Introductory description

This module provides students with a thorough understanding in basic principles of statistics. You will gain an understanding of probability theory, calculating moments of univariate and multivariate distributions (including some commonly used special distributions), hypothesis testing and confidence intervals. You will gain an understanding of
how programme within the statistical package, thereby enabling the presentation of statistical data in a
meaningful way (tables, graphs), how to develop hypothesis tests from the data.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module will typically cover the following topics:
Descriptive statistics; Probability; Discrete random variables; Binomial and Poisson distributions; Bivariate distributions; covariance and correlation; Continuous random variables; uniform and normal distributions; Limit theorems; Sampling and sampling distributions; Hypothesis testing and confidence intervals; Non-parametric testing.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• have acquired the statistical techniques necessary to study core and optional first and second year modules in economics;
• develop further your knowledge of statistical methods and statistical modelling
• have gained an awareness of data and of data handling through the use of statistical software.

Indicative reading list

The basic practice of statistics by David S. Moore; William Notz; Michael A. Fligner 2018
Statistics for Business and Economics, Global Edition by Paul Newbold; William Carlson; Betty Thorne
Statistics: learning from data by T. A. Short; Roxy Peck 2018

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Students will acquire the tools of quantitative methods necessary to study core and optional first and second year modules in economics for joint honours courses in Economics. They will develop further their techniques of statistical methods and statistical modelling; and generate an awareness and analysis of data, of data handling using appropriate statistical software and of report writing.

Transferable skills

Students will develop their research, team-work, data-base management, analytical and communication skills.