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There are 4 modules in this course
This course provides an analytical framework to help you evaluate key problems in a structured fashion and will equip you with tools to better manage the uncertainties that pervade and complicate business processes. Specifically, you will learn how to summarize data and learn concepts of frequency, normal distribution, statistical studies, sampling, and confidence intervals.
While you will be introduced to some of the science of what is being taught, the focus will be on applying the methodologies. This will be accomplished through the use of Excel and data sets from different disciplines, allowing you to see the use of statistics in a range of settings. The course will focus not only on explaining these concepts, but also understanding and interpreting the results obtained.
You will be able to:
• Summarize large data sets in graphical, tabular, and numerical forms
• Understand the significance of proper sampling and why one can rely on sample information
• Understand why normal distribution can be used in a wide range of settings
• Use sample information to make inferences about the population with a certain level of confidence about the accuracy of the estimations
• Use Excel for statistical analysis
This course is part of Gies College of Business’ suite of online programs, including the iMBA and iMSM. Learn more about admission into these programs and explore how your Coursera work can be leveraged if accepted into a degree program at https://degrees.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/idegrees/.
In this module, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Data is all around you, but what is the data telling you? The first step in making better decisions and taking action is to get a good understanding of information you have gathered. In this module we will learn about some of the tools in statistics that help us achieve this.
Welcome to Exploring and Producing Data for Business Decision Making!•6 minutes
Learn on Your Terms•1 minute
Excel Data Analysis Toolpak•1 minute
1-1.1. Basic Terminology•8 minutes
1-2.1. Summarizing Data: Frequency Tables•8 minutes
1-2.2. Frequency Tables in Excel: Quantitative Data•7 minutes
1-2.3. Frequency Tables in Excel: Qualitative Data•6 minutes
1-2.4. Presenting Frequency Tables as a Bar Graph in Excel•3 minutes
1-3.1. Summarizing Data: Histograms•6 minutes
1-3.2. Histograms in Excel•7 minutes
1-4.1. Summarizing Data: Pie Charts•5 minutes
1-4.2. Pie Charts in Excel•5 minutes
1-5.1. Summarizing Data: Scatter Plots•4 minutes
1-5.2. Scatter Plots in Excel•4 minutes
9 readings•Total 107 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
ePub•10 minutes
About the Discussion Forums•4 minutes
Glossary•5 minutes
Online Education at Gies College of Business•10 minutes
Using Excel for this Course•10 minutes
Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
Module 1 Overview•3 minutes
Module 1 Readings•45 minutes
7 assignments•Total 210 minutes
Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 1-5 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Demographic Survey•15 minutes
Module 2: Descriptive Statistics and Probability Distributions
7 hours to complete
Module details
We all have heard the phrase that a "picture is worth a thousand words," but you certainly don’t want one of those to be "what exactly am I looking at?" So, now that you know to use "pictures" to summarize your data, let’s make those pictures easier to understand.
What's included
16 videos2 readings7 assignments
Show info about module content
16 videos•Total 107 minutes
2-1.1. Measures of Central Tendencies•11 minutes
2-1.2. Mean and Median in Excel•4 minutes
2-2.1. Measures of Dispersion•9 minutes
2-2.2. Standard Deviation in Excel•3 minutes
2-3.1. Percentiles and Z-Score•13 minutes
2-3.2. Z-Score in Excel•5 minutes
2-4.1. Discrete and Continuous Random Variables•11 minutes
2-4.2. Expected Value in Excel•7 minutes
2-5.1. Normal Distribution•11 minutes
2-5.2. Normal Distribution in Excel•5 minutes
2-5.3. Standard Normal Distribution in Excel•4 minutes
2-5.4. "Less Than" in Excel•2 minutes
2-5.5. "Greater Than" in Excel•2 minutes
2-5.6. "Between Values" in Excel•2 minutes
2-5.7. Finding Z for a Given Probability (INV) in Excel•4 minutes
2-6.1. Standard Normal Distribution Table•14 minutes
2 readings•Total 78 minutes
Module 2 Overview•3 minutes
Module 2 Readings•75 minutes
7 assignments•Total 210 minutes
Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-5 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 2-6 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
Module 3: Sampling and Central Limit Theorem
5 hours to complete
Module details
You are charged with analyzing a market segment for your company. You and your team have figured out what variables you need to understand; you also have an idea what factors might be influencing these variables of interest. Now you are ready to do your analysis. But, wait! Where is the data? How do you begin to get the data? In this module we will review the means by which you can begin to produce data – the concepts of sampling and Central Limit Theorem – and will help you understand how to produce "good" sample data and why sample data will work.
What's included
7 videos2 readings5 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 63 minutes
3-1.1. Producing Data•11 minutes
3-2.1. Sampling•14 minutes
3-2.2 Sampling Function in Excel•6 minutes
3-3.1. Central Limit Theorem and Sampling Means•9 minutes
3-3.2. Animating the Central Limit Theorem•6 minutes
3-3.3. Sampling Distribution and Empirical Rule in Excel•11 minutes
3-4.1. Central Limit Theorem – Sampling Proportion•6 minutes
2 readings•Total 33 minutes
Module 3 Overview•3 minutes
Module 3 Readings•30 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 3-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 3-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Exploring and Producing Data Peer Review Assignment•60 minutes
Module 4: Inference
5 hours to complete
Module details
You have sample data and have done the analysis – you think you can say something about the population based on your sample study. But, do you have a sense of what are the chances of you being right or wrong? How can you be surer? What else should you have considered? In this module, you will learn how to find the answers to these questions.
What's included
12 videos4 readings5 assignments1 plugin
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 97 minutes
4-1.1. Confidence Interval Basics•16 minutes
4-2.1. Confidence Interval for Means•10 minutes
4-2.2. Confidence Interval for Mean in Excel•9 minutes
4-2.3. Impact of Confidence Level Illustrated in Excel•4 minutes
4-3.1. Confidence Interval for Population Proportion•11 minutes
4-3.2. Confidence Interval for Population Proportion in Excel•9 minutes
4-3.3. Confidence Interval Animation in Excel•5 minutes
4-3.4. Starting Salary Example in Excel•8 minutes
4-4.1. Sample Size•10 minutes
4-4.2. Sample Size Proportion in Excel•3 minutes
4-4.3. Sample Size Mean in Excel•7 minutes
4-4.4. Sample Size Effect in Excel•6 minutes
4 readings•Total 43 minutes
Module 4 Overview•3 minutes
Module 4 Readings•20 minutes
Congratulations on completing the course!•10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 4-3 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Lesson 4-4 Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
How was the course?•15 minutes
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Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
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Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
¹Successful application and enrollment are required. Eligibility requirements apply. Each institution determines the number of credits recognized by completing this content that may count towards degree requirements, considering any existing credits you may have. Click on a specific course for more information.
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Showing 3 of 1035
R
RD
5·
Reviewed on Jun 1, 2019
Very useful for beginners as well as anyone interested in learning some basics. Highly recommended for managers and people trying to figure out what insights can be obtained form data
R
RS
5·
Reviewed on Apr 20, 2018
In my opinion, this is a good course. The content really aims at teaching how to better understand and use statistics. In the end, I am glad that I chose this course.
Z
ZO
5·
Reviewed on Apr 22, 2017
I gained useful insight on data analysis from this course that directly applies to work that I am doing on assessing the accuracy of a new measurement method.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What is the refund policy?
You will be eligible for a full refund until 2 weeks after your payment date. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the 2-week refund period. View our full refund policy.
Is financial aid available?
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.