THARAKA UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCES

PROGRAMME _BACHLOR OF SCIENCE IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE

COURSE OUTLINE

CREDIT FATOR: 3.0 CONTACT HOURS 45

Unit Code & Title ACMT 311: COMPUTATIONAL METHODS AND DATA ANALYSIS
METHOD III

Prerequisite Unit
NONE
Lecturer Name ONSOTI ALEX

Contact Email & alexonsoti@gmail.com 0711 505 562

Telephone

Course Purpose: The purpose of this course is to enable the learner to have an understanding of basic concepts
about the functions, survey application, application of statistical software in order to make valid, viable and
objective conclusions.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the learner should be able to:
i. Enter and analysis data using any statistical software
ii. Generate variants from standard distributions
iii. Apply numerical analysis software to analyze data
iv. Apply computational and analysis skills/ techniques in decision making
Course Content
Application of numerical analysis software package such as NAG. Simulation: random and pseudo random
numbers, generation of uniform variants; outline of tests, mention of physical devices for uniform generators;
generation of variants from standard distributions e.g., normal, exponential etc.

Course Schedule
Week Topic Specific learning outcomes Learning Experiences
Physical/Virtual
1 Introduction to Data • Course outline • Introduce the student to the class.
Analysis • Aim of data analysis • Describe descriptive, inferential and
• Stages of conducting data analysis predictive; the stages of conducting
• Sources of data and a data analysis; sources of data and
• Reproducible research meaning and value of reproducible
data analysis.
2 Introduction to R • Course outline • Introduce the class to R software
software • Statistical analysis packages package
• Reasons for using R for analysis • Discussion on the reasons for using
• Installing R and RStudio R rather than other packages
 • Working with R and RStudio • Demonstrate how R software
• Generic help with R and RStudio package is installed
• Discussion of the environment of the
package
• Demonstration how to get help in R
3 Data input • Entering data from the keyboard • Demonstrate on how to enter data
• Importing data from a delimited text into R using various sources
file
• Importing data from Excel
• Importing data from the web
• Importing data from SPSS
4 Basic data • Manipulating dates and missing • Discussion on various data
management values management techniques using
• Understanding data type conversions software
• Creating and recoding variables
• Sorting, merging, and sub-setting
datasets
• Selecting and dropping variables
5 Advanced data • Mathematical functions • Demonstrate how mathematical
management • Statistical functions functions are used
• Applying functions to matrices and • Demonstrate on the application of
data frames statistical function to analyse data
• Other useful functions • Discussion of matrices and data in
data management
6 CAT 1 • Covers materials from week 1 – • Solve problems
5
7 Basic graphs in R • Bar, box, and dot plots • Demonstration of creating graphs in
• Histograms, Pie charts etc R
• Line graphs and other graphical • Interpret the graphs
representation
8 Probability functions • probability distributions • Demonstrate how to find probability
and Simulation • density functions measures in R for different
• distribution function distributions
• quantile function • Interpretation of the results
9 Random and pseudo- • Using standard distributions • Demonstrate how to generate
random number • Using functions random variants in R
generation • Interpretation of the results

10 Statistical tests in R • Regression analysis • Demonstrate how the tests are

• T-test and Correlation performed in R
• Hypothesis testing • Interpret the results
• Chi-square test and ANOVA
11 Advanced data • Time series analysis • Demonstrate the methods and
analysis • Generalized linear models interpret the result
• Logistic regression
• Poisson regression
12 CAT 2 • Covers week 6 -11 materials • Solving problems

13 Revision

14 Examination

15 Examination
Mode of delivery
Lectures, Presentations, Group discussions, Tutorials, Questions & answer method
Instructional materials and equipment
Questionnaires, projectors, coins, dice, weighing machine, laptops

Course Assessment

Type Weighting (%)

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) 15
Other Assessments (Practicals, Assignments, Projects etc.) 15

End of Semester Examination 70

Grand Total 100

Core Reading Materials

Robert J. Schalkoff. (2006). Programming Languages and Methodologies. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Simon Bennett, Steve McRobb, and Ray Farmer. (2006). Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Using UML
(Paperback). 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill.
Mark Burgess, (199). C Programming Tutorial (K&R version 4) ©1987. Microsoft.
Clive G. P, (2005). Object-Oriented Programming with ANSI-C, Axel-Tobias Schreiner, ©1993 Professional
Programmer's Guide to Fortran 77. (Microsoft).
Brian Brown and Peter Henry, (2007). Pascal Programming Notes, Bessel, ©1987-2007
Rob Davies, and Alan Rea. (2009). Microsoft Small Basic: An introduction to Programming. (Microsoft).
Mas-Collel, A., M. Whinston, and J. Green. (1995). Microeconomic Theory. New York: Oxford University Press.
Gregory, N. M. (1995). Principles of Economics, 7th Edition, Amazon.
Robert Frank and Ben Bernanke, (2012). Principles of Economics, TheMcgraw-Hill Series in Economics.

Professional Ethics

1. Punctuality is fundamental and students are required to be in class before the designated time for the lecture.
2. Active participation in class discussions is encouraged.

3. Let us refrain from signing the attendance register on behalf of colleagues who are not Present.
4. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and highly discouraged. Plagiarized work shall NOT be accepted.
Notwithstanding the above, collaboration in course work is certainly encouraged as this promotes team spirit
and group synergy, provided originality is preserved.
5. Assignments should be handed in on or before the date they are due. Students can hand in their assignment
through their class representative. Assignments handed in late shall NOT be accepted.

Prepared By: …………………………………………… Signature: ……………………….

Lecturer
Date: …………………………….

Approved By: …………………………………………… Signature: ……………………….

Chair of Department (CoD)
Date: …………………………….

Stamp