ECON 1008 - Business and Economic Statistics I

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

In today's world, good decision making relies on data and data analysis. This course helps students develop the understanding that they will need to make informed decisions using data, and to communicate the results effectively. The course is an introduction to the essential concepts, tools and methods of statistics for students in business, economics and similar disciplines, although it may have wider interest. The focus is on concepts, reasoning, interpretation and thinking rather than computation, formulae and theory. Much of the work will require students to write effectively and communicate their ideas with clarity. The course covers two main branches of statistics: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics includes collecting data and summarising and interpreting them through numerical and graphical techniques. Inferential statistics includes selecting and applying the correct statistical technique in order to make estimates or test claims about a population based on a sample. Topics covered may include descriptive statistics, correlation and simple regression, probability, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, multiple regression, time series analysis and index numbers. By the end of this course, students should understand and know how to use statistics. Students will also develop some understanding of the limitations of statistical inference and of the ethics of data analysis and statistics. Students will work in small groups in this course; this will develop the skills required to work effectively and inclusively in groups, as in a real work environment. Typically, one component of the assessment requires students to work in teams and collect and analyse data in order to answer a real-world problem of their own choosing.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ECON 1008
    Course Business and Economic Statistics I
    Coordinating Unit Economics
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week. Intensive in Summer Semester.
    Incompatible WINEMKTG 1015EX, STATS 1000, STATS 1005
    Quota A quota may apply
    Course Description In today's world, good decision making relies on data and data analysis. This course helps students develop the understanding that they will need to make informed decisions using data, and to communicate the results effectively. The course is an introduction to the essential concepts, tools and methods of statistics for students in business, economics and similar disciplines, although it may have wider interest. The focus is on concepts, reasoning, interpretation and thinking rather than computation, formulae and theory. Much of the work will require students to write effectively and communicate their ideas with clarity. The course covers two main branches of statistics: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics includes collecting data and summarising and interpreting them through numerical and graphical techniques. Inferential statistics includes selecting and applying the correct statistical technique in order to make estimates or test claims about a population based on a sample. Topics covered may include descriptive statistics, correlation and simple regression, probability, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, multiple regression, time series analysis and index numbers.
    By the end of this course, students should understand and know how to use statistics. Students will also develop some understanding of the limitations of statistical inference and of the ethics of data analysis and statistics. Students will work in small groups in this course; this will develop the skills required to work effectively and inclusively in groups, as in a real work environment. Typically, one component of the assessment requires students to work in teams and collect and analyse data in order to answer a real-world problem of their own choosing.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mrs Anne Arnold

    These are the Course Coordinators for this course for the three semesters of 2014. They will provide further contact details, such as office locations and office hours, at the start of the semester.

    Summer Semester
    Course Coordinator:  Mr Roger Mableson
    Office location:  Nexus 10, Room 4.13
    Contact details: Phone 8313 5520; Email roger.mableson@adelaide.edu.au

    Roger Mableson will be conducting both the lectures and tutorials for this course in Summer Semester.

    Semester 1
    Course Coordinator:  Ms Vivian Piovesan
    Email vivian.piovesan@adelaide.edu.au


    Semester 2

    Course Coordinator:  Mrs Anne Arnold
    Email anne.arnold@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

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

    Students in this course are expected to attend two 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour practical class each week.
    PRACTICALS COMMENCE IN WEEK 2.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    After completing this course, students will be able to:
    1. Apply correctly a variety of statistical techniques, both descriptive and inferential.
    2. Interpret in plain language and comment on these statistical techniques.
    3. Interpret computer output to perform statistical techniques.
    4. Recognize inappropriate use or interpretation of statistics.
    5. Recognize when statistics are being used in other courses, in the media and in life in general and comment critically on the appropriateness of this use of statistics.
    6. Describe the importance of variability to the study of statistics.
    7. State what is different about the data and the techniques of business or economic statistics compared to statistics for other disciplines.
    8. Work effectively and inclusively in small groups.
    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)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1 - 7
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1 - 5, 8
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 2, 8
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 3
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 5, 7
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Text book

    Sharpe, N R, R D De Veaux and P E Velleman, Business Stats, 2nd edition, Pearson New International Edition, 2014, Pearson.


    For copyright reasons, Pearson have re-issued the text book. The edition that was used in 2013 is also suitable for this course. It is
    Sharpe, N R, R D De Veaux and P E Velleman, Business Stats, 2nd edition, 2012, Pearson.

    All students are expected to have access to and STUDY the text!

    Calculator
    Students will need a calculator; a basic one that can take squares, square roots etc is sufficient. Graphics calculators are allowed but are not necessary.

    Recommended Resources
    The lecture slides, practical questions and other information will be available for students on MyUni and can be downloaded or printed from there. Alternatively, a booklet containing the lectures slides and prac question set will be available for purchase from ICC.

    The lecture notes are NOT complete – they indicate what is to be covered in the lecture; you need to attend the lecture and write your own notes.

    In Semester 1 and 2 (but not in Summer Semester) it is intended that the lectures be recorded and a recording of each lecture put on MyUni for students who miss a lecture – but be aware that sometimes recordings fail. In that case, a note will be put on MyUni but the lecture may not always be re-recorded and students may need to make other arrangements, such as obtain notes from other students, read the book or contact the lecturer.

    NOTE: Dictionaries are not allowed in School of Economics exams

    Online Learning
    Course Website

    https://www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au
    Extensive use is made of MyUni; please check the announcements regularly. Lecture notes, practical questions, and past exam paper solutions will be made available on MyUni. Online tests may be run for this course in Semester 1 and Semester 2 (but not in Summer Semester).

    There is a discussion board on MyUni; this is the preferred way for students to ask questions because
    this way all students have the same information and any of the staff can reply, allowing for quicker responses.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course uses lectures plus practicals. The lectures provide an overview of the course content but students can expect that they will need to study the textbook in order to understand the work. The practicals will comprise discussion, problem solving activities, individual and group work, student questions and student participation. These practicals provide the opportunity for students to practice; they are vital for success in this course. Often students think they can follow what we do in the lectures but when they come to do the work themselves, they realise it’s not that easy! Students are expected to have done the required reading before the practical and may ask questions about it during the practical.

    Help

    If you need some information or help, here is what you can do:

    • Ask your tutor in the practical.
    • Post your query on the discussion board.
    • Go to our office hours.  Times will be advertised on MyUni at the start of semester.
    • Attend one of the sessions at the First Year Learning Centre. A study coach will be available to help you with this course. Times will be advertised on MyUni at the start of semester.
    • Go to the Maths Learning Centre (Hub Central) They offer help with mathematics and statistics for students from all faculties.  They run a FREE drop in centre. Check times and location details on their web site, http://www.adelaide.edu.au/mathslearning/
    Workload

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

    The workload for this course should consist of:

    Attend Lectures 2 Hours per week
    Attend Tutorials 2 Hours per week
    Study Textbook 4 Hours per week
    Prepare Tutorial Answer 4 Hours per week
    Learning Activities Summary

    The following timetable shows the topics to be covered each week and the associated chapter from the book. We will endeavour to keep to this but this may not be possible due to public holidays and other reasons.

    Week Topic Reading Practical
    1 Data and Sample Surveys Chapters 1 to 3 None
    2 Describing Catagorical Data
    Describing Quantitative Data
    Chapter 4
    Start Chapter 28
    1
    3 Describing Quantitative Data
    Correlation and Regression
    Finish Chapter 28
    Start Chapter 5
    2
    4 Correlation and Regression
    Randomness and Probability
    Finish Chapter 5
    Chapter 6
    3
    5 Random Variables & Probability Models
    Normal Models
    Chapter 7
    Chapter 8
    4
    6 Sampling Distributions
    Confidence Intervals for 1 Proportion
    Chapter 9
    Chapter 10
    5
    7 Confidence Intervals for 1 Mean
    Hypothesis tests for 1 Proportion and Mean
    Chapter 11
    Start Chapter 12
    6
    8 Hyopthesis tests continued and tests of
    independence
    Inference in Regression
    Finish Chapter 12; part of
    Chapter 14
    Chapter 15
    7
    9

    Residuals
    Multiple Regression
    Chapter 16
    Chapter 17
    8
    10 Dummy Variables
    Time Series
    Part of Chapter 18
    Chapter 19
    9
    11 Time Series and Index Numbers Lecture Notes 10
    12 Revision 11
    Specific Course Requirements
    None
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    In this course, students work in small teams and undertake a project investigating a real-world problem that involves statistics in the world around them.
  • 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
    • Final exam - 60%
    • Individual tests (online and/or written)
      • Online component - 5%
      • Written component - 5%
    • Group mini-project - 10%
    • Practicals            
      • Individual MCQ Test - 5%            
      • Group MCQ Test - 5%            
      • Group WAQ handins - 10%
    Assessment Related Requirements

    There are no hurdle requirements for this course.

    Assessment Detail

    Final exam (60%)

    • This is of 2 hours duration, plus 10 minutes reading time. 
    • Statistical tables are provided.
    • You are allowed to take into the exam one sheet of A4 paper with anything written or typed on both sides of it.
    • This exam covers the whole semester.
    • Please note that, following University policy, dictionaries are not allowed in School of Economics exams.
    • Graphics calculators are allowed but are not required.
    • Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of the assessment process. Marks cannot be awarded in the final examination if poor hand-writing means that answers cannot be read.

    Individual tests (10%)

    • There will be 1 online test, worth 5%. This will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, numeric, ordering, calculated and other types of questions.
    • There will be a series of short written tests in pracs during the semester, worth 5%.
    • More details will be provided during the semester.
    • Medical and compassionate extensions:
      • Unfortunately, late attempts at the online test or the written tests are not possible, even for valid medical or compassionate reasons. Instead, the weight on the final exam will be increased to take the place of this assessment.

    Group mini-project (10% - due in prac in week 10)

    • This mini project will require the group to show that they recognise and understand the practical application of statistics in the world around us.
    • Each group is to hand in one project. Projects could include:
      • Finding and commenting on a published use of statistics
      • Obtaining a data set and setting a multiple choice question that relates to it
      • Undertaking a sample survey to collect a primary data set
      • Creating a worked answer question using the concepts of this course but relating it to another course.
    • Details will be provided during the semester.
    • This project is to be handed to the tutor in the practical in Week 10.  A proposal should be provided to the tutor in week 7.
    • Each project must have a completed, signed cover sheet on it that lists the names of all students who contributed to the project.

    Late projects will not be accepted unless by PRIOR arrangement with the course coordinator.

    Practicals (15% group work and 5% individual)

    The practicals will incorporate team based learning and will be structured as follows:

    • Before the practicals, students will be expected to have attended and understood the lectures and to have read the relevant chapter(s) from the text book
    • During the practical,
      • First, students will be given a short individual multiple choice question test.
      • Next the multiple choice question test will be done in teams.
      • There will be time for discussion and questions about the week’s work.
      • And finally, students will be required to work on worked answer questions, again in their teams.
    • After the practicals, each team is required to hand in their answers to the worked answer questions, to their tutor. The tutor will specify the due time for this hand-in. These will be marked and returned in the following practical.

    Teams will be formed in the first practical class so it is important that students attend the first practical (in week 2).

    The assessment is as follows:

    • Individual MCQ Test - 5%
    • Group MCQ Test - 5%
    • Group WAQ handins - 10%

    These three marks are each determined by taking the best 7 marks from the semester; because not all of them count for assessment, no special consideration will be given to students who miss a practical class for medical, compassionate or any other reason. There will be 10 MCQ tests but only 9 WAQ that are marked during the semester.

    Redemption

    There is no extra work that can be done to redeem individual components of assessment during the semester, no matter the reason; however if the final exam mark (%) exceeds the mark (%) on any other assessment, then the exam mark automatically takes its place.

    Assessment marks prior to the final exam may be displayed on the course website.  Students are encouraged to check their marks and notify the Course Coordinator of any discrepancies.

    Submission

    Weekly hand-in exercises are to be submitted to the hand in boxes in the Ground floor of the Professions Hub, Nexus 10. Your tutor will arrange the due time at the first tutorial and will explain which box you should use.

    You MUST write on the hand-in the names and ID numbers of all students who contributed to the answers along with the time and day of the class. Staple all pages together.

    If you forget your tutor’s name, look on MyUni.

    The group mini project is to be handed in to the tutor during the practical class; attach a signed cover sheet.

    Course Grading

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

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    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.

    The policy of the School of Economics is not to return final exam scripts to students. However, they are made available for students to read under the supervision of the Course Coordinator, at a time and place to be announced.
  • 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
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