Probability and Statistics: To p or not to p? (Coursera)

Offered by University of London,
Probability and Statistics: To p or not to p? (Coursera)

We live in an uncertain and complex world, yet we continually have to make decisions in the present with uncertain future outcomes. Indeed, we should be on the look-out for "black swans" - low-probability high-impact events. To study, or not to study? To invest, or not to invest? To marry, or not to marry?

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

While uncertainty makes decision-making difficult, it does at least make life exciting! If the entire future was known in advance, there would never be an element of surprise. Whether a good future or a bad future, it would be a known future.
In this course we consider many useful tools to deal with uncertainty and help us to make informed (and hence better) decisions - essential skills for a lifetime of good decision-making.
Key topics include quantifying uncertainty with probability, descriptive statistics, point and interval estimation of means and proportions, the basics of hypothesis testing, and a selection of multivariate applications of key terms and concepts seen throughout the course.

Syllabus

WEEK 1: Dealing with Uncertainty and Complexity in a Chaotic World
WEEK 2: Quantifying Uncertainty With Probability
WEEK 3: Describing The World The Statistical Way
WEEK 4: On Your Marks, Get Set, Infer!
WEEK 5: To p Or Not To p?
WEEK 6: Applications

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Cross Functional Collaboration (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Cross Functional Collaboration (Coursera)

Welcome to the "Cross-Functional Collaboration" course! This course focuses on the principles and strategies for collaborating effectively with colleagues from different functional areas. Through this course, you will learn techniques to overcome challenges, foster teamwork, and leverage diverse perspectives to achieve common goals. The course emphasizes the importance of building a culture of trust and cooperation among team members and covers various techniques to improve communication, manage conflicts, and make informed decisions through collaborative efforts.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week
Influencing, Collaboration and Decision Making (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Influencing, Collaboration and Decision Making (Coursera)

This course explores strategies for influencing others, collaborating effectively, and making informed decisions. Students will learn how to build credibility, negotiate effectively, and analyze information to make sound judgments and decisions. The course covers techniques to foster a culture of trust and cooperation, resolve conflicts, and make consensus-based decisions. Through interactive exercises and case studies, students will develop their influencing and collaboration skills, enabling them to work effectively with stakeholders at different levels.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week
Improving your statistical inferences (Coursera) Coursera
Eindhoven University of Technology

Improving your statistical inferences (Coursera)

This course aims to help you to draw better statistical inferences from empirical research. First, we will discuss how to correctly interpret p-values, effect sizes, confidence intervals, Bayes Factors, and likelihood ratios, and how these statistics answer different questions you might be interested in. Then, you will learn how to design experiments where the false positive rate is controlled, and how to decide upon the sample size for your study, for example in order to achieve high statistical power.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Python and Statistics for Financial Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Python and Statistics for Financial Analysis (Coursera)

Python is now becoming the number 1 programming language for data science. Due to python’s simplicity and high readability, it is gaining its importance in the financial industry. The course combines both python coding and statistical concepts and applies into analyzing financial data, such as stock data.

Nov 2nd 2026
4 Weeks
Mathematical Biostatistics Boot Camp 1 (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Mathematical Biostatistics Boot Camp 1 (Coursera)

This class presents the fundamental probability and statistical concepts used in elementary data analysis. It will be taught at an introductory level for students with junior or senior college-level mathematical training including a working knowledge of calculus. A small amount of linear algebra and programming are useful for the class, but not required.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Practical Time Series Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
The State University of New York

Practical Time Series Analysis (Coursera)

Many of us are "accidental" data analysts. We trained in the sciences, business, or engineering and then found ourselves confronted with data for which we have no formal analytic training. This course is designed for people with some technical competencies who would like more than a "cookbook" approach, but who still need to concentrate on the routine sorts of presentation and analysis that deepen the understanding of our professional topics.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Review (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Review (Coursera)

The purpose of this course is to review the material covered in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to enable the student to pass it. It will be presented in modules corresponding to the FE topics, particularly those in Civil and Mechanical Engineering. Each module will review main concepts, illustrate them with examples, and provide extensive practice problems.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Behavioral Finance (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Behavioral Finance (Coursera)

We make thousands of decisions every day. Do I cross the road now, or wait for the oncoming truck to pass? Should I eat fries or a salad for lunch? How much should I tip the cab driver? We usually make these decisions with almost no thought, using what psychologists call “heuristics” – rules of thumb that enable us to navigate our lives. Without these mental shortcuts, we would be paralyzed by the multitude of daily choices.

Nov 9th 2026
3 Weeks
Fundamentals of financial and management accounting (Coursera) Coursera
Politecnico di Milano

Fundamentals of financial and management accounting (Coursera)

This is an introductory course on financial and management accounting. The first part of this course will introduce the basic accounting principles and accounting terminology to understand how a company keeps control of financial events and provides information on how it is performing. These basic concepts will support the analysis of financial reports companies prepare. We will go through balance sheet, income statement, financial statement, learning how to read and analyze them.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks