ST308 Half Unit
Bayesian Inference
This information is for the 2022/23 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos COL.610
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Actuarial Science, BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Data Science, BSc in Mathematics with Economics and BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Business. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Pre-requisites
Students must have completed one of the following two combinations of courses: (a) ST102 and MA100, or (b) MA107 and ST109 and EC1C1. Equivalent combinations may be accepted at the lecturer’s discretion. ST202 is also recommended.
Previous programming experience is not required but students who have no previous experience in R must complete an online pre-sessional R course from the Digital Skills Lab before the start of the course (https://moodle.lse.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=7745)
Course content
Statistical decision theory: risk, decision rules, loss and utility functions, Bayesian expected loss, Frequentist risk.
Bayesian Inference: Bayes theorem, prior, posterior and predictive distributions, conjugate models (Normal-Normal, Poisson-Gamma, Beta-Binomial), Bayesian point estimation, credible intervals and hypothesis testing, Bayes factors and model selection. Comparison with Frequentist approaches.
Implementation: Asymptotic approximations (Laplace approximation, Variational Bayes, Monte Carlo methods), Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation (Gibbs sampler, Metropolis-Hastings algorithm). Computer tools (R).
Applications: Linear models in Regression and Classification (Bayesian Linear Regression, Generalized Linear Models, Logistic Regression), Hierarchical/ Multilevel Models, Cluster Analysis and Mixture Modeling.
Teaching
This course will be delivered through a combination of classes, lectures, and Q&A sessions, totalling a minimum of 29 hours across the Lent Term. This course does not include a reading week and will be concluded by the end of week 10 of Lent Term.
Formative coursework
Optional problem sets and computer exercises.
Indicative reading
J.K. Kruschke, Doing Bayesian Data Analysis. An tutorial with R, JAGS and Stan. 2nd edition.
J.O. Berger, Statistical Decision Theory and Bayesian Analysis.
D. Gamerman, H. F. Lopes, Markov Chain Monte Carlo: Stochastic Simulation for Bayesian Inference
A. Gelman, Bayesian data analysis.
Assessment
Exam (80%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Project (20%) in the ST.
Student performance results
(2019/20 - 2021/22 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| First | 38.8 |
| 2:1 | 33.1 |
| 2:2 | 14 |
| Third | 7.3 |
| Fail | 6.7 |
Key facts
Department: Statistics
Total students 2021/22: 63
Average class size 2021/22: 22
Capped 2021/22: Yes (70)
Value: Half Unit
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills
