Program Overview

Introduction to STAT 455

STAT 455, Statistical Study Design and Inference, is an introduction to the ideas, methods, and mathematical techniques required to prepare for and design a statistical study. This includes an introduction to statistical inference. Common study designs will be evaluated, and sampling methods discussed. Students will learn the principles, techniques, and practice of sample survey design and inference. Finally, the communication of statistical concepts and data visualization will be covered. The statistical software R will be used. This course is co-taught with STAT 395.

Course Details

• Dates: 23 Feb 2026 to 21 Jun 2026
• Starts: Trimester 1
• Fees:
  • NZ$1,355.25 for domestic students
  • NZ$5,679.00 for international students
• Lecture Start Times:
  • Tuesday 4.10pm
  • Wednesday 4.10pm
  • Thursday 4.10pm
  • Friday 4.10pm
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: 30 approved 300-level points from (DATA, STAT)
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: STAT 395

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course will be able to:

1. Apply and interpret maximum likelihood estimation and the hypothesis testing framework.
2. Distinguish different types of studies; identify and critique appropriate designs and analysis methods for addressing different types of research questions.
3. Draw samples from a sample frame under a variety of sample designs, and compute survey weights.
4. Carry out, interpret, and present statistical inference results, including adjustments for missing data.
5. Communicate study methodology and results, including suitable visualizations.

How This Course is Taught

There will be four lecture slots per week, with one of those lectures used for the weekly tutorial. The course is designed for in-person study to cover the topics listed in the course description. Attendance at lectures on campus is strongly recommended, as tests will only be available in-person. Exceptions for in-person attendance for assessment will be considered on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances.

Assessment

• Exam: 25%
• Assignment 1: 10%
• Assignment 2: 10%
• Assignment 3: 10%
• Assignment 4: 10%
• Communication Workshop: 5%
• Test 1: 30%

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must:

1. Achieve an overall pass mark of at least 50%.
2. Obtain at least 40% on the combined total of the test and exam to demonstrate achievement of the course learning objectives independently of any external assistance.

Lecture Times and Rooms

Lecture times are from 23 February 2026 to 21 June 2026, with specific times allocated for each day of the week.

What You'll Need to Get

No specific texts or equipment are required for this course.

Taught By

The course is taught by the School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science and Engineering.