MA321-7-SU-CO:
Applied Statistics
2024/25
Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (School of)
Colchester Campus
Summer
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Tuesday 22 April 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
15
22 February 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module covers three application areas of statistics: multivariate methods, demography and epidemiology and sampling.
The aim of this module is:
- To foster statistical thinking and create data scientists that have both theoretic knowledge and application skills.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand and to apply multivariate methods.
- Assess the results of discriminant analysis, principal components, cluster analysis and multivariate analysis of variance.
- Understand and to apply demographical and epidemiological methods.
- Understand and to use the notion of support vector machines, with applications to classification.
- Understand and to apply sampling methods.
Indicative syllabus
Vectors of expected values. Covariance and correlation matrices. Discriminant analysis, choice between two populations, calculation of discriminant function, and probability of misclassification, test and training samples, leave-one-out and k-fold cross-validation, idea of extension to several populations. Principal components; definition, interpretation of calculated components, use in regression. Cluster analysis, similarity measures, single-link and other hierarchical methods, k-means. Informal approaches to checking for multivariate Normality. Tests and confidence regions for multivariate means.
- Demography and epidemiology
Population pyramids. Life tables. Standardised rates (e.g. mortality). Incidence and prevalence. Design and analysis of cohort (prospective) studies. Design and analysis of case-control (retrospective) studies. Confounding and interaction.
Matched case control design and analyses, using McNemar's test. Causation.
Relative risk. Odds ratio. Estimation and confidence intervals for 2x2 tables.
Mantel-Haenszel procedure. Sensitivity, specificity, ROC curves, positive predictive value, negative predictive value.
Census and sample survey design. Target and study populations, uses and limitations of non-probability sampling methods, sampling frames, sampling fraction.
Simple random sampling. Estimators of totals, means and proportions; bias. Estimated standard errors, confidence intervals and precision. Sampling fraction and finite population correction. Ratio and regression estimators. Stratified random sampling. Estimators of totals, means and proportions; bias. Estimated standard errors, confidence intervals and precision. Cost functions. Proportional and optimal allocations. Limitations of stratified sampling. One-stage cluster sampling. Estimators for totals, means and proportions with equal cluster sizes and with different cluster sizes. Estimated standard errors, confidence intervals and precision. Link with systematic sampling. Description of two-stage sampling and of multi-stage sampling. Limitations.
Teaching in the School will be delivered using a range of face to face lectures, classes and lab sessions as appropriate for each module. Modules may also include online only sessions where it is advantageous, for example for pedagogical reasons, to do so.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.