Linear Regression for Business Statistics (Coursera)

Offered by Rice University,
Linear Regression for Business Statistics (Coursera)

Regression Analysis is perhaps the single most important Business Statistics tool used in the industry. Regression is the engine behind a multitude of data analytics applications used for many forms of forecasting and prediction. This is the fourth course in the specialization, "Business Statistics and Analysis". The course introduces you to the very important tool known as Linear Regression. You will learn to apply various procedures such as dummy variable regressions, transforming variables, and interaction effects. All these are introduced and explained using easy to understand examples in Microsoft Excel.

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

The focus of the course is on understanding and application, rather than detailed mathematical derivations.
Note: This course uses the ‘Data Analysis’ tool box which is standard with the Windows version of Microsoft Excel. It is also standard with the 2016 or later Mac version of Excel. However, it is not standard with earlier versions of Excel for Mac.
Course 4 of 5 in the Business Statistics and Analysis Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Module 1: Regression Analysis: An Introduction
In this module you will get introduced to the Linear Regression Model. We will build a regression model and estimate it using Excel. We will use the estimated model to infer relationships between various variables and use the model to make predictions. The module also introduces the notion of errors, residuals and R-square in a regression model.
Topics covered include:
• Introducing the Linear Regression
• Building a Regression Model and estimating it using Excel
• Making inferences using the estimated model
• Using the Regression model to make predictions
• Errors, Residuals and R-square

WEEK 2
Module 2: Regression Analysis: Hypothesis Testing and Goodness of Fit
This module presents different hypothesis tests you could do using the Regression output. These tests are an important part of inference and the module introduces them using Excel based examples. The p-values are introduced along with goodness of fit measures R-square and the adjusted R-square. Towards the end of module we introduce the ‘Dummy variable regression’ which is used to incorporate categorical variables in a regression.
Topics covered include:
• Hypothesis testing in a Linear Regression
• ‘Goodness of Fit’ measures (R-square, adjusted R-square)
• Dummy variable Regression (using Categorical variables in a Regression)

WEEK 3
Module 3: Regression Analysis: Dummy Variables, Multicollinearity
This module continues with the application of Dummy variable Regression. You get to understand the interpretation of Regression output in the presence of categorical variables. Examples are worked out to re-inforce various concepts introduced. The module also explains what is Multicollinearity and how to deal with it.
Topics covered include:
• Dummy variable Regression (using Categorical variables in a Regression)
• Interpretation of coefficients and p-values in the presence of Dummy variables
• Multicollinearity in Regression Models

WEEK 4
Module 4: Regression Analysis: Various Extensions
The module extends your understanding of the Linear Regression, introducing techniques such as mean-centering of variables and building confidence bounds for predictions using the Regression model. A powerful regression extension known as ‘Interaction variables’ is introduced and explained using examples. We also study the transformation of variables in a regression and in that context introduce the log-log and the semi-log regression models.
Topics covered include:
• Mean centering of variables in a Regression model
• Building confidence bounds for predictions using a Regression model
• Interaction effects in a Regression
• Transformation of variables
• The log-log and semi-log regression models

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

Related Courses

Pre-MBA Statistics (Coursera) Coursera
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA)

Pre-MBA Statistics (Coursera)

Welcome to the Pre-MBA Statistics course! By the end of this course, you will be able to describe how statistics can be used to summarize, analyze, and interpret data. This course introduces you to some aspects of descriptive and inferential statistics. You will learn to distinguish between various data types and describe the operations that you can execute with each type of data and the right tools to use.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Infonomics II: Business Information Management and Measurement (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Infonomics II: Business Information Management and Measurement (Coursera)

Even decades into the Information Age, accounting practices yet fail to recognize the financial value of information. Moreover, traditional asset management practices fail to recognize information as an asset to be managed with earnest discipline. This has led to a business culture of complacence, and the inability for most organizations to fully leverage available information assets. This second course in the two-part Infonomics series explores how and why to adapt well-honed asset management principles and practices to information, and how to apply accepted and new valuation models to gauge information’s potential and realized economic benefits.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Analytics in Healthcare Management and Administration (Coursera) Coursera
Northeastern University

Analytics in Healthcare Management and Administration (Coursera)

This course is the continuation of Healthcare Analytics Essentials . If you have not yet taken the Healthcare Analytics Essentials course, it is recommended that you complete that course prior to this course. The foundational knowledge to support the project are carried through in this deeper dive into using healthcare analytics in management and administration.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Business Statistics and Analysis Capstone (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

Business Statistics and Analysis Capstone (Coursera)

The Business Statistics and Analysis Capstone is an opportunity to apply various skills developed across the four courses in the specialization to a real life data. The Capstone, in collaboration with an industry partner uses publicly available ‘Housing Data’ to pose various questions typically a client would pose to a data analyst. Your job is to do the relevant statistical analysis and report your findings in response to the questions in a way that anyone can understand.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Earth Economics (Coursera) Coursera
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Earth Economics (Coursera)

After this course you will be an Earth Economist that can provide evidence-based advise on the best global policy. As an Earth Economist you will better understand the behavior and advice of economists, have become a better economist yourself and know where to find Earth's data and how to analyze these world observations. Our planet is too important: we need you to get engaged!

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Data-Driven Decisions with Power BI (Coursera) Coursera
Knowledge Accelerators

Data-Driven Decisions with Power BI (Coursera)

New Power BI users will begin the course by gaining a conceptual understanding of the Power BI desktop application and the Power BI service. Learners will explore the Power BI interface while learning how to manage pages and understand the basics of visualizations. Learners will engage in numerous hands-on experiences to discover how to import, connect, clean, transform, and model their own data in the Power BI desktop application.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentos de Excel para Negocios (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Austral

Fundamentos de Excel para Negocios (Coursera)

Cuando finalices este curso habrás logrado un gran número de habilidades como introducir información, ordenarla, manipularla, realizar cálculos de diversa índole (matemáticos, trigonométricos, estadísticos, financieros, ingenieriles, probabilísticos), extraer conclusiones, trabajar con fechas y horas, construir gráficos, imprimir reportes y muchas más.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization (Coursera)

Thriving in the Information Age compels organizations to deploy information as an actual business asset, not as an IT asset or merely as a business byproduct. This demands creativity in conceiving and implementing new ways to generate economic benefits from the wide array of information assets available to an organization. Unfortunately, information too frequently is underappreciated and therefore underutilized.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Fundamentals of Business Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Fundamentals of Business Analysis (Coursera)

Learn the fundamental skills for becoming a Business Analyst, including understanding the role of business analysis in the organization, what makes a good business analyst, and gaining a collection of foundational skills used by all the BAs regardless of industry or level of seniority such as: applying analysis to determine the business needs, identifying the stakeholders, gathering and documenting different types of requirements, ensuring the solutions deliver the expected value.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week
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