Learn key statistical methods including central tendency, and standard deviation in this free online course.

Statistics is used frequently to describe characteristics of large amounts of data that we may encounter in our day-to-day lives. In this course you will discover the requirements for a sampling, methods for gathering and organizing data, and types of data classifications. Basic measures of central tendency, such as mean, median, mode, will be discussed. The course also covers sigma notation – a powerful tool that enables the user to condense a large number of numerical quantities into a simplified expression.

You will then learn how measures of dispersion can give you a better understanding of the degree to which numerical data tends to spread about an average value, or not. Investigate how absolute and relative measures of dispersion can be used for the purpose of comparing data. These measures include range, mean absolute deviation, variance, standard deviation, and normal and skewed distributions.

Finally, you will explore relationships between data sets and learn about correlation, scatter plots, the Pearson coefficient of correlation, critical levels of r and determining the equation of a regression line or “best fit.” Start the course today and learn key statistical methods that can help you better understand today’s world.