Paek Hyon I, a researcher at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics, has created a new teaching method by combining lectures with experiments by a statistical analysis program in her subject “Mathematical Statistics”.
Statistical analysis program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) gives a variety of statistical principles and methods, so it is accepted as a powerful tool for analyzing and processing an enormous amount of statistical data with rapidity and high scientific accuracy. With a powerful graphical function, it produces not only numerical results but also intuitive statistical plots after statistical analysis.
First, she outlines discussion points before letting students study the basics for statistical analysis. For example, she reminds them of the definition of random variable and its distribution, characteristics, regression and linear regression, central limit theorem, etc. Then, she leads them to finding out from reference books what stochastic concepts and principles are latent in statistical data from objects.
Next, she teaches briefly how to run SPSS with an emphasis on the correct analysis of the results displayed on the output window with some tables and plots, and gives some application examples of several statistical analysis methods on necessary occasions of lectures so that they can easily learn how to use it.
In a lesson on estimation and testing of regression coefficients, for example, she gives theoretical contents and shows how to estimate the regression coefficients of a regression model and find important factors by SPSS.
On this basis, she gives students tasks to obtain real data and analyze it in groups. In other words, she has them obtain real data, analyze it using SPSS and present essays on the analysis processes.
In this way, students can understand difficult mathematical statistics more easily and intuitively in connection with reality, and they can develop their program application abilities as well.
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