Online Text and Notes in Statistics for Economists

This is an index of learning materials that are based on a specially selected data set from the 1991 UK Census. Each of the 14 modules has slides, detailed notes and statistical exercises involving the data sets.

An introductory tutorial on the use of Excel with time-series data, divided into four pages with screenshots, part of the TimeWeb part of the Biz/ed service. It aims to "develop your data-handling skills; building your confidence by using a sample set of data from (UK) National Statistics".

Individualised Statistics Coursework Using Spreadsheets (ISCUS) is an Excel tool, obtainable through the site, that allows teachers to subdivide a large data set into individualised student assignments. Datasets are available on application for a password. Part of the STARS site, it also contains background papers from a 2005 conference that explain the effectiveness of individualised exercises for improved learning outcomes and avoidance of plagiarism.

This course webpage supports an introductory module on quantitative economics as taught by Fowad Murtaza and Domenico Tabasso at the University of Essex in 2009/10. It introduces students to the methods of quantitative economics, i.e. to how data are used in economics. Beginning from an elementary level (assuming no background in statistics), the course shows how economic data can be described and analysed. The elements of probability and random variables are introduced in the context of economic applications. The probability theory enables an introduction to elementary statistical inference: parameter estimation, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests. With these foundations, students are then introduced to the linear regression model that forms a starting point for econometrics. It includes a course outline / handbook, lecture presentations, lecture notes, coursework assignments, problem sets with solutions and statistical data.

These case studies in data search, management and economic interpretation are aimed at first-time students of economics. They are downloadable in Word format with embedded links, to adapt, print and/or put in a virtual learning environment. They were produced by Dean Garratt and Stephen Heasell, Nottingham Trent University as part of an Economics Network project. They cover topics such as economic growth, house prices, household debt, consumption spending and government spending.

This site has worksheets, short case-studies and other materials to promote data-handling skills and statistical literacy. Tips are given on how to locate and verify data, how to meaningfully test and present it and how to detect misrepresentations and fallacies. There is a glossary and illustrations of how businesses make use of data. The site is part of the Biz/ed service and uses data from MIMAS.

This course page supports an MBA course at the University of Portland, as taught by Todd Easton in 2008. It covers Statistical and Quantitative Analysis and presents tools for descriptive statistics and details their effective use. The page features a range of course materials - syllabus, past exams, Java applets etc. but perhaps most importantly it includes a booklet on Excel skills, with accompanying data.

The Chance project aims to help teachers and lecturers teach a basic understanding of probability and statistics. This page hosts examples of probabilistic and statistical reasoning, with links to related activities, simulations, videos, and data sets. Related links are also included.

HyperStat online is an introductory statistics textbook by David Lane of Rice University. It is arranged into 18 chapters, uses many interactive demonstrations and the textual content is broken into small chunks on successive pages. Each chapter ends with exercises, and offers selected answers. It also includes links to related material, recommended books and more information on how to use HyperStat in teaching.

Part of the MIT OpenCourseWare website, this page provides access to all the materials for Introduction to Statistical Method in Economics, as taught by Herman Bennett in spring 2006. The site includes a course syllabus, details of readings, lecture notes, assignments, exams and links to related Internet resources. Users can access the course online or download the whole thing as a .zip file.

Seeing Statistics is an online text book teaching statistics using the Internet. It requires registration before full use, but a sample tour is available for free. Text includes glossary and calculator. The site uses a succession of pop-up boxes for navigation which may be confusing to users or not appear if pop-ups are disabled by your Internet browser.

StatNotes : Topics in Multivariate Analysis is a textbook written by G. David Garson of North Carolina State University for a public administration course. This online version contains articles on a range of statistical topics ranging from Association to Weighted Least Squares (WLS) Regression. Articles typically contain an overview, an explanation of key concepts and terms, assumptions, frequently asked questions and a bibliography. Some of the articles also contain SPSS data / outputs with commentary.

The StatSoft: electronic statistics textbook is an online text introducing statistical concepts. It "begins with an overview of the relevant elementary (pivotal) concepts and continues with a more in depth exploration of specific areas of statistics." A glossary of statistical terms and a list of references for further study are included.

SurfStat Australia is an online text in introductory Statistics produced at the University of Newcastle in Australia. It has five main sections: "Summarising and Presenting Data," "Producing Data," "Variation and Probability," "Statistical Inference" and "Control Charts". Text and images are interspersed with simple interactive quizzes.