Postgraduate - UnitETX6500 - Statistical Inference

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Synopsis

This unit provides an introduction to probability theory and statistical inference for graduate studies in econometrics and business statistics and related fields. It is intended to prepare research students for a range of other units in econometrics and business statistics. The first part will cover basic probability theory and the second half will be concerned with aspects of statistical inference. Some prior exposure to the topics to at least the advanced undergraduate level will be assumed. This unit is designed for PhD students who intend to write a thesis in econometrics or business statistics. It is not intended for PhD students in other disciplines who need to learn some basic quantitative techniques for the empirical section of their dissertations, although students from other departments who are interested in more advanced methods may wish to take this unit.

Outcomes

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. ensure that students have the necessary familiarity with the essentials of probability theory and statistical inference to be able to read graduate level books and journal articles in econometrics and business statistics
2. minimise rote learning and to encourage students to provide justification to econometric and statistical ideas and to derive results from first principals. To this end, students need to know the basic definitions, concepts and the chain of arguments on which the econometric and statistical theory is built.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 30% Examination (3 hours): 70%

Contact hours

36 hours per semester of formal class contact.

Prerequisites

Students must be enrolled in either the 3194 Master of Philosophy or the 0029 Doctor of Philosophy to enrol in this unit.