EC124: Statistical Techniques B

Jeremy Smith
Module Leader

12/15 CATS - Department of Economics

Summer Module

Spring Module

Principal Aims

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 skills and techniques for analysing data.

Principal Learning Outcomes

12 CATS

Students will acquire the tools of quantitative methods necessary to study core and optional first and second year modules in economics.

Students will develop further their techniques of statistical methods and statistical modelling.

Students will generate an awareness and analysis of data and of data handling.

15 CATS

By the end of this module you will have acquired the statistical techniques necessary to study core and optional first and second year modules in economics; and developed further your knowledge of statistical methods and statistical modelling; and generated an awareness of data and of data handling

Syllabus

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.

Context

Core Module: L100 - Year 1, L116 - Year 1, R9L1 - Year 1, R3L4 - Year 1, R4L1 - Year 1, R2L4 - Year 1, R1L4 - Year 1, V7ML - Year 1, LM1D (LLD2) - Year 1
Optional Core Module: L1L8 - Year 1, L1CA - Year 1
Optional Module: V7ML - Year 1, LM1D (LLD2) - Year 1, LA99 - Year 1
Pre or Co-requisites: A level Mathematics, or equivalent.
Part-year Availability for Visiting Students: 12 CATS - Available in the Spring term only (2 x test - 9.6 CATS) and in the Spring and Summer terms together (2 x tests and 1 x 1.5 hour exam – 12 CATS) 15 CATS - Not available on a part-year basis

Assessment

Assessment Method: 12 CATS - Coursework (30%) + Online Examination (70%) 15 CATS - Coursework (40%) + 1.5 hour examination (Summer) (60%)
Coursework Details: 12 CATS: Online Examination (70%) , Set of 6 problem sets (6%) , Test 1 (12%) , Test 2 (12%)
15 CATS: 1.5 hour examination (Summer) (60%) , 1200 word Statistical Project (10%) , 6 x problem sets (6%) , Test 1 (12%) , Test 2 (12%)
Exam Timing: Summer

Exam Rubric

Time Allowed: 1.5 Hours, plus 15 minutes reading time.

Read all instructions carefully- and read through the entire paper at least once before you start entering your answers.

There are TWO sections in this paper. Answer ALL TEN questions in Section A using the Excel spreadsheet (40 marks total) and answer ALL FOUR questions in Section B inside this document (60 marks total).

Approved pocket calculators are allowed. Statistical tables and a formula sheet are provided.

You should not submit answers to more than the required number of questions. If you do, we will mark the questions in the order that they appear, up to the required number of questions in each section.

Previous exam papers can be found in the University’s past papers archive. Please note that previous exam papers may not have operated under the same exam rubric or assessment weightings as those for the current academic year. The content of past papers may also be different.