Time Series Analysis Flow Chart
Time Series Analysis Flow Chart
This course aims at equipping the learner with basic knowledge of theories needed in making
predictions of future values using past values.
Measure and/or study various components of the time series namely: Trend, seasonal, cyclic
and random components.
Course Content
Concept of time series. Components of time series: trend, seasonal, cyclic and random. Methods
of analyzing the components. Use of filters in time series analysis. Time series processes: purely
random, random walk, moving average, autoregressive processes. Correlogram, periodogram and
spectral analysis.
WEEK 1 Definition and types of time series. Objectives of time series analysis
WEEK 13 Examination
Mode of Delivery:
Assessment:
Chatfield C. (2016) The Analysis of Time Series: An Introduction. CRC Press New York.
ISBN 9780203491683
Journals
A time series involves two variables one of which is time. For example population, Xt , in
different years, t.
A time series is said to be continuous when the observations are made continuously with time
and discrete when observations are taken only at specific times usually equally spaced. The latter
is the type that will be considered in this course.
Deterministic time series is a series that can be predicted exactly. This is the case where future
values may be predicted fully from past observations. However, most time series are stochastic
in that the future is partly determined by past values, so that exact predictions are impossible.
The objectives of analysing a time series include Description, Explanation, Prediction and
Control.
Description
When presented with a time series, the first step in the analysis is usually to plot the data and
obtain simple descriptive measures of the main properties of the series. Features such as trend
and seasonal effects can sometimes be easily seen from such a plot. The graph will also enable
one to look for unusual observations or outliers which do not appear to be consistent with the rest
of the data.
Explanation
When observations are taken on two or more variables, it may be possible to use the variation in
one time series to explain the variation in another time series. This may lead to a deeper
understanding of the process that generates the given time series.
Prediction
Given an observed time series, one may want to forecast the future values of the series. This is a
very important task in sales forecasting and in the analysis of economic and industrial time
series.
Control
When a time series is generated which measures the quality of a manufacturing process, the aim
of the analysis may be to control the process. A stochastic model is fitted to the series, future
values of the series are predicted and the input process variables are adjusted so as to keep the
process on target.