Useful links
Unit of study_
BSTA5002: Principles of Statistical Inference (PSI)
The aim of this unit is to develop a strong mathematical and conceptual foundation in the methods of statistical inference, which underlie many of the methods utilised in subsequent units of study, and in biostatistical practice. The unit provides an overview of the concepts and properties of estimators of statistical model parameters, then proceeds to a general study of the likelihood function from first principles. This will serve as the basis for likelihood-based methodology, including maximum likelihood estimation, and the likelihood ratio, Wald, and score tests. Core statistical inference concepts including estimators and their ideal properties, hypothesis testing, p-values, confidence intervals, and power under a frequentist framework will be examined with an emphasis on both their mathematical derivation, and their interpretation and communication in a health and medical research setting. Other methods for estimation and hypothesis testing, including a brief introduction to the Bayesian approach to inference, exact and non-parametric methods, and simulation-based approaches will also be explored.
| Code | BSTA5002 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Public Health |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
BSTA5100 or (BSTA5001 and BSTA5023) |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Calculate and interpret important properties of point and interval estimators
- LO2. Calculate and interpret p-values, power and confidence intervals correctly.
- LO3. Write a likelihood function.
- LO4. Derive and calculate the maximum likelihood estimate.
- LO5. Derive and calculate the expected information.
- LO6. Derive a Wald test, Score test and likelihood ratio test.
- LO7. Use a Bayesian approach to derive a posterior distribution.
- LO8. Calculate and interpret posterior probabilities and credible intervals.
- LO9. Apply and explain an exact method, non-parametric and sampling-based method.
Unit outlines
Unit outlines will be available 2 weeks before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.
- Semester 1, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 2, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 1, 2020 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 1, 2021 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 2, 2021 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 1, 2022 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Semester 2, 2022 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Key dates
Key dates through the academic year, including teaching periods, census, payment deadlines and exams.
- Student administration
Enrolment, course planning, fees, graduation, support services, student IT
- Expectations of student conduct
Code of Conduct for Students, Conditions of Enrollment, University Privacy Statement, Academic Integrity
- Academic appeals
Academic appeals process, special consideration, rules and guidelines, advice and support
- Learning and teaching policy
Policy register, policy search
- Financial support
Scholarships, interest free loans, bursaries, money management
- Study resources
Learning Centre, faculty and school programs, Library, online resources
- Health and support
Student Centre, counselling & psychological services, University Health Service, general health and wellbeing
