Ambedkar University Delhi, Kashmere Gate

Course : Statistics and Data Exploration (SDE)

Course Code : SLS2EC104

Programme : MA in Economics Programme

Type : Compulsory

Credits : 4

Semester : I ( August -November 2017)

Course Coordinator : Saranika Sarkar

Content: What is this course about?

This course aims to train students in application of statistical methods for data analysis. It will primarily
focus on empirical investigation of relationships by means of regression analysis and other related
methods.

This is a second level course in Statistics. Students are expected to have done a first level course in
Statistics covering Descriptive Statistics, Probability, Basics of Estimation, Tests of Significance based on
Normal Distribution, and Simple Regression.

The course deals with data analysis in both exploratory and confirmatory framework though the relative
emphasis will be on the former. Classical courses on Statistics sought to train students and practitioners
in the art of ‘testing ideas with data’ based upon the theory of probability and statistical inference. This is
the confirmatory framework. The exploratory framework, on the other hand, constitutes a different
paradigm of learning from data in a theory guided process i.e ‘getting ideas from data’ given the
knowledge of the subject matter. Confirmatory analysis is about summarising data for testing of
hypotheses, while exploratory analysis is about visualising data for discovery of hypotheses.

The pedagogic approach is that of ‘learning by doing’, and to enable students to ‘think with data’ in order
to argue with evidence.

Learning Objectives: What are you going to learn?

The course seeks to equip students with quantitative skills for analysis of both primary and secondary
data. The emphasis is on understanding concepts and principles underlying the methods, and how to
apply them to real world data. The course also equips students with the necessary computer skills for
using a spreadsheet and a statistical software.

It particularly prepares students (a) to get more mileage out of their data through hypothesis searching,
and (b) to enable them to have a fruitful dialogue with statisticians whenever the need arises to go beyond
exploration and test their ideas more formally. Upon completion of the course, students should be
versatile with the techniques of univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis by means of regression,
including handling of categorical data, in investigation of relationships.
Organisation

The course will be conducted in a mix of classroom-based lectures/discussions and computer-based

workshops using software STATA. The instruction will alternate between classroom sessions where
theory and methods are discussed with illustrations, and workshop sessions which are used for hands-on
real-world data analysis using the computer. It will cover a broad range of socio-economic data.

Topics

1. Exploring distributions: centre, spread, shape and tails

2. Comparing distributions: transformation and shape
3. Investigating relationships: regression idea and the classical model
4. Woes of regression: influential point and other diagnostics
5. Changing the scatter: non-linearity, heteroscadasticity and transformation
6. Simple to multiple regression: interpreting co-efficients and diagnostic analysis
7. Assessing uncertainty: confidence intervals and tests of significance, classical and bootstrap
8. Exploring change over time: trend, breaks and growth rates
9. Broadening the scope: quantile regression
10. Categorical response: logit regression model

Requirement

Basic knowledge of mathematics (algebra and calculus) is absolutely necessary for the course. In
addition, a first level course in Statistics or Econometrics is essential.

Readings

Selected chapters/sections from textbooks, lecture notes and handouts. Chapters/sections will be mostly
drawn from the following three books:

 Regression with Graphics (1992) by Lawrence C. Hamilton, Brooks/Cole ( Acc. No. 10031 at
KG and 10030 at Dwarka Campus, 519.536 HAM-R);
 Econometrics and Data Analysis for Developing Countries (1998) by C. Mukherjee et.
al ((AUD Library Acc. No. 9661and 9660, 330.015195 MUK-E);
 Introduction to Econometrics (2001) by G.S. Maddala, Wiley.

Assessment methodology:

Three written/take-home assignments of weights 30%, 30% and 40% respectively. The students may have
to write the assignments in the computer-lab (under vigilance) and submit online.