ST109      Half Unit
Elementary Statistical Theory I

This information is for the 2022/23 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr James Abdey COL.5.10

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics and BSc in Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

This course cannot be taken with ST102 Elementary Statistical Theory or ST107 Quantitative Methods (Statistics).

Pre-requisites

A-level Mathematics.

No previous knowledge of statistics is assumed.

Course content

The course provides a precise and accurate treatment of introductory probability and distribution theory. Topics covered are data visualisation and descriptive statistics, probability theory, random variables, common distributions of random variables and multivariate random variables.

Teaching

22 hours of lectures, 15 hours of classes and 10 hours of workshops in the MT.

This course will be delivered through a combination of classes, lectures and workshops totalling a minimum of 45 hours in Michaelmas Term. This course does not include a reading week.

Formative coursework

Weekly exercises will be set and students are expected to submit solutions to their class teacher each week for feedback. 

Indicative reading

All course materials are made available via Moodle, including notes to accompany the lectures, but this can be supplemented with additional background reading. The recommended supplementary text is:

Larsen R.J. and M.L. Marx (2017) Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Its Applications (sixth edition), Pearson (earlier editions are also fine).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 10 minutes) in the January exam period.

Key facts

Department: Statistics

Total students 2021/22: 208

Average class size 2021/22: 35

Capped 2021/22: No

Lecture capture used 2021/22: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills