Programming for Data Science – Individual Portfolio
This individual portfolio assessment for the Programming for Data Science module at Coventry University consists of four tasks designed to assess programming, debugging, data science, data visualisation, data protection and data ethics skills. The assessment carries 20 credits and has a total value of 4,000 words equivalent, excluding the reference list and output. Students are required to submit one clearly organised report containing all four tasks, with each task beginning on a new page. Python code, outputs and relevant plots must be included directly within the report. Task 1 focuses on analysing, critiquing and debugging Python code. Students are required to identify syntax errors, logical errors, style and readability issues in a supplied program, determine what the program is intended to calculate, and make appropriate corrections. Students must test the program using varying values, explain the changes made, and improve its overall readability and annotation so that an unfamiliar user can understand it. The task also requires students to investigate computational efficiency by measuring execution time for different input limits and identifying more efficient coding or logical approaches. Task 2 requires students to design, build and test a simple Python implementation of the Blackjack card game. The program should simulate a single-player game against a computer-controlled dealer, allow the player to choose between hitting and standing, automatically simulate the dealer's turn, and offer the option to play additional rounds. Complex rules such as splitting and betting are excluded, and students must not implement a Python class or graphical visualisation. The submission must include the Python code and the output from five games, with sufficient storytelling in the output to allow the code to be tested from the results shown. Task 3 assesses the student's ability to critically assess, select and apply data science tools. Students work with animal lifespan information from the AnAge database and use Python, including pandas and appropriate graphical libraries, to explore and communicate insights. The task involves summarising the number of animal species represented within each animal Class and producing plots of maximum longevity against adult weight for the four Classes with the most represented species. Students must discuss whether smaller or larger animals live longer, identify extreme outliers, compare trends between animal groups and consider implications for ageing research. Task 4 examines data protection and data ethics using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as a case study. Students must explain how a potential data breach could occur, identify the personal and sensitive information that could be compromised, and discuss consequences for patient confidentiality, institutional reputation, participation in future research and possible legal or public relations responses. A second part considers a hypothetical UK database and requires discussion of GDPR and the UK Government Data Ethics Framework, including informed consent, anonymisation, transparency, ethical governance, privacy and public trust in biomedical research. The assessment assesses two module learning outcomes. MLO2 focuses on designing, building, testing, adapting and critiquing small programs in a high-level programming language and is assessed through Tasks 1 and 2. MLO3 focuses on critically assessing, selecting and applying data science tools, libraries or algorithms throughout the data science project lifecycle and is assessed through Tasks 3 and 4. The assignment requires APA referencing and asks students to provide in-text citations and reference lists where relevant. The brief also classifies the assessment as “Amber” for Generative AI: AI tools may be used for inspiration but not to generate answers or analyse datasets. Any permitted use must be clearly acknowledged, documented and cited using APA style.
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