ST425     
Statistical Inference: Principles, Methods and Computation

This information is for the 2019/20 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Nicholas Cron COL.5.13

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Statistics, MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (LSE and Fudan), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (Research), MSc in Statistics (Research), MSc in Statistics (Social Statistics) and MSc in Statistics (Social Statistics) (Research). This course is available on the MRes/PhD in Management (Marketing) and MSc in Social Research Methods. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

A knowledge of probability and statistics to the equivalent level of ST102 Elementary Statistical Theory.

Course content

The course will provide a comprehensive coverage on some fundamental aspects of probability and statistics methods and principles. It also covers linear regression analysis. Data illustration using statistical package R constitutes an integral part throughout the course, therefore provides the hands-on experience in simulation and data analysis.

Teaching

38 hours of lectures, 15 hours of seminars and 10 hours of computer workshops in the MT.

Week 11 will be used as a revision week.

Formative coursework

Students will complete weekly assessed problem sheets. They will also complete R practice following instructions from the weekly computing workshop.

Indicative reading

L. Wasserman, All of Statistics.

Y. Pawitan, In All Likelihood

K. Knight, Mathematical Statistics

A. Zuur et al., A Beginner's Guide to R. (Available online from LSE Library.)

N. Venables et. al., An Introduction to R (http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.pdf)

Assessment

Exam (85%, duration: 3 hours) in the January exam period.
Project (15%) in the MT.

Student performance results

(2015/16 - 2017/18 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 25.4
Merit 24.6
Pass 40.8
Fail 9.2

Key facts

Department: Statistics

Total students 2018/19: 45

Average class size 2018/19: 46

Controlled access 2018/19: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills