Appendix 1

NAME OF COURSE: QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND STATISTICS

COURSE CODE: BM 105

NAME OF STAFF: TEOH KOK BAN

CLASSIFICATION: CORE (C)

RATIONALE:

Quantitative methods and statistics is designed to develop an understanding and

working knowledge of statistics and statistical procedures. This course is intended to
provide a background capacity in statistical description and analysis, appropriate for a
business student. The focus of the course is on the practical use of data in a
business/economic decision environment, especially in an environment of risk and
uncertainty. The analytical skills and application methods developed in this course will
provide students with a quantitative foundation upon which their future coursework is
based.

SESSION: YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2

Lecture Tutorial Practicals Others

L T P O TOTAL
TOTAL STUDENT 63 32 - 26 121
LEARING TIME (SLT):

FACE TO FACE: 28 14 - - 42

TOTAL GUIDED & 35 18 - 26 79

INDEPENDENT
LEARING

CREDIT VALUE: 3 (2 + 1)

PREREQUISITE/S: NONE

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this course are to:

Understand the basic concepts of statistics.

Comprehend the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.
Use graphs, charts, tables and the calculation of various statistical measures to
organise and summarise information.

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Course Outcome (CO):

No. (CO) Teaching Methodology Assessment

1 Recognize a range of ideas Lecture Progressive

concerning quantitative Tests
methods and statistics which
are appropriate in specialised
applications.
2 Choose the specific methods Discussion Presentation
and techniques for analysing
specialised problems.
3 Conduct professional Class exercises Class exercises
activities with good social tutorials, quizzes, data
skills and demonstrate a sense response questions.
of responsibility.
4 Show professionalism in the Final
preparation of reports and examination
assignments and in the
conduct of employing
research methods.
5 Convert problems into
mathematical and statistical
models and develop scientific
strategies to obtain solutions.

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SYNOPSIS:

This course is designed to acquaint students with the statistical concepts and techniques
needed to organize, measure, and evaluate data that may then be used to support
informed decisions. The emphasis is placed on explaining statistical procedures and
interpreting the conclusions.

COURSE FORMAT:

Week(s) Activity Duration

Week 1 Week 15 Lectures 2 hours per week
Tutorial 1.5 hours per week
Week 17 Final Examination 3 hours
Week 8 : Mid-semester break
Week 16 : Revision

ASSESSMEMT METHODS and TYPES:

Progress Test I 10%

Progress Test II 10%
Assignment 20%
Final Examination 60%
TOTAL 100%

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 Appendix 1

COURSE TOPICS:

TOPIC DESCRIPTION SLT

L T P O
1 Introduction to Statistics 3 1 0 2
The importance of statistics in business
Types of statistics
Types of variables
Levels of measurement

2 Description of data: frequency distribution 4 2 0 2

and graphical presentation
Constructing a frequency distribution
Stem and leaf display
Graphic presentation of a frequency
distribution
Cumulative frequency distribution

3 Descriptive measures 4 2 0 2
The mean, median, and mode of grouped
data
Measures of dispersion
Measures of dispersion for data grouped
into a frequency distribution
Interpretation and uses of the standard
deviation
Skewness

4 A survey of probability concepts 5 3 0 2

Approaches to probability
Some rules of probability
Rules of multiplication
Tree diagrams

5 Discrete probability distributions 5 3 0 2

The mean, variance, and standard
deviation of a probability distribution
Binomial probability distribution
Hyper-geometric probability distribution
Poisson probability distribution

6 The normal probability distribution 5 2 0 2

Introduction to normal probability
distribution
The normal approximation to the
binomial

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7 Sampling methods and the Central Limit 4 2 0 2

Theorem
Probability sampling methods
Sampling distribution of the sample
mean
The central limit theorem
Using the sampling distribution of the
sample mean

8 Estimation and confidence 6 3 0 2

Intervals
Points estimates and confidence intervals
Determining the sample size of the
estimation of the population mean
A confidence interval for a proportion
Finite-population correction factor
Choosing an appropriate sample size

9 One-sample tests and two-samples tests of 8 4 0 3

hypothesis
One-tailed and two-tailed tests of
significance
Testing for a population mean: Large
sample, population standard deviation
unknown
Testing for a population mean: Small
sample, population standard deviation
unknown
Hypothesis testing: Population means
Dependent samples

10 Chi-squares procedures 6 3 0 2
Goodness-of-fit test
Using the goodness-of-fit test to test for
normality
Contingency table analysis

11 Analysis of variances (ANOVA) 7 4 0 3

F-distribution
Comparing two population variances
ANOVA assumptions
Inferences about pairs of treatment
means
Two-way analysis of variance

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12 Regression and correlation 6 3 0 2

The coefficient of correlation
Regression analysis
The standard error of estimate
Confidence intervals and prediction
intervals

Total 63 32 0 26
Total SLT 121
Total MQA Credit Unit 3

MAIN REFERENCES:

Douglas Lind, William G. Marchal & Samuel Wathen (2008). Statistical Techniques in
Business and Economics. 13th ed. McGraw Hill.

Mark L. Berenson, David M. Levine & Timothy C. Krehbiel (2009). Basic Business
Statistics, 11th Edition. Pearson.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Andrew F. Siegel (2000). Practical Business Statistics. 4th ed. McGraw Hill.

Donald H. Sanders and Robert K. Smidt (2000). Statistics: A First Course. 6th ed.
McGraw Hill.

Douglas A. Lind, William G.Marchal, Robert D. Mason (2002). Statistical Techniques

in Business & Economics. 11th ed. McGraw Hill.

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