THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI

Course Outline

BSTA 2103: Business Inferential Statistics

1. Programme : Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy)

2. Presented to : Senate
3. Presented by : Faulty of Commerce
4. Subject : Business Statistics
5. Year/level of Study : Year 2, Semester 1
6. Module Title : Business Inferential Statistics
7. Course Code : BSTA 2103
8. Duration : Semester
9. Lecture hours per week :2
10.Tutorial hours /week :1
11. Practical hours per week :2
12.Student independent learning hours per week: 4
13.Total Module credits :3
14.Prerequisite Module : BSTA 1103
15.Core Requisite Module :
16.Delivery Methods:
16.1 Mode of Delivery : Face to Face
16.2 Teaching Methods : Lectures, Tutorials, Group Discussions
: MS Excel and SPSS software applications
16.3 Assessment Weighting : Final examination 50%,
: Continuous assessment 50%
17.Aim(s) of course
The course aims to extend students statistical knowledge gained in the
introduction to statistics to equip them with more advanced contemporary
statistics which will enhance their ability to solve more complex problems and
make better decisions in their managerial capacities in organisations.

18.Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course students should be able to:
a) Understand various probability distributions.
b) Outline probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling methods
 c) Carry out interval estimation of population mean and proportion
d) Test hypotheses of various data distributions and apply in statistical
quality control.
e) Draw inference of parametric and non-parametric distributions
f) Test the goodness of fit and independence of variables and populations.
g) Carry out ANOVA testing and regression/correlation tests

19.Topics of study
a. Probability distributions
i. Discrete random probability distributions
ii. Continuous random probability distributions
 The normal distribution
 Other distributions

b. Sampling
i. Principles and scope of sampling and ethical guidelines for statistical
practitioners
ii. Probability sampling methods
iii. Non-probability sampling methods
iv. Sampling distributions and the Central Limit Theory
v. Determining the sample size

c. Interval Estimation
i. The margin of error and interval estimation
ii. Population mean with known standard deviation
iii. Population mean with unknown standard deviation
iv. Population proportion

d. Hypothesis Testing
i. The null and alternative hypotheses
ii. Types of errors
iii. One-Tailed and Two-Tailed tests of population mean with known
standard deviation
iv. One-Tailed and Two-Tailed tests of population mean with unknown
standard deviation
v. Hypothesis testing of population proportion

e. Statistical Inference
i. Inference about the difference between two population means with
their standard deviations known
ii. Inference about the difference between two population means with
their standard deviations unknown
iii. Inference about the difference between two population means;
matched samples
iv. Inference about the difference between two population proportions
 v. Inference about population variances

f. Test of Goodness of Fit

i. Multinomial populations
ii. Test of independence
iii. Poisson and normal distributions

g. ANOVA and Regression Tests

i. ANOVA tests of k population means
ii. Regression and correlation tests

20.Prescribed texts
William, T. A., Sweeny, D. J., Anderson, D. R. (2006) Contemporary
Business Statistics, Mason USA, Thomson Higher Education
Clarke, GM, & Cook, D., 1998. A Basic Course in Statistics, 4th Ed,
Arnold
Crawshaw, J., 2001. A Concise Course in Advanced Level Statistics,
London, Nelson Thornes.
Field, A., 2005, Discovering Statistics: using SPSS for windows, London,
Sage Publications.
Freund R.J., Wilson W.J. & Ping Sa. 2006. Regression Analysis Statistical
Modeling of a Response Variable (2nd Ed): UK
HeeringaS.G., WestB.T.&Berglund P.A. 2010. Applied Survey Data
Analysis Statistics in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Series, USA,
Chapman & Hall/CRC Taylor & Francis Group.
Lehmann, E.L, and Romano, 2005.Testing Statistical Hypothesis, New
York. Springer.

21.Recommended texts
Attwood, G., 1995. Statistics 2, Oxford, Heinemann Educational Pub.
Beck,& Arnold KJ, 1977, Parameter Estimation in Engineering and
Science, New York, John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Cochran,W. G, 1996. Experimental Designs , New York, John Wiley
Sons.
Dubbelman, C., Disturbances in the linear model, estimation and
hypothesis testing, Boston, Kluwer-Nijhoff Pub.
Francis, A., 1988. Advanced Level Statistics: An Integrated Course,
Cheltenham, Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd.
Freund, JE, 2007. Modern Elementary Statistics, Pearson: New Jersey
Hays, WL, 1988. Statistics, New York, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc:.
Lefebvre Mario .2009. Basic Probability Theory with Applications:
London New York, Springer Science + Business Media.
Koch, K., 1999. Parameter Estimation and Hypothesis Testing in Linear
models,
Springer.Lehmann, E.L, and Romano, 2005. Testing Statistical
Hypothesis, New York , Springer.