Practical modern statistics
On this page
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
The course provides an introduction to four major topics of modern applied statistics: medical statistics, time series, multivariate analysis, and Bayesian statistics. It’s ideal if you’ve already studied a general introductory statistics course and wish to broaden your knowledge of the field. The course emphasises underlying principles and practical applications rather than technical details. Use of the computer is an essential component – the course includes SPSS and WinBUGS software, which you’ll use to analyse data and develop your understanding of statistics. You’ll need mathematical competence at the level developed by Using mathematics (MST121), and statistical competence at the level developed by Analysing data (M248).
Course content
The course begins with an Introduction to statistical modelling (you can view or download this unit) in which the statistical prerequisites are reviewed and the statistical software package SPSS is introduced. Then the four topics of the course are introduced in successive books, each with associated computer material.
Book 1 Medical statistics describes how to identify factors associated with disease, and includes topics such as cohort and case-control studies; investigating sources of bias; randomised trials; and meta-analysis.
Book 2 Time series covers methods for analysing data collected over time, and forecasting future values using exponential smoothing and ARIMA models.
Book 3 Multivariate analysis discusses statistical methods for presenting and analysing data on several variables, with sections on principal component analysis and discrimination.
Book 4 Bayesian statistics introduces the Bayesian approach to statistics, in which expert knowledge can be incorporated into statistical models. This approach has become very popular in recent years, in part owing to the availability of special statistical software such as WinBUGS, which is used in this course.
Finally, a Review unit takes a look back at the course as a whole.
The course is illustrated with practical examples and real data sets from a range of areas, including epidemiology, economics, education, genetics, and environmental science. Numerous activities and exercises, also based on real data, are used to illustrate the methods and develop statistical modelling and critical assessment skills.
Entry
This is a Level 2 statistics course requiring a good knowledge of statistical ideas and methods at an introductory level. The statistical prerequisites are revised in the Introduction to statistical modelling. They include: graphical and numerical data summaries; the basic statistical distributions including the normal, exponential, uniform, binomial and Poisson distributions; confidence intervals and significance tests, correlations and contingency tables. No knowledge of regression is required. If you have taken Analysing data (M248) or the discontinued course M246, you should have the required statistical background. If you have taken the discontinued course BM240 you will be familiar with most of the statistical prerequisites, but may need to spend a little more time on the Introduction to statistical modelling. This extra time is built in to the course calendar. Please note that it is our experience that students are more likely to complete their course successfully if they have acquired their prerequisite knowledge through passing the recommended course(s).
The course also requires a mathematical knowledge similar to that expected in an introductory statistical course such as Analysing data (M248). Thus, if you have passed M248, or done well in Open mathematics (MU120) or passed Using mathematics (MST121) your mathematical knowledge should be ample. You are expected to be familiar with mathematical notation, to be able to follow short algebraic arguments, to handle the logarithm and exponential functions, and to use formulae. No knowledge of calculus, differentiation or integration is required.
You are assumed to have some experience of using a computer.
If you would like more information about this course, you can view or download the first unit Introduction to Statistical Modelling here. A diagnostic quiz that will enable you to determine whether you are adequately prepared for this course can also be found on the Stats Choices website. This website also contains more information about the statistics courses available to you.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
M249 is a compulsory course in our
- BA/BSc (Honours) Mathematics and Statistics (B36)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Computing and Statistics (B34)
- Diploma in Statistics (D44)
M249 is an optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer. If you are sight-impaired, you may need assistance from a sighted helper for working with SPSS and WinBUGS. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, CD-ROMs, course website, and online forums.
You will need
A calculator.
You require access to the internet at least once a week during the course to download some essential course resources and to keep up to date with course news.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. But if you unavoidably miss or do badly in an assignment, some courses allow you a ‘substitution score’ for this assignment. In M249, this rule can apply to one tutor-marked assignment only. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Please note that TMAs for all undergraduate mathematics and statistics courses must be submitted on paper as – due to technical reasons – we are unable to accept TMAs via our eTMA system.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2010. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Mathematics and Statistics.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
This is the best of the three OU statistics courses (M248,M249,M346) because it uses industry best-of-breed software (SPSS) and covers ...
Read more
A very disappointing course. The mathematical content is minimal and blurred by far too much use of a computer package. ...
Read more
Whereas the underlying principles of the topics studied are suitable for a second level OU course in statistics, the underlying ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
Browse the prospectus
Request a print prospectus
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.