Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

SUNWAY UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL

SUBJECT OVERVIEW

BST 1014/ STA 1024/ STA 2014: BUSINESS STATISTICS

Course : Bachelor of Science (Hons) Accounting and Finance
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Business Management
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Business Studies
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Marketing
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Global Supply Chain Management
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Science (Hons) International Business
Bachelor of Science (Hons) International Hospitality
Management
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Culinary Management
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Conventions and Events
Management
Subject Code and Title : BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014
Business Statistics
Credit hours : 4
Semester : August 2018
Contact Hours : 2 hours of lecture; 1 hour of lab; 1 hour of tutorial
Lecturer : Dr. Norazryana Mat Dawi (norazryanad@sunway.edu.my)
Tutor : Prof. Hwang Ha Jin (hjhwang@sunway.edu.my)
Dr. Nasir Abdul Jalil (nasira@sunway.edu.my)
Dr. Nurhasniza Abu Hasan (nurhasnizaa@sunway.edu.my)
Office : SUBS Academic office, Level 6, New Building
Telephone No : (603) – 7491 8622
Ext. 7366 (Dr. Norazryana Mat Dawi)
Consultation Hours : By appointment only

Subject Description

This course is not about business itself but about statistical tools used for business analysis.
Today, an increasing variety of data is available to businesses which their leaders can use to
assist their decision-making. Indeed, business managers and professionals are increasingly
required to justify decisions on the basis of data. And these decisions are invariably made
under conditions of uncertainly. To do this effectively requires knowledge of appropriate
statistical techniques to manipulate data and to draw inferences from them. What do these
techniques do? Just like the weather, there is no technique that can control it, only those that
can measure and predict it with a certain degree of probability.

This course starts with descriptive statistics, with the focus on summary measures to describe
specific attributes of data sets. It then moves from description to analysis – estimating and

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

hypothesis testing. From individual variables, analysis proceeds to examining relationships –

association and causation. Students learn SPSS as a practical way of handling voluminous
and/or complex estimation techniques

Subject Objectives
Its overall objective is to equip students with basic statistical skills needed in their study of
business management. It is not a course in statistical methods, but one on applied statistics,
specifically with respect to business.

Within this framework, the specific course objectives are indicated as follows:

(1) Learn how to use statistics to describe specific business phenomena.

(2) Learn about methods to present and/or summaries data characteristics.
(3) Understand the basics of probability that underlie much of statistical thinking.
(4) Use this understanding to learn about methods of estimation, tests of hypotheses, and
measurement of association and forecasts of trends; and
(5) Be able to use statistical software packages to calculate these summary characteristics
and estimate statistical relationships

For the immediate future, this course builds foundation for the second year course BMB2209:
Quantitative Analysis. More generally, the course enables the student to apply basic statistical
tools to analyze business problems. These tools are especially useful for decision-making
under conditions of uncertainty.

Looking beyond the realm of business, knowledge of statistical analysis is valuable for its own
sake. It helps logical thinking and analysis, and it also hones problem solving skills. Needless
to say, the same techniques are used in different disciplines.

Subject Learning Outcomes (SLO)

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

SLO 1 : Explain statistical concepts and its application within a business setting
environment;
SLO 2 : Present quantitative business information using descriptive and summary
statistics;
SLO 3 : Make statistical inferences for modelling and decision-making based on real
business situations; and
SLO 4 : Apply sound statistical knowledge through the use of the statistical packages.

Mapping of SLO and PLO:

Subject Programed Learning Outcomes (PLO)
Learning PLO 1 PLO 2 PLO 3 PLO 4 PLO 5 PLO 6 PLO 7 PLO 8 PLO 9
Outcomes
(SLO)
SLO 1 
SLO 2 
SLO 3 
SLO 4 

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

Delivery Methods

Students learn through lectures and lab work.

Lectures are delivered with MS Power Point as visual aids. Each lecture covers a major topic
on the various aspects of Business Statistics. Students should note that while a lecture is self-
contained in terms of presentation and broken down into 14 weeks, the topics are closely
interrelated, whereby pre-requisite knowledge is needed before progressing to the next topic.
This interconnectedness is essential to their understanding and the substance of the course
in a holistic manner. While the focus will be on conveying facts and techniques related to
business statistics and its application, lectures also point students to important sources of
reading via on the Internet or other resources and these readings go hand in hand with the
lectures. These recommended readings are part of the knowledge based on which students
are assessed.

Lab work is designed to supplement lectures, encouraging students to use hands on

approach on a statistical software namely; SPSS and helping them to strengthen their
understanding of the contents of the lectures. They consist mostly of lab practical assignments
and /or short exercises that students are expected to complete in class. The rough breakdown
of the topics covered in the lab sessions is the following:

Statistical Descriptions
 Graphical - Producing various forms of graphical output using SPSS.
 Summary – Producing statistical summary of data using contingency tables, OLAP
cubes and other means.
Statistical Inferences
 Estimation - Producing point estimates and confidence intervals for population
means, proportions and totals using SPSS.
 Hypotheses Testing – Conduct both parametric and non-parametric hypotheses
testing using SPSS. Interpretation of output tables and p-values.
 Regression Analysis – Analyze variants of regression models. Perform diagnostics
tests to evaluate the models

Assessment

Students are assessed in two ways, namely, a final examination and coursework. The
allocation of marks for each assessment mode is as follows:

No. Method of Assessment Total

1. Coursework 30%
 Mid-term Test 10%
 Group Assignment 20%
2. Final Examination 70%

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Marks awarded are provisional and subject to change, and are only deemed final once
approved by the Board of Examiners.

Late Submission Penalty Clause

The deadline for submission of assignment is to be strictly adhered to. No extension of time
will be allowed except in extenuating circumstances, e.g. medical reasons. Students who wish
to apply for an extension of time for the submission of assessment item(s) after the due date
shall put in writing the request, together with validated documentary evidence to support the
application.
If an assignment is submitted after its due date (and without approval for extension), the
following penalty will be imposed:

 Coursework submitted after the deadline but within 1 week will be accepted for
a maximum mark of 40%.
 Work handed in following the extension of 1 week after the original deadline will
be regarded as a non-submission and marked at zero.

Academic Malpractice

Plagiarism, whether inadvertent or deliberate, shall include the following:

 Word-for-word copying of sentences or whole paragraphs from one or more sources, or
presenting substantial extracts from books, articles, thesis, other unpublished work
such as working papers, seminar and conference papers, internal reports, computer
software, lecture notes or tapes, without clearly indicating their origin.
 Using very close paraphrasing of sentences of whole paragraphs without due
acknowledgement in the form of reference to the original.
 Submitting another student’s work in whole or in part.
 Use of other person’s ideas, work or research data without acknowledgement.
Collusion, whether inadvertent or deliberate, shall include the following
 Submitting an “individual assignment” that was jointly prepared by the candidate and
another third party, e.g. other students, family, professionals, or tutors/lecturers.
 Submitting a “group assignment” that was jointly prepared by the group and any
external party, e.g. family, students from other subjects, or professionals.
 Copying each other’s work and passing it off as an individual effort.

Please refer to Student Handbook for Diploma and Undergraduate Programmed or

Blackboard for details about academic malpractice penalties.

Subject Outline
The following is the subject outline by topics with recommended readings indicated against each of
them. Readings may be added during the semester, as and when appropriate.

Week Topics Lab Sessions Reference

1 Data and Decisions Black ch. 1& 2
Statistics in business. Sharpe ch 1
Obtaining data and
statistical information.
Basic statistical concepts.
 Data measurement.

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

2 Descriptive statistics Introduction to SPSS Black ch. 3

 Measures of central The SPSS Coakes ch. 1
tendency: Underground data. environment Sharpe ch 2 & 3
Measures of variability: Data editor, viewer
Ungrouped data. Menus
Measures of central Output window
Tendency and variability: Questionnaire Design
Grouped data. Collecting Data
Measures of association.
Measures of shape.

3 Probability Black ch. 4

Introduction to probability. Sharpe ch. 5
Measures of assigning
Probabilities.
Structure of probability.
Marginal, union, joint and
Conditional probabilities.
Addition laws.
Multiplication laws.
Conditional probability.
4 Discrete probability Data Entry and Black ch. 5
Discrete versus preparation Coakes ch. 2
continuous probability. Types of data Sharpe ch. 6
Describing a discrete Variables (names &
distribution. labels)
Binomial distribution. Missing values
Poisson distribution. Measurement levels
Moving variables
Data cleaning

5 The Normal and other Black ch. 6

Continuous Distribution. Sharpe ch. 7
Normal distribution.
Using normal curve to
approximate binomial
Distribution problems.
6 Sampling and sampling Graphs and charts Black ch. 7
distributions Charting and graphing Coakes ch. 4
Types of sampling. capabilities Sharpe ch. 8
Probabilistic sampling Manipulating graphs
Non - probabilistic and charts
Sampling Pivot tables
Help menu
Case studies

Recoding
Reasons for recoding
Handling missing
values
Recoding into different
Categories
Graphing recoded
Categories

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

Descriptive statistics
The Frequencies and
Descriptive functions
Preliminary graphical
check on variables
Measures of central
tendency (mean, median
and mode)
Measures of
dispersions (range,
variance, standard
deviation)
Measures of
distribution (skewness and
kurtosis)

Sampling and sampling Black ch. 7

distributions II Sharpe ch. 9
Sampling distributions of
the mean.
Sampling distribution of
proportions.
7 Statistical Inference: Black ch. 8
Confidence Interval
Estimating the population
mean using z statistic
 Estimating the population
mean using t statistic
 Estimating the population
proportion and variance
8 Mid Semester Break
9 Statistical inference: Statistical inference: Black ch 9
Hypotheses testing for Estimation for single Coakes ch. 19
single populations. population. Sharpe ch.11&12
Introduction to statistical Estimating the
hypothesis testing. population using Z-
Testing hypotheses about statistics.
a population mean using the Estimating the
z-statistic. population mean using the
Testing hypotheses about t-statistics.
a population mean using the
t-statistic. One Sample T-test and
Solving for type II errors. independent sample T-
test
Checking assumptions
Data type involved
Differences between
two populations
Checking for variance
equality amongst groups
T-test, Levene’s
statistics
Hypothesis testing
report

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

10 Statistical inferences about Black ch. 10

two populations. Sharpe ch. 12
Hypotheses testing and & 13
confidence intervals for the
difference in two means using
the z- statistics.
Hypotheses testing and
confidence intervals for the
difference in two means using
the t-statistics.
Statistical inferences for
two related populations.
Statistical inferences
about two population
proportions.
Testing hypotheses about
two variances.
11 Analysis of variance and ANOVA test Black ch. 11
design of experiments. Checking assumptions Coakes ch. 7
Introduction to design of Data type involved Sharpe ch. 20
experiments. Differences between
The completely more than two
randomised design (one-way populations
ANOVA). Checking for variance
The randomized block equality amongst
design. groups
Analysis of Variance of
table output
Hypothesis testing
report

The F-test
Adequacy of model
F- statistics
interpretation
Relationship between
F statistic and T-statistics
Hypothesis testing
report
12 Analysis of categorical Black ch. 12
data. Sharpe ch. 14
Chi-square goodness-of-fit
test.
Contingency analysis:
Chi- square test of
independence.
13 Correlation
j and Linear Correlation Black ch. 13
Regression Checking assumptions Coakes ch. 17
Introduction to simple Data type involved Sharpe ch. 4
regression analysis. Strength of
Determining the equation relationships
of the regression line. Pearson’s R
Residual analysis. Hypothesis testing report
Coefficient of
determination. Test of Association
Estimation and prediction. Checking assumptions
Interpreting the output. Data type involved
Strength of association
Chi-Square statistics
Hypothesis testing
report

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Sunway University Business School BST1014/ STA 1024/ BST2014/ STA 2014 Subject Overview

Reading List

Main Reference

1. Black, K., et al. (2016). Australasian Business Statistics (4th Ed.). Wiley and Sons
2. Sharpe, De Veaux and Velleman. (2015) Business Statistcis (3Ed). Pearson
3. Coakes, S.J. and Steed, L.G. (2013). SPSS: Analysis Without Anguish Using SPSS
version 20.0 for Windows. Sydney: John Wiley & Sons.
4. Carver, R. H. and Nash, J. D. (2012). Doing Data Analysis with SPSS version 18.
Brookes and Cole.
5. Kirkpatrick, L. A. and Feeney, B. C. (2009). A Simple Guide to SPSS for Version 16.0.
Wadsworth.

Additional Reference

1. Selvanathan, A. et al. (2007). Australian Business Statistics, 4 Ed, Abridged.

Thompson Learning.
2. Brenson, M., et al. (2012). Basic Business Statistics (12th Ed). London: Pearson
Education.
3. Bowerman, B.L. and O’Connell, R. T. (2012). Essentials of Business Statistics, 4th
Edition Miami: McGraw Hill.
4. Sweeney, D.J., et al. (2009). Fundamentals of Business Statistics( 5th Ed). Thompson
Learning.
5. Keller, G. (2009). Managerial Statistics. Thompson Learning
6. Mann, P. S. (2007). Introductory Statistics (6th Ed). Wiley and Sons.