DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL STATISTICS

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA

Course Specification
Fields of Study: Social Statistics
1. Code of the Course Unit SOST 2102.3
2. Title of the Course Unit Probability and Probability Distributions
3. Number of Credits 03
4. Coordinator of the Course Unit -
5. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to the development of
Mission of FHSS the community and the nation at large through the dissemination and enhancement
of knowledge enriched with the country’s cultural heritage.
6. A student who has completed an undergraduate degree at the Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura will have acquired an
Gradate Profile advanced level of education -- subject specific knowledge, life skills and general
aptitude and intellect -- that equip him/her for employment, social responsibility,
personal development and for lifetime continuous learning
7. Graduate Attributes
8. Pre-requisites SOST 1110.3 - Basic Mathematics
9. Program Learning Outcomes
By the end of this program (Business Statistics / Social Statistics) graduates will be able to….
1. describe and use mathematical, statistical concepts along with theories clearly and effectively.
2. develop statistical modelling approaches through statistical analytical techniques.
3. apply statistical theories to make appropriate solutions for practical problems.
4. use ICT techniques and principles in management discipling for real world practical problems solutions
10. Rationale (Introductory Notes)
This course is designed to provide a theoretical foundation to measure the uncertainties involved in making statistical
decisions. The course covers set theory and techniques of counting, basic concepts of probability and main probability
distributions. Completing this course unit, the students should be able to measure risk in this arriving at decisions and
explaining the practical phenomenon using standard probability distributions.
11. Main objective of the course unit
Prepare students for solving problems using techniques of counting and understand basic concepts of probability and
standard probability distributions.
12. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) of the Course Unit
In completion of this course unit, students should be able to:
1. describe the concepts in set theory
2. apply the techniques of permutations and combinations
3. describe the approaches to probability
4. apply the concept of conditional probability including the Bayes’ theorem
5. explain the concept of random variables
6. determine the characteristics of a distribution of a random variable
7. determine the characteristics of a bi-variety distribution
8. apply the Binomial, Poisson and Normal distributions in solving problems.
13. Contents Mode of
Integrated
Delivery/Way of No. of ILO
Week Skills/
Main Themes Sub Themes Delivery (T/L Hours No.
Competencies
Materials)
• Program outcomes
• Rationale
• Main objective
Introduction • Intended learning outcomes
• Course content
• Assessment and evaluation criteria LMS-aided
1st • Recommended readings Lecturing 02 1 12, 15
• Introduction
• Sets elements
• Set Operations
Set theory
• Finite and Countable sets
• Product sets
• Classes of sets
1
 • Introduction
• Factorial notation
• Permutations
• Permutations with repetitions LMS-aided
Techniques of 02
2nd • Binomial coefficients and theorem Lecturing 2 2, 12, 15, 23
counting
• Combinations
• Ordered Partitions
• Tree diagrams
Tutorial - 01 Tutorial Material 02
3rd • Introduction
• Definitions of events
• Experiments and sample Spaces
• Concept of Probability
• Classical approach
LMS-aided
Introduction to • Relative frequency approach
Lecturing
02
3 2, 12, 15
4 th probability • Subjective approach
• Mathematical approach
• Finite probability spaces
• Finite equiprobable spaces
• Infinite sample spaces
Tutorial - 02 Tutorial Material 02
• Introduction
Conditional • Multiplication theorem for conditional
LMS-aided
5th Probability and probability 02
Lecturing
Independence • Finite Stochastic processes
• Tree diagrams
• Addition rule
• Mutually exclusive events
• Multiplication rule 4 2, 12, 15
LMS-aided
• Independent events 02
Lecturing
6 th Rules of • Total probability theorem
Probability • Bayes' theorem
• Independent or repeated trials
Students’ Feedback Collection
Tutorial Material 02
Tutorial - 03
7th • Introduction 02
• Distribution & expectation of a random
variable
• Variance & Standard deviation LMS-aided
Random • Independent random variables Lecturing 02 5, 6 2, 12, 15, 23
8th variables
• Discrete random variables in general
• Continuous random variables
• Cumulative distribution function
Tutorial - 04 Tutorial Material 02
• Introduction
• Probability density function
9th Probability LMS-aided
• Bi-variate distribution 02 7 2, 12, 15, 23
functions Lecturing
• Covariance
• Correlation of a bivariate distributions
Evaluation

Uniform distribution
• Introduction
Peer

LMS-aided
10th 02
• Probability function Lecturing 8 2, 12, 15, 23
Discrete • Mean & Variance
Probability
distributions Tutorial - 05 Tutorial Material 02
Binomial Distribution
• Binomial Experiment LMS-aided
11th 02 8 2, 12, 15, 23
• Probability function Lecturing
• Mean & Variance
2
 Poisson distribution
• Introduction
• Probability function
• Mean & Variance LMS-aided
02
12th Lecturing 8 2, 12, 15, 23
• Relationship between Binomial &
Poisson distributions
Students’ Feedback Collection
Tutorial - 06 Tutorial Material 02
Uniform distribution
• Introduction LMS-aided
13th 02 8 2, 12, 15, 23
• Probability function Lecturing
• Mean &Variance
Normal distribution
• Introduction
LMS-aided
14 th Continuous • Probability function 02
Probability Lecturing 8 2, 12, 15, 23
• Mean & Variance
distributions • Areas under the normal curve
Tutorial - 07 Tutorial Material 02
• Applications
LMS-aided
15th • Normal approximation to the Binomial 02
Lecturing 8 2, 12, 15, 23
distribution
Tutorial - 08 Tutorial Material 02
14. Number of Notional Hours:
No. of hours: 45 No. of Hours: 105
• Lectures • Self-learning
• Tutorials • Preparation of assignments
• Computer practical • Carrying out assignments and assessments
15. Assessment and Evaluation:
Formative Assessment (20/100 marks) Summative Assessment (80/100 marks)
• Mid-term assignment: 20 marks • Written semester-end examination (03 hours)
Integrated Soft Skills/ Competencies:
1. Aesthetic appreciation 2. Analytical/logical thinking 3. Collaboration 4. Communication 5. Controlling
frustrations 6. Creativity 7. Critical thinking 8. Decision-Making 9. Emotional resilience 10. Empathy and
compassion 11. Financial literacy 12. Flexibility and adaptability 13. Handling pressures 14. Information literacy
15. Information communication technology literacy 16. Initiative and self-direction 17. Leadership and
responsibility 18. Media literacy 19. Optimism and self-confidence 20. Perseverance 21. Persuading skills
22. Presentation skills 23. Problem-solving 24. Productivity and accountability 25. Research skills 26. Respect for
others 27. Self-development/life-long learning 28. Social and cross-cultural skills 29. Time management 30. Writing
skills
Recommended Readings
Primary:
16. • Jayatissa W.A. (1991) Basic Statistics II (Probability & Probability Distributions).
Secondary:
• Seymom L. (1968) Theory and Problems of Probability, Mcbraw-Hill, New York.
• Spegal Murray R., Theory and Problems of Statistics.