EXC 2904 Statistics

EXC 2904 Statistics

Course code: 
EXC 2904
Department: 
Economics
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Einar Christopher Wellén
Course name in Norwegian: 
Statistics
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Common Courses
Semester: 
2025 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This is a basic statistics course that is included as a mandatory part of the bachelor programs in business administration subjects. The course provides an introduction to statistical thinking including basic probability theory, some statistical methods and elementary use of statistical data tools in order to be able to effectively process and analyze data. Use of statistical software is an important element of the course.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

After completing the course, the student should have:

  • Acquired a broad knowledge of the central statistical terms and understand how statistical analysis takes place from collection of data, via descriptive analysis to generalization to the population.
  • Acquired knowledge within basic probability theory, including knowledge of certain probability distributions and the central limit theorem and why this knowledge is necessary to justify the use of various statistical methods to analyze data.
  • Acquired knowledge of various statistical methods for analyzing data.
  • Acquired knowledge of the elementary use of statistical data tools and have understood that the use of statistical data tools is necessary to be able to effectively process and analyze data.
Learning outcomes - Skills

It is a goal that the course will enable the students to plan and carry out investigations using the most commonly used statistical methods. Students should be able to interpret analysis results from, for example, reports or computer printouts. After completing the course, students should be familiar with being able to use computer tools to process and analyze data.

General Competence
  • The students' ability for analytical thinking and an ability to reflect on results and calculations should be strengthened by completing the course.
  • To understand that statistical methods can easily be misused.
  • Taking anonymity and privacy into account when collecting data.
  • To know that there are other branches within the statistics subject, such as econometrics and machine learning.
Course content
  • Collection of data. Variables and measurementlevel.
  • Descriptive statistics: Central measures, dispersion measures, covariation measures and graphical representations.
  • Combinatorics and probability calculus. Conditional probability.
  • Random variables. Expectation, variance and covariance.
  • Central probability distributions with emphasis on the indicator distribution, binomial distribution, the normal distribution and the t-distribution. We are also considering a joint distribution for two discrete random variables.
  • Estimators and estimation. Sampling distributions and the central limit theorem. Confidence intervals.
  • Hypothesis tests for, among other things, average, proportion, comparison of averages in two groups, comparison of proportions in two groups, chi-square test for probabilities, chi-square test for covariation between categorical variables.
  • Simple linear regression including inference (confidence intervals and hypothesis tests for the regression parameters).
  • Active use of statistical software.
Teaching and learning activities

The course is carried out with 54 course hours which will consist of ordinary lectures where the syllabus is reviewed and problem solving (including problems which must be solved with computer tools). The software R is integrated into the teaching and the students will, through task solving, also actively process and analyze data using statistical software on their own.

Solving problems will be a central part of the joint lectures where the students are presented with tasks in the lecture and receive feedback by solving, reviewing and discussing these.

For each theme, a work program will be drawn up with literature references and task sets. The student must acquire the material in the literature reference and solve the tasks.

Computer tools are used in the subject. The tool will be R or other suitable software. The software R is free to download and does not require a license.

E-learning
In course delivery as online courses, lecturer will, in collaboration with the student administration, organize an appropriate course implementation, combining different learning activities and digital elements on the learning platform. Online students are also offered a study guide that will contribute to progression and overview. Total recommended time spent for completing the course also applies here.

Software tools
R/R-Studio
Additional information

Students who do not pass the written exam, or who wish to improve their grade, can take a new continuation exam when the exam is completed later.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

No particular prerequisites.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
School Exam
Form of assessment: 
Written School Exam - pen and paper
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • BI-approved exam calculator
  • Simple calculator
Duration: 
5 Hour(s)
Exam code: 
EXC29041
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
54 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
66 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
75 Hour(s)
Examination
5 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.