Foundations in Applied Statistics (FiAS-6)

This is an introductory course for students who have little or no prior training in statistics.

The module is divided between pre-recorded mini-lectures, in which you'll learn the relevant theory, and hands-on live practical sessions in Zoom, in which you will learn how to analyse real data using the statistical package, Stata.

You will learn:

• The key features of quantitative analysis, and how it differs from other types of empirical analysis
• The basics of formal hypothesis testing
• Basic concepts: what is a variable? what is the distribution of a variable? and how can we best represent a distribution graphically?
• Features of statistical distributions: measures of central tendency and dispersion
• The normal distribution
• Why statistical testing works
• Statistical methods used to test simple hypotheses
• How to use Stata

• Postgraduate students and staff
• Further details regarding eligibility criteria are available here

Absolutely no prior knowledge is needed, but you must take the SSRMP Skill Check before booking, to ensure that this module is at the correct level for you.

Number of sessions: 4

This module is very popular, so we repeat it several times. Each module runs over 2 sessions, covers exactly the same material, and is at the same level.

The statistical package Stata.

An end-of-module assessment (open-book online test). Weekly online quizzes are available to help you prepare.

There is no set text for this module; although recommended readings and all necessary information on the module's Moodle page.

Please complete the Basic Statistics Stream booking request form on the SSRMP website

Moodle is the 'Virtual Learning Environment' (VLE) that the SSRMP uses to deliver online courses.

SSRMP lecturers use Moodle to make teaching resources available before, during, and/or after classes, and to make announcements and answer questions.

For this reason, it is vital that all SSRMP students enrol onto and explore their course Moodle pages once booking their SSRMP modules via the UTBS, and that they do so before their module begins. Moodle pages for modules should go live around a week before the module commences, but some may be made visible to students, earlier.

For more information, and links to specific Moodle module pages, please visit our website

8 hours over 1 week (4 hours lectures; 4 hours lab)

2 morning lectures and 2 afternoon lab sessions over one week.

• Foundations in Applied Statistics Using R (FiAS-6)
• Basic Quantitative Analysis Using Stata (BQA-5)
• Doing Multivariate Analysis Using Stata (DMA-5)
• Further Topics in Multivariate Analysis Using R (FTMA-4)