Teaching code

4S00121

Academic staff

Marco Minozzo, Giovanna Caramia

Coordinator

Marco Minozzo

Credits

9

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

SECS-S/01 - STATISTICS

Period

Primo semestre L dal Sep 23, 2024 al Jan 10, 2025.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

This module provides the basic techniques of descriptive statistics, probability and statistical inference to undergraduate students in economics and business studies. Prerequisite to the course is the mastering of a few basic mathematical concepts such as limit, derivative and integration at the level of an undergraduate first year introductory course in calculus. Overall, these techniques provide the necessary toolkit to carry out quantitative analyses in the processes related to the observation and understanding of collective phenomena. From a practical point of view, they are necessary for descriptive, interpretative and decision-making purposes and for conducting statistical studies related to economic and social phenomena. In addition to providing the necessary mathematical apparatus, the course also provides the conceptual tools for a critical evaluation of the presented methodologies. At the end of the course, students should be able to understand statistical information, carry out statistical analyses of economic and social phenomena, and to use basic statistical techniques and models for decision-making in business enterprise.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Students are supposed to have acquired mathematical knowledge of basic concepts such as limit, derivative and integral.

Program

a) Descriptive statistics
• Data collection and classification; data types.
• Frequency distributions; histograms and charts.
• Measures of central tendency; arithmetic mean, geometric mean and harmonic mean; median; quartiles and percentiles.
• Fixed-base indices and chain indices; Laspeyres and Paasche indices.
• Variability and measures of dispersion; variance and standard deviation; coefficient of variation.
• Moments; indices of skewness and kurtosis.
• Multivariate distributions; scatterplots; covariance; variance of the sum of more variables.
• Multivariate frequency distributions; conditional distributions; chi-squared index of dependence; index of association C; Simpson’s paradox.
• Method of least squares; least-squares regression line; Pearson’s coefficient of linear correlation r; Cauchy-Schwarz inequality; R-square coefficient; explained deviance and residual deviance.
b) Probability
• Random events; algebras and sigma-algebras; probability spaces and event trees; combinatorics.
• Conditional probability; independence; Bayes theorem.
• Discrete and continuous random variables; distribution function; expectation and variance; Markov and Chebyshev inequalities.
• Discrete uniform distributions; Bernoulli distribution; binomial distribution; Poisson distribution; geometric distribution.
• Continuous uniform distributions; normal distribution; exponential distribution.
• Multivariate discrete random variables; joint probability distribution; marginal and conditional probability distributions; independence; covariance; correlation coefficient.
• Linear combinations of random variables; average of independent random variables; sum of independent and Gaussian random variables.
• Weak law of large numbers; Bernoulli’s law of large numbers for relative frequencies; central limit theorem.
c) Inferential statistics
• Sample statistics and sampling distributions; chi-square distribution; Student-t distribution; Snedecors-F distribution.
• Point estimates and estimators; unbiasedness; efficiency; consistency; estimate of the mean, of a proportion and of a variance.
• Confidence intervals for a mean, for a proportion (large samples) and for a variance.
• Hypothesis testing; power and observed significance level; one and two tails tests for a mean, for a proportion (large samples) and for a variance; hypothesis testing for differences in two means, two proportions (large samples) and two variances.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Detailed indications, regarding the use of the textbook, will be given during the course. Supporting material (written records of the lessons, exercises with solutions, past exam papers with solutions, etc.) is available on the E-learning platform of the University (Moodle).
Course load is equal to 84 hours. Exercise sessions are an integral part of the course and, together with the classes, they are essential to a proper understanding of the topics of the course. The working language is Italian. In addition to lessons and exercise hours, there will also be tutoring hours devoted to revision. More detailed information will be available during the course.
All lessons will be face-to-face and recorded.

Learning assessment procedures

The final exam consists of a written test (lasting about 2 hours) made up of a selection of exercises and, possibly, of multiple choice questions. For the written test, the Moodle's QUIZ tool might be used. During the exam, only a calculator can be used and no other material (books, notes, etc.) will be allowed. The written test will be followed by an oral test, which can only be accessed by students who have obtained at least a pass in the written test. To take the tests, students must present themselves with a university card or a suitable identification document.
Finally, we remind that, as far as the examination methods are concerned, there are no differences according to the number of lessons attended.
A noncompulsory intermediate test on the first part of the program (typically on descriptive statistics and a part of probability) is planned for the beginning of November 2024. The passing of this intermediate test can entail an increase of at most three points of the result obtained in the written test (if the written test is taken and passed in one of the two winter examination sessions).

Exam language

Italiano