OVERVIEW

The course “Statistics – Module 1” aims to provide students with the main tools for the quantitative analysis of socio-economic phenomena and to establish the foundations necessary to tackle the other quantitative courses within the Degree Programme.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the fundamental tools of descriptive statistical analysis. Students will be able to address the problem of representing and summarizing the distribution of a characteristic within a population, and to consider the main methods for studying and measuring dependency relationships between different characteristics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge and understanding: Students will acquire knowledge of the main tools for information synthesis and for generalizing observed results obtained through sample surveys.

Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to reorganize data into univariate and bivariate frequency tables and provide appropriate graphical representations. They will be able to perform basic descriptive analyses for unidimensional phenomena and to analyze relationships among two or more variables, with particular reference to dependency analysis and linear regression.

Autonomy of judgement: Students are expected to use the acquired knowledge both conceptually and operationally, developing independent critical assessment skills and the ability to apply statistical tools in different contexts.

Communication skills: Students will acquire the technical language specific to the discipline in order to communicate clearly and unambiguously with both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Learning skills: Students will develop appropriate learning abilities enabling them to continue studying the subject independently.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures and practical sessions in a computer laboratory using Excel. Discussion of case studies. Approximately one quarter of the lessons (about 10 hours) will take place in the computer laboratory.

Students requiring compensatory tools and/or special arrangements due to disability, specific learning disorders (SLD), or special educational needs (SEN), either for exam preparation (ad hoc materials, tutoring support, individual meetings, etc.) or during examinations (e.g., concept maps, additional time, etc.), may contact the instructor in order to arrange appropriate accommodations.

Requests for services offered by the University of Genoa to students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN, as well as requests for compensatory tools and/or accommodations during examinations, must follow the procedures published on the Department website:
https://giurisprudenza.unige.it/serv_disabili

For further information, students may consult the University webpage:
https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa

Students may also contact Prof. Isabel Fanlo Cortés, DIGI inclusion officer (isa.fanlo@unige.it).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Elements of descriptive statistics

Data collection in statistical investigations

Distribution of a variable and its representation: frequency distributions, charts and diagrams

Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode and percentiles

Measures of variability

Analysis of association between two variables

Stochastic independence

Measures of dependence for qualitative variables

Measures of interdependence for quantitative variables

Measurement of the dependence of a quantitative variable on a qualitative variable

The simple linear regression model

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Borra S., Di Ciaccio A. (2021). Statistics – Methodologies for Social Sciences, 4th Edition, McGraw Hill.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes begin in the first week of the first semester according to the Department timetable.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of a written test, possibly with the aid of Excel, including both a theoretical section and a problem-solving section.

The complete examination regulations are published on the course webpage on Aulaweb.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written examination is divided into three parts:

1. multiple-choice questions of both theoretical and practical nature;
2. open-ended theoretical questions;
3. exercises.

Questions and exercises are selected so as to cover, as far as possible, all the topics included in the course syllabus. The theoretical questions are intended to assess the student’s level of understanding, while the exercises are used to evaluate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For non-attending students, there are no changes in the syllabus or assessment methods. Such students are nevertheless encouraged to contact the course instructor.