Insegnamento a.a. 2022-2023

The course focuses on multivariate statistical techniques widely used in business analytics. Through the course students are taught how to set up the appropriate analysis, implement it through the use of a statistical software (SPSS) and give an interpretation to the obtained results. The following techniques are discussed in detail

• Multiple linear regression
• Logistic regressions
• Factor analysis
• Cluster analysis

• Read reports and scientific articles that make use of basic and advanced statistical techniques.
• Set up and run empirical analyses, that require the use of basic and advanced statistical techniques.

• Use a statistical software (SPSS) to run multivariate statistical analyses to support management decision making.
• Contribute to the commissioning and interpretation of reports of business research, including market research and program evaluations.

• Face-to-face lectures
• Online lectures
• Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)
• Individual assignments
• Group assignments

Exercises are Tests delivered through Bboard platform for E-Learning as in-class simulation of the exams. They are multiple choice questions and essay questions, with solutions provided as Feedbacks.

Assignments are delivered through Bboard platform for E-Learning, as class work. Students are asked to run analyses of provided datasets with short reports to be posted through Bboard platform for E-Learning. An evaluation grid is provided as well.

Group assignments. Students are asked to analyse a provided dataset and write a report with the interpretation of the analyses, to be posted through Bboard platform for E-Learning. The evaluation grid as for the individual assignments is used.

Two partial exams or a general exam, four classwork assignments and a final project.

Partial Exams and General Exam

The two partial exams are delivered as Tests through Blackboard platform for E-Learning. The tests include both multiple choice questions and essay questions.

The general exam is delivered as Test through Blackboard platform for E-Learning. The test includes both multiple choice questions and essay questions.

Students answer the questions based on the theory and/or the inspection of SPSS outputs. Partial tests and general test are graded out of 31. The arithmetic average of the partial tests marks or the general exam mark contribute by 50% to the final grade.

The tests aim at assessing the students acquired knowledge on the content of the course, in particular with reference to the first and fourth Intended Learning Outcomes, as the ability to read reports and scientific articles that make use of basic and advanced statistical techniques and to contribute to the commissioning and interpretation of reports of business research, including market research and programme evaluations.

Classwork Assignments

Delivered in class at the end of each Block of lectures through Blackboard platform for E-Learning, during an applied session. Students are asked to run with SPSS the analysis of a provided dataset so to apply the techniques learnt in the corresponding Block. A brief report with the description of the results and comments needs to be posted in Bboard platform for E-learning, according to the schedule below.

The classwork assignments let build piece by piece the skills related to the second and the third Intended Learning Outcomes, as to set up and run empirical analyses, that require the use of basic and advanced statistical techniques and the use a statistical software (SPSS) to implement multivariate statistical analyses to support management decision making.

The classwork assignments can be made individually or in group of at most 5 students. Groups do not need to be the same.

The arithmetic average of the classwork assignment marks contributes by 10% to the final grade. A classwork assignment that is not handed in is marked 0.

Final Project

The project consists in an analysis of a provided dataset based on a research question, set by the instructor. The final assignment can be made individually or in group of at most 5 students. 1 point is awarded if the assignment is done in group.

The final assignment is graded out of 31 and contributes 40% to the final mark.

The Final Assignment achieves the second and the third Intended Learning Outcomes, as the ability to set up and run empirical analyses, that require the use of basic and advanced statistical techniques 

and the use a statistical software (SPSS) to run multivariate statistical analyses to support management decision making.

• R. GRAZIANI, E. GREGORI, Lectures notes on Multivariate Statistical Analyses with SPSS, delivered through Bboard platform for E-Learning.
• Video Lectures and Slides delivered through Bboard platform for E-Learning.
• Additional Readings: TARLING, ROGER, Statistical Modelling for Social Researchers. Principles and practice, London and New York, Routledge, 2009. Bartholomew, D.J., Steele, F., Moustaki, I., Galbraith J.I. 2008. Analysis of Multivariate Social Science Data (second edition). Chapman & Hall/CRC, Warner, R.M. 2012. Applied Statistics. Sage