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Department of Economics, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


ES10003: Core skills for economists: introduction to statistics

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 30%, EX 70%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: ES10003 Resit Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
Basic statistical knowledge is fundamental to any understanding of applied economic topics (i.e. testing of micro and macro models). The aim, in this respect, is to give students the necessary background for the second semester unit ES10004 Computing and Data Analysis and second year Introduction to Econometrics. More specifically, the unit aims to provide students with experience in the analysis of data and a fuller understanding of probability and statistical inference techniques.

Learning Outcomes:
The learning outcomes are that the students should be able to:
* Calculate probabilities using a variety of discrete and continuous distributions;
* Understand principles of random sampling and construction of sampling distributions;
* Calculate confidence intervals and hypothesis tests for means.

Skills:
Statistical skills; problem-solving.

Content:
PART I: PROBABILITY
1. Probability Theory
Random experiments, outcomes and events. The nature of probability. Probability rules. Permutations and combinations. Bayes' theorem.
2. Discrete Random Variables and Probability Distributions
Random variables. Probability distributions for discrete random variables.
3. Continuous Random Variables and Probability Distributions
Continuous random variables. Expectations. The Normal distribution. Jointly distributed continuous random variables.
PART II: STATISTICAL INFERENCE
4. Sampling and Sampling Distributions
Sampling from a population. Sampling distribution of the sampling mean, sample proportion, and sample variance.
5. Estimation
Point estimators. Confidence intervals. Sample size determination.
6. Hypothesis Testing
Concepts of hypothesis testing. Hypothesis tests for mean and variance. Power of a test.
Key text: Statistics for Business and Economics (6th Ed) Newbold, Carlson and Thorne (Prentice Hall 2006).
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

ES10003 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB03 : BSc (hons) Economics (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UHES-AKB03 : BSc (hons) Economics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • UHES-AFB02 : BSc (hons) Economics and International Development (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UHES-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Economics and International Development (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Economics and Politics (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc (hons) Economics and Politics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
School of Management
  • UMMN-AFB02 : BSc (hons) Accounting and Finance (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UMMN-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Accounting and Finance (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.