STATS 4013 - Statistics Topic A - Honours

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

Please contact the School of Mathematical Sciences for further details, or view course information on the School of Mathematical Sciences web site at http://www.maths.adelaide.edu.au

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code STATS 4013
    Course Statistics Topic A - Honours
    Coordinating Unit Mathematical Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
    Assessment Ongoing assessment 30%, exam 70%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Robb Muirhead

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    In 2016, the topic of this course is Statistical Decision Theory and Bayesian Statistics.

    Syllabus:

    This course introduces students to the basic elements of statistical decision theory and Bayesian methodology, and the connections between the two. It will include the following topics: Structure of a decision problem, decision rules, expected loss, risk, fundamentals of Bayesian analysis, admissibility of decision rules, minimax analysis, , complete classes of decision rules, Bayesian inference, types of prior distributions, conjugate analysis, predictive distributions and hierarchical Bayesian models.

    Pre-requisites: Mathematical Statistics III (STATS 3006) and Statistical Modelling III (STATS 3001), or equivalent knowledge.

    Learning Outcomes:

    On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

    1. demonstrate their understanding of advanced principles of statistical decision theory and Bayesian inference;
    2. understand the basic elements of a formal decison problem;
    3. recognise how to establish optimality properties of decision rules;
    4. demontrate understanding of the Bayesian approach to statistical inference and apply Bayesian methods in practice.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    All
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    All
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    All
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    All
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There are no required resources for this course.
    Recommended Resources
    There are many books that deal with either Statistical Decision Theory or Bayesian Statistics, or both -- and new ones are published every year. The ones that are most relevant to this particular course will be listed in a handout given out on the first day of classes.
    Online Learning
    The course will have an active MyUni page.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The lecturer guides the students through the course material in 30 lectures. Students are expected to engage with the material in the lectures. Interaction with the lecturer and discussion of any difficulties that arise during the lecture is encouraged. Fortnightly assignments help students strengthen their understanding of the theory and practical work, and to help them gauge their progress.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity   Quantity Workload hours
    Lectures      30            90
    Assignments 5             50
    Test             1             16
    Total                          156
    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment                       Task Type                   Weighting           Objective assessed

    Assignments            Formative and summative
                                 Weeks 3,5,7,8,12                     20%                     all

    Test                         Summative
                                 Midsemester                            10%                     1,2

    Examination              Summative
                               Examination period                     70%                    all
    Assessment Related Requirements
    A mark of 50% is required to pass this course.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Task            Distributed      Due         Weighting

    Assignment 1                 Week 1        Week 3          4%
    Assignment 2                 Week 3        Week 5          4%
    Assignment 3                 Week 5        Week 7          4%
    Assignment 4                 Week 7        Week 9          4%
    Assignment 5                 Week 9       Week 11         4%
    Test                              Midsemester                    10%
    Final exam                    Examination period           70%
    Submission
    All assignments must be either handed in to the instructor or placed in the course box. They are due at the end of each odd-numbered week.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.