ÐÂÀË²ÊÆ±

STATS 4106 - Mathematical Statistics - Honours

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

Statistical methods used in practice are based on a foundation of statistical theory. One branch of this theory uses the tools of probability to establish important distributional results that are used throughout statistics. Another major branch of statistical theory is statistical inference. It deals with issues such as how do we define a "good" estimator or hypothesis test, how do we recognise one and how do we construct one? This course is concerned with the fundamental theory of random variables and statistical inference. Topics covered are: calculus of distributions, moments, moment generating functions; multivariate distributions, marginal and conditional distributions, conditional expectation and variance operators, change of variable, multivariate normal distribution, exact distributions arising in statistics; weak convergence, convergence in distribution, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem; statistical inference, likelihood, score and information; estimation, minimum variance unbiased estimation, the Cramer-Rao lower bound, exponential families, sufficient statistics, the Rao-Blackwell theorem, efficiency, consistency, maximum likelihood estimators, large sample properties; tests of hypotheses, most powerful tests, the Neyman-Pearson lemma, likelihood ratio, score and Wald tests, large sample properties.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code STATS 4106
    Course Mathematical Statistics - Honours
    Coordinating Unit Mathematical Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
    Prerequisites STATS 2107 or (MATHS 2201 AND maths 2202)
    Assumed Knowledge STATS 2107
    Assessment ongoing assessment 30%, exam 70%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Gary Glonek

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1. demonstrate knowledge of, and properties of, statistical models in common use,
    2. understand the basic principles underlying statistical inference (estimation and hypothesis testing),
    3. be able to construct tests and estimators, and derive their properties,
    4. demonstrate knowledge of applicable large sample theory of estimators and tests.

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    All
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    All
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,2
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    A set of lecture notes will be provided.
    Recommended Resources
    Online (MyUni) resources:
    1. Mathematical Statistics III Lecture Notes, by P. Solomon and G Glonek.
    2. Introduction to Statistical Theory, by R. Muirhead and J. Sun.

    Useful books:
    1. Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis (3rd ed.), by J. A. Rice, Duxbury Press.
    2. Statistical Inference (2nd ed.), by G. Casella and R. L. Berger, Duxbury Press.
    Online Learning
    MyUni will be used for distributing lecture notes and assignments, as well as communicating with students.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course relies on lectures as the primary delivery mechanism for the material. Tutorials supplement the lectures by providing exercises and example problems to enhance the understanding obtained through lectures. A sequence of written assignments provides assessment opportunities for students to gauge their prog