MA3504: Official Statistics
School | Cardiff School of Mathematics |
Department Code | MATHS |
Module Code | MA3504 |
External Subject Code | 100406 |
Number of Credits | 10 |
Level | L6 |
Language of Delivery | English |
Module Leader | Dr Andrey Pepelyshev |
Semester | Autumn Semester |
Academic Year | 2015/6 |
Outline Description of Module
This module is designed to provide you with the specialist skills and knowledge which are central to the conducting professional statistical work in civil service. The module introduces standard methods of drawing samples from finite populations, making inferences about population characteristics, theory in survey inference, the methodology for survey based estimation for population totals and related quantities, regression estimation for modelling relationships between variables with an emphasis on practical considerations, the principles and methods used to compensate for non-response following survey data collection, calibration methods for household surveys, the theory of index numbers as a means of making price and quantity comparisons.
Several lectures will be delivered by practitioners from the Office of National Statistics who will describe the case studies with application of official statistics.
Prerequisite Modules: MA1501 Statistical Inference
Recommended Modules: MA2500 Foundations of Probability and Statistics
On completion of the module a student should be able to
- Deduce and compare estimates for means, totals, proportions, and ratios for different sampling methods.
- Apply alternative weighting methods used to compensate for the effects of unit non-response.
- Exploit calibration methods for household surveys.
- Use different approaches to index number problems and methods for dealing with quality change and new goods.
- Apply the theory to practical surveys.
How the module will be delivered
22 - 50 minute lectures
5 - 50 minute exercise classes
Some handouts will be provided in hard copy or via Learning Central, but students will be expected to take notes of lectures.
Students are also expected to undertake at least 50 hours private study including preparation of worked solutions for exercise classes.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Be able to estimate means, totals, proportions, and ratios using various sampling procedures, and be able to compare accuracies.
Be able to apply alternative methods to compensate for the effects of item non-response, with a focus on imputation methods.
Be able to use calibration methods for household surveys.
Be able to use different approaches to index number problems and methods for dealing with quality change and new goods.
Transferable Skills:
Knowledge of the application of theory to practical surveys in various fields.
How the module will be assessed
The in-course element of summative assessment is made up of written courseworks. This allows students to demonstrate a level of knowledge and skills appropriate for that stage in the module, and apply theory to practical real-world examples.
The major component of summative assessment is the written examination at the end of the module. This gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their overall achievement of learning outcomes. It also allows them to give evidence of the higher levels of knowledge and understanding required for above average marks. The examination paper will contain questions looking for derivation of proofs, and application of formulae within numerical examples.
The examination paper has a choice of three from four equally weighted questions.
Assessment Breakdown
Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
---|---|---|---|
Exam - Autumn Semester | 85 | Official Statistics | 2 |
Written Assessment | 5 | Coursework | N/A |
Class Test | 10 | Class Test | N/A |
Syllabus content
- Estimation for simple random sampling, stratified sampling and cluster sampling.
- Regression and ratio estimation.
- Non-response and imputation of missing values.
- Calibration.
- Index numbers.
Background Reading and Resource List
Lohr, S. L., Sampling: Design and Analysis, Duxbury
Fuller, W. A.,Sampling Statistics, Wiley
Cochran, W. G., Sampling Techniques, Wiley
Kish, L., Survey Sampling, Wiley
Diewert, W.E. and Nakamura, A.O (eds.) (1993), Essays in Index Number Theory, Volume 1, Amsterdam: North Holland.