48994 - Statistics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is introduced to the empirical research process, with special emphasis on the techniques for primary data collection and the basic tools for exploratory data analysis.

Course contents

The research design

Qualitative vs. quantitative research

The survey plan and survey methods

The Questionnaire and field work

Sampling techniques

Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing

Correlation and regression

Research report preparation and presentation

Readings/Bibliography

Field, AP, 2009, Discovering statistics using SPSS (and sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll) 3. ed., Sage, Los Angeles.

Mazzocchi, M, 2008, Statistics for Marketing and Consumer Research, Sage, Los Angeles

Other specific materials (journal articles, book chapters) will be made available by the lecturer.

Teaching methods

Theory and methods will be presented during the lectures, while lab tutorials will be devoted to the application of the above on real or simulated data through the use of statistical software.

Assessment methods

The module will be assessed on (a) an individual project during the course and (b) a multiple choice evaluation after the course. The project consists in an individual written assignment, answering a specific research question, structured as a research report and covering the following: Research question, Methodology, Data, Results, Discussion, Executive summary

The weighting of a : b is 70 : 30.

Teaching tools

Lab sessions in SPSS
Interactive forum on an e-platform (for group projects)

Links to further information

http://www2.stat.unibo.it/mazzocchi

Office hours

See the website of Mario Mazzocchi