Elements of statistics

Introduction....................................................................................................................2

1 Overview.................................................................................................................3

About this course....................................................................................................3

2 Course materials......................................................................................................3

Elements of Statistics.............................................................................................3

Do this....................................................................................................................5

Try this...................................................................................................................5

Acknowledgements........................................................................................................5

1
Introduction
This practical introduction to statistics is for those who want to understand and
perhaps make use of basic statistical concepts. Although it includes the theoretical
principles underlying the practice of statistics, the main emphasis in on a
methodological approach. This course was replaced in 2003 by M248 Analysing data.

Preface and acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Data

Chapter 2 Models of Data I

Chapter 3 Models of Data II

Chapter 4 Models of Data III

Chapter 5 The normal distribution

Chapter 6 Point estimation

Chapter 7 Estimation with confidence

Chapter 8 Testing hypotheses

Chapter 9 Examining the assumptions

Chapter 10 Explanatory relations

Chapter 11 Related variables

Chapter 12 Random processes

Chapter 13 A Look Back

Chapter 14 A Look Forward

Solutions to the exercises

Appendix

Index of data sets

Index of examples

General index

2
 This material is taken from a discontinued Open University course. It is intended
for re-purposing and re-use by educators rather than for use directly by learners.
Learning outcomes appropriate to the original course may be provided within the
material, but it is intended that educators will construct new learning outcomes
appropriate to the re-use they make of this material.

1 Overview
About this course

Suggested study hours 230

Format: pdf for 1 booklet

About the course

The course was last presented in February 2002. It was replaced in 2003 by M248
Analysing data.

Originally this course also included television programmes and CD-ROMS. These are
not available here.

The book provides an introduction to statistics and probability for students across a
wide range of disciplines. The emphasis on problem solving through analysis of data
is enhanced by extensive use of real data sets throughout. The data have been drawn
from a wide range of subject areas to highlight the diversity of statistics.

This was the core text for students of the Open Universitys practical introductory
course on statistics, M246 Elements of Statistics. Written to support self-study it
provides an excellent foundation in statistics.

Includes real data, real problems, real solutions.

Written
from a student-centred perspective with self-assessment exercises and
examples.

Computer exercises not tied to one particular statistical software package.

This book was authored by:

Fergus Daly
David J. Hand

Chris Jones

Daniel Lunn

Kevin McConway

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2 Course materials
Elements of Statistics

Preface and acknowledgements (PDF, 12 pages, 1.8 MB)

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Chapter 1 Data (PDF, 42 pages, 2.2MB)

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Chapter 2 Models of Data I (PDF, 51 pages, 2.1MB)

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Chapter 3 Models of Data II (PDF, 46 pages, 2.5MB)

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Chapter 4 Models of Data III (PDF, 42 pages, 2.4MB)

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Chapter 5 The normal distribution (PDF, 40 pages, 2.0MB)

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Chapter 6 Point estimation (PDF, 41 pages, 1.5MB)

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Chapter 7 Estimation with confidence (PDF, 37 pages, 1.3MB)

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Chapter 8 Testing hypotheses (PDF, 43 pages, 2.1MB)

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Chapter 9 Examining the assumptions (PDF, 32 pages, 1.2MB)

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Chapter 10 Explanatory relations (PDF, 45 pages, 1.9MB)

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Chapter 11 Related variables (PDF, 37 pages, 2.3MB)

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View document

Chapter 12 Random processes (PDF, 38 pages, 1.4MB)

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Chapter 13 A look back (PDF, 29 pages, 1.2MB)

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Chapter 14 A look forward (PDF, 31 pages, 1.3MB)

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Solutions to the exercises (PDF, 105 pages, 2.9MB)

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Appendix (PDF, 6 pages, 0.2MB)

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Index of data sets (PDF, 1 pages, 0.1MB)

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Index of examples (PDF, 2 pages, 0.1MB)

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General index (PDF, 4 pages, 0.2MB)

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Acknowledgements
This material is taken from The Open University's OpenLearn website. OpenLearn
provides free open educational resources for learners and educators around the world
under a Creative Commons licence. Third party materials have been removed but for
ease of use the original acknowledgements copy has been included. For the online
version of this unit and for other free educational resources across a range of topics,
please go to http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.php.