University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 2 | Credits: 5

This module is an introduction to the ideas and commoly used techniques in analysing data from experiments and observational studies. Participants learn the role of probability in statistical inference, review the ideas in sampling distributions, learn concepts of interval estimation and hypothesis tests, learn standard one and two-sample procedures for quantitative data, learn basic enumerative data analysis, and simple correlation and linear regression

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand the difference between Probability and Statistics and the role of Probability in solving statistical inference problems.
  2. Perform probability calculations about the sample mean and use them to make inferential statements.
  3. Understand some basic ideas about interval estimation; be familiar with Type I and Type II errors in hypothesis tests and be able to calculate the p-value and power of various statistical tests.
  4. Find confidence intervals and perform hypothesis tests about a single population mean, a single population proportion, the difference between two population means, and a single population variance.
  5. Analyse enumerative data through chi-squared goodness-of-fit and contingency table tests.
  6. Calculate and interpret the linear correlation coefficient for relating two variables.
  7. Fit the least squares line to data pairs, and make statistical inferences about the slope of the underlying population equation, and perform basis prediction.
  8. Understand the basics of some survey designs.
  9. Understand when and in what ways a randomised block experimental design is often superior to the completely randomised design.
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "Modern elementary statistics" by Freund, John E
    Publisher: Prentice Hall
  2. "Elementary Statistics – a step by step approach" by Bluman, A
    Publisher: McGraw Hill
  3. "ntroduction to Probability and Statistics" by DeVeaux & Velleman,
    Publisher: Hinde, J, & Newell, J.
The above information outlines module ST238: "Introduction to Statistical Inference" and is valid from 2015 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.