ST447 Half Unit
Data Analysis and Statistical Methods
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Sara Geneletti Inchauste
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Data Science. This course is available on the MSc in Health Data Science and MSc in Operations Research & Analytics. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
This course is NOT available on the following programmes: MSc in Statistics, MSc in Statistics (Research), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (Research), MSc in Statistics (Social Statistics), or MSc in Statistics (Social Statistics) (Research).
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Basic knowledge in calculus and linear algebra, as well as a course in probability and statistics equivalent to ST102.
Students who have no previous experience in R are required to take on an online pre-sessional R course from the Digital Skill Lab (https://moodle.lse.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=7745).
Course content
This course covers most frequently used statistical methods for data analysis. In addition to the standard inference methods such as parameter estimation, hypothesis testing, linear models and logistic regression, it also covers Monte Carlo methods, bootstrap, EM-algorithm, permutation tests, regression based on local fittting, causal inference and false discovery rates. The software R constitutes an integral part of the course, providing hands-on experience of data analysis.
Teaching
10 hours of seminars and 20 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce 5 exercises in the AT.
The bi-weekly exercises enable students to learn about the different methods of statistics and data analysis. They also provide students the opportunities to implement statistical methods in R.
Indicative reading
All of Statistics, by Larry Wasserman, Springer.
Data Analysis and Graphics using R: an Example-based Appoach, by John Maindonald an John Braun, Cambridge University Press.
Assessment
Exam (85%), duration: 120 Minutes in the January exam period
Project (15%)
Key facts
Department: Statistics
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 78
Average class size 2024/25: 26
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills