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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Basic Data Descriptors, Statistical Distributions, and Application to Business Decisions by Rice University

4.7
stars
2,649 ratings

About the Course

The ability to understand and apply Business Statistics is becoming increasingly important in the industry. A good understanding of Business Statistics is a requirement to make correct and relevant interpretations of data. Lack of knowledge could lead to erroneous decisions which could potentially have negative consequences for a firm. This course is designed to introduce you to Business Statistics. We begin with the notion of descriptive statistics, which is summarizing data using a few numbers. Different categories of descriptive measures are introduced and discussed along with the Excel functions to calculate them. The notion of probability or uncertainty is introduced along with the concept of a sample and population data using relevant business examples. This leads us to various statistical distributions along with their Excel functions which are then used to model or approximate business processes. You get to apply these descriptive measures of data and various statistical distributions using easy-to-follow Excel based examples which are demonstrated throughout the course. To successfully complete course assignments, students must have access to Microsoft Excel. ________________________________________ WEEK 1 Module 1: Basic Data Descriptors In this module you will get to understand, calculate and interpret various descriptive or summary measures of data. These descriptive measures summarize and present data using a few numbers. Appropriate Excel functions to do these calculations are introduced and demonstrated. Topics covered include: • Categories of descriptive data • Measures of central tendency, the mean, median, mode, and their interpretations and calculations • Measures of spread-in-data, the range, interquartile-range, standard deviation and variance • Box plots • Interpreting the standard deviation measure using the rule-of-thumb and Chebyshev’s theorem ________________________________________ WEEK 2 Module 2: Descriptive Measures of Association, Probability, and Statistical Distributions This module presents the covariance and correlation measures and their respective Excel functions. You get to understand the notion of causation versus correlation. The module then introduces the notion of probability and random variables and starts introducing statistical distributions. Topics covered include: • Measures of association, the covariance and correlation measures; causation versus correlation • Probability and random variables; discrete versus continuous data • Introduction to statistical distributions ________________________________________ WEEK 3 Module 3: The Normal Distribution This module introduces the Normal distribution and the Excel function to calculate probabilities and various outcomes from the distribution. Topics covered include: • Probability density function and area under the curve as a measure of probability • The Normal distribution (bell curve), NORM.DIST, NORM.INV functions in Excel ________________________________________ WEEK 4 Module 4: Working with Distributions, Normal, Binomial, Poisson In this module, you'll see various applications of the Normal distribution. You will also get introduced to the Binomial and Poisson distributions. The Central Limit Theorem is introduced and explained in the context of understanding sample data versus population data and the link between the two. Topics covered include: • Various applications of the Normal distribution • The Binomial and Poisson distributions • Sample versus population data; the Central Limit Theorem...

Top reviews

SA

Oct 17, 2021

The course was fun and easy to follow through and i liked that when encountered with problem there is a discussion forum where facilitators and fellow students helped in solving it.thank you professor

SN

Aug 20, 2021

T​his was a really enjoyable course, but challenging too. I struggled a bit with the final assignment, but nailed it in the end. My statistical knowledge base has indeed been enhanced by this course.

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101 - 125 of 433 Reviews for Basic Data Descriptors, Statistical Distributions, and Application to Business Decisions

By M B

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Jun 6, 2020

The course is fully packed with essential learning material that is useful in academics, research and on job application

By udaya a s

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Feb 6, 2018

i don't know if any other courses in this section from other sites , cant get simpler and easy to understand like this

By MARCO A I T

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Oct 21, 2022

Es un curso muy básico y completo, excelente para aplicar las funciones estadísticas mas utilizadas en los negocios.

By Lucia C B

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Feb 21, 2021

Second course in this series that I've taken. Requires some time to work through but learned a lot. Highly recommend.

By Yash S

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Nov 17, 2019

I found this course helpful and easy, it is more of how you can use statistics with the use of excel, which is great.

By Russel Q

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Sep 30, 2018

Excellent intro to basic statistics, vocabulary, and calculations. Sequenced nicely, and great real world examples.

By Dionysios Z

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Aug 1, 2017

Lot's of useful examples and hands-on exercises. Just the right pace for beginners. Great course - recommend it 100%!

By Maneet J

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Apr 6, 2020

Amazing course! Got to learn how to use various kind of probability using Excel with the help of real life examples.

By Anthony G

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Jul 3, 2025

i found the professors examples were super helpful and being able to just go and listen at my own pace helped a lot

By Paritosh D

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Sep 16, 2018

an excellent course!

presents stats related info - enough to put anyone to sleep - in an engaging manner.

thank you!

By Lan H D

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Jun 7, 2020

The content presents the basic foundation of applied statistics. The lecturer has a good teaching demonstration.

By Martin O O

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Nov 6, 2021

The last part of the course on Binomial distribution was more challenging.I managed it after several attempts.

By Nazim D

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May 24, 2017

Excellent resource to master such crucial skills as the application of statistics method to business problems.

By alexandre v

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Jan 3, 2021

Well designed and easy to understand with examples that theoretical notions easy to apply to the real world

By Thomasina B

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Aug 15, 2020

Explained the concepts about the statistical models without getting bogged down in alot of technical lingo.

By Tim W

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Apr 26, 2020

Enjoyable. Some of the end of week questions were quite tricky and really helped to reinforce the learning.

By Taylor N

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Jan 12, 2019

While not super-duper comprehensive, I appreciated all the business applications and practice. Good stuff.

By Anna M

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Feb 22, 2023

A great course! Very clear and simple explanations of difficult statistical concepts. Highly recommended.

By Yeasin A A

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Jun 14, 2020

Well structured Course overall. but it should have more practice lessons or resources before taking quiz.

By José R H

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Apr 1, 2019

The course is excellent! It gives you knowledge that you can immediately apply in the real world. Thanks!

By Apurwa S

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Aug 3, 2022

This course cleared my concepts. The quiz was really challenging yet fun. I learnt a lot in this course.

By Husain S

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Jan 2, 2018

Good course. I completed it in while on trial period along with the first course in the specialization.

By Nandhini A

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May 13, 2021

Very interesting course and author has explained each concepts in-depth and well understanding manner.

By Abhijit S

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Jan 26, 2020

Thanks I got good conceptual clarity regarding normal distribution, binomial and poisson distribution.

By Ajay V

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Aug 14, 2023

Course content is very useful and explained very well.

Technical glitch in the quiz needs improvement