an overview of how statistical methods are applied in practice, drawing on examples from past student projects in fields such as medicine, social sciences, and business analytics.