B5646 - BASIC ANALYTICS

Academic Year 2024/2025

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge of descriptive statistics and statistical inference. At the end of the course, the student knows how to: (i) analyze datasets with the main summary statistics and graphical tools; (ii) perform statistical inference to answer policy-relevant questions and take managerial decisions (iii) critically read statistical material aimed at measuring culture to answer policy-relevant questions.

Course contents

Mandatory

1. Data collection, management and visualization (Sampling and Data)

2. Descriptive statistics

3 Probability topics

4. Discrete random variables (Binomial distribution)

5. Continuous random variables (Normal distribution)

6. Composite indicators

Optional

7. The central limit theorem

8. Confidence Interval

 

Readings/Bibliography

Point 6 of the course contents: material supplied by teacher

Other points: B. Illowsky and S. Dean, Introductory Statistics 2e; Openstax ed. (available online)

Mandatory chapters: 1; 2; 3 (not 3.5.and 3.6); 4.1, 4.2, 4.3; 5.1; 6.1, 6.2.  Other chapters (better/simpler on teacher's slides) 11.1, 11.3; 12.3

Optional chapters: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3; 8.1, 8.2, 8.3

The material provided by the teacher contains summaries of the book chapters.

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures and case discussions.

Assessment methods

A written test containing both theoretical questions and exercises is mandatory. Each question is scored from 0 to 36, with 6 points awarded for unanswered questions. The final score is calculated as a weighted average of the individual scores, with weights determined by correlation and/or standard deviation measured leveraging the results of all the students taking the exame. The  method will be presented in a lab on "composite indicators.

No materials, including textbooks, notes, or electronic devices, are allowed during the test.

To take the exam, you must pre-register on AlmaEsami.

If you fail to enroll by the deadline, promptly inform the Secretary's office (before the official closing of registration). The teacher reserves the right to allow late admissions.

To finalize the exam grade, passing a qualification for Module 2 (Prof. Montalto) is required. However, the exam can be taken at any time, even without this qualification.

Grades can be recorded in the absence of the student.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Guizzardi

See the website of Valentina Montalto