Data Science · Beginner level

Beginner level · Module 3 of 5 · 10 guided hours

Statistics for Decisions

Describe data with the right summary statistics, understand distributions and sampling, and explain uncertainty in plain language.

Learning objectives

  • Choose between mean and median and describe spread
  • Explain samples, populations and sampling variation
  • Interpret a confidence interval in simple terms

Topics

  • mean, median and mode
  • range, IQR and standard deviation
  • skewed distributions
  • samples and populations
  • sampling variation
  • confidence intervals (introduction)

Lessons

  1. Lesson 1 Centre and Spread

    Choose the right summary of the typical value and describe how much values vary.

    mean and medianskewnessinterquartile rangestandard deviation

  2. Lesson 2 Distributions and Sampling

    Understand that a sample gives an estimate of a population and that different samples give different answers.

    population and samplerandom samplesampling variationsample size

  3. Lesson 3 Estimating with Uncertainty

    Report estimates with confidence intervals and explain them without jargon.

    estimatemargin of errorconfidence intervalplain-language uncertainty

Practical activity

Summarise household incomes and walking times from the survey, choose and justify the best measures and explain how certain the district estimates are.

Expected outcomes

  • Correct, well-chosen summaries
  • Plain-language explanations of uncertainty

Assessment

Short calculation test and a written explanation of a confidence interval for a non-specialist.

Free taster lesson Statistical Inference & Data Mining Read a free self-study lesson on this topic in the Free Course Library.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.