Statistics

Code:

LA049

Acronym:

E

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Mathematics and Statistics

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of History, Political and International Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Applied Languages

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CL	56	study plan	1	-	6	41	162
LA	63	Study plan	2	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

At the end of this UC students should know / be able to:
1) Basic concepts related to the organization and presentation of data
2) Know and apply as techniques of descriptive statistics
3) Know and apply the techniques of inferential statistics
4) Read and critically analyze works of a quantitative nature related to the areas of the study cycle
5) Perform data analysis and data processing using Microsoft Excel and jamovi.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge of fundamental theoretical concepts in the field of Statistics and their application in specific contexts.
Ability to perform empirical analysis in social sciences and humanities.
Development of a critical and reflective attitude in the analysis of quantitative information.
Development of oral and written communication skills.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Basic concepts
 
2. Data organisation and analysis in spreadsheets
2.1 How spreadsheets work
2.2 Functions and graphs
2.3 Growth rates and index numbers

3. Descriptive Statistics
3.1 Measures of location
3.2 Measures of dispersion
3.3 Measures of association
 
4. Confidence Intervals
4.1. The Central Limit Theorem
4.2 Confidence Interval for the Mean
4.3 Confidence interval for the proportion
 
5. Hypothesis tests
5.1 Tests for normality
5.2 Tests for means
5.3 Tests for proportions
5.4 Tests of association between variables
 
6. Linear Regression
6.1 Simple linear regression
6.2 Multiple Linear Regression
6.3 Assessing the statistic quality of the fit
6.4 Lin-lin and log-log models, quadratic variables and dummy variables

Mandatory literature

Alexander, M., Kusleika, D., & Walkenbach, J; Excel® 2019: Bible, Wiley, 2019. ISBN: 978-1-119-51476-3
Pollock III, P. e B. Edwards; The Essentials of Political Analysis, Sage Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 978-1506379616

Complementary Bibliography

Shively, W. P.; The craft of political research. , Routledge, 2017. ISBN: 9781138284371
Marchant-Shapiro, T.; Statistics for political analysis: Understanding the numbers, SAGE, 2015. ISBN: 978-1452258652
Galderisi, P. F; Understanding political science statistics: Observations and expectations in political analysis, Routledge, 2015. ISBN: 9780415890052

Teaching methods and learning activities

The teaching / learning process is based on theoretical-practical classes, which include the exposure of theoretical elements and the realization of exercises. The active participation of students in the classroom is strongly encouraged, using, in particular, various articles and reports on topics related to the study cycle that illustrate the techniques studied. Classes take place in computer labs, in order to enable, in all points of the syllabus, the use of computer tools for data analysis and treatment (Microsoft Excel and / or jamovi), using databases related to the themes of the study cycle.

Software

Microsoft Excel
jamovi

keywords

Social sciences > Political sciences > Policy studies > International relations
Physical sciences > Mathematics > Statistics
Social sciences > Economics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	121,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

There are 2 grading components: Exam (70%) and Homeworks (30%)

Both components are mandatory and have a minimum grade of 8 points.

It is possible to improve the final classification of the Exam component only. The Homework grade is not subject to appeal.

In all periods (normal, supplementary and special - september), the exam has a weight of 70% in the final grade and the homework has a weight of 30%.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade corresponds to the weighted average of the classification obtained in the exam and in the homework, with a minimum grade of 8 points in each component of the evaluation:
Final Grade = 70% Exam + 30% Homework

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Normal and supplementary periods, as weel as special period in September (Period I): students with special status or condition will be assessed in the same way as other students (see the fields "eligibility for exams" and "Calculation formula of final grade").

 

Special periods in April and November (Period III and Period II): students with special status or condition will be assessed by taking an oral exam, which has a weight of 100 per cent in the final grade.

Classification improvement

It is possible to improve the final classification of the Exam component only. The Homework grade is not subject to appeal.