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Introductory Statistics Course Guide-3

This module provides an introduction to statistical techniques for economics students. It is a 15-credit module offered in Term 1. The module will introduce students to descriptive and inferential statistics through lectures, tutorials, and homework exercises. Students will learn to analyze economic data, test hypotheses, and produce a 2,000-word essay applying statistical analysis to a topic. Assessment is based entirely on two multiple choice tests and a final essay.

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99 views

Introductory Statistics Course Guide-3

This module provides an introduction to statistical techniques for economics students. It is a 15-credit module offered in Term 1. The module will introduce students to descriptive and inferential statistics through lectures, tutorials, and homework exercises. Students will learn to analyze economic data, test hypotheses, and produce a 2,000-word essay applying statistical analysis to a topic. Assessment is based entirely on two multiple choice tests and a final essay.

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huseyin.acarbrothers
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOAS UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Introductory Statistics 15PECH032

MODULE DETAILS
Credits: 15
Year of Study: PG
Teaching Term: Term 1
Prerequisites: None

LECTURER:

Name: Dr Angelos Diamantopoulos


Email address: [email protected]

MODULE DESCRIPTION
This module offers a survey of statistical techniques for economists and an introduction to working
with economic data. The module focuses on introducing students to ‘descriptive statistics’ and
‘inference statistics’ and using statistics to analyse data and form arguments. The course includes
topics as: Obtaining and using data, visual representation of data, measurements of central
tendency and dispersion, probability theory and probability distribution, hypothesis testing and
inference, and introduces regression analysis.

OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE MODULE:


On successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
1. Use spreadsheets and statistical software to undertake graphical and statistical analysis of
economic data
2. Transform data to present it in an informative manner
3. Analyse statistics graphs and outputs to form an argument
4. Understand the elementary principles of probability and statistical theory
5. Apply basic methods of statistical inference
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The course consists of a 1-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial each week. The lectures and
tutorials will be delivered in person.

Lectures will introduce the course material and provide students an understanding of
statistical methods as well as go through both abstract and numerical examples and provide
an opportunity to raise questions. Lecture slides and notes will be available for access via
Moodle.

All students will be assigned a specific seminar time. The seminar will review homework
exercises that had been set (available on Moodle on a weekly basis), will provide a brief
review of the topic area, and will focus on providing exercise to work through during the
class. During the seminar, the lecturer will go through exercises step by step, giving
students an opportunity to ask questions on any areas of difficulty. Students are expected
to attempt the problems sets and to watch the pre-recorded lectures prior to the
scheduled seminar class.

ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK


Assessment weighting:
Coursework: 100%

2 Multiple Choice test (20% each)


The coursework consists of two online examinations to be attempted during reading
week and at end of term 1. The first multiple-choice will cover what has been done
in the first 5 weeks of the course (up to reading week). The second test will focus on
the topics covered from reading week until the end of term. Each test will account
for 20% of your grade.

Essay (60%)
Students will also be asked to write an essay using statistical analysis to analyse a
topic. Students will be asked a question about an area of economic policy or data,
which they will answer using what they have learnt throughout the term. The policy
brief has a word limit of 2000 words (± 10%)

Textbooks
• Newbold, Carlson, Thorne (2013) Statistics for Business and Economics (8th
edition), Pearson Education Edition (NCT, Main textbook)

• Barrow (2017) Statistics for Economics, Accounting and Business Studies (7th Edition),
Prentice-Hall

• Diez, Cetinkaya-Rundel, Barr (2019) OpenIntro Statistics (4th edition). – Free to


download. Providesa good summarization of topics and lots of opportunity to practice.
Additional book suggestions
• Grinstead, C. and J. L. Snell (1997) Introduction to Probability, American
Mathematical Society

• Schaum’s Outlines Series provide plenty of additional exercises.

• Waters (2008) Quantitative Methods for Business (4th edition), Harlow: Financial
Times Prentice Hall.

Syllabus

Week Lecture NCT textbook


T1 W1 Introduction to Descriptive Statistics, Economic Data and
Ch. 1
Data Types

Measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion and


T1 W2 Ch. 2
Shape, and Relationship

T1 W3 Probability Theory Ch. 3,4

T1 W4 Probability Theory II Ch. 3,4

T1 W5 Probability and Sample Distributions Ch. 4,5,6

T1 W6 Reading Week

T1 W7 Probability and Sample Distributions II Ch. 4,5,6

T1 W8 Inference Ch. 6,7

T1 W9 Introduction to Hypothesis Testing Ch. 9

Two-population Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis


T1 W10 Ch. 10
Testing

Lambda, Pareto, GB2 distributions Ch. 14


T1 W11

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