PERSONAL STATEMENT Statistics is an extremely interesting and useful field. It is use in predicting, modeling and forecasting natural phenomenon. Our day to day decision we make is based on likelihood. I have the desire to contribute my talents to the application of statistical analysis that will improve condition of life. To fulfill this goal, I must be engaged in basic statistical reach including biostatistics, mathematical statistics (ARIMA), probability theory, Stochastic processes etc.

Statistics has the power to make any process more efficient and my interests in this field are still wide and malleable. My undergraduate thesis was on the topic “Factors that determine the choice of brand of mobile phone by tertiary students” and principal component analysis was used to analyze the data. Areas that have currently grabbed my attention are Poisson regression models, multivariate analysis, probability theory and time series and forecasting, this is so because my country (Ghana) is hit by power crisis since four years now and there is no concrete solution to the problem as at now, the efficacy of drugs to cure malaria and stillbirth etc are areas I still want to explore.

I also served as the second author for unpublished masters’ degree thesis on the topic “Risky sexual practices among senior high school students” and also an undergraduate thesis on the topic “Difficulties in teaching English grammar in senior high school” which is also unpublished. My role was running of programs (in SPSS, ANOVA) to emulate the models and in assisting writing the text. Thinking about my career plans today. These include, researching, teaching and consulting and furthering into the Doctoral program. Due to this, am hoping that Portland state university masters program should clarify my specific research interest so that I can get my research going soon after I complete.

I expect to continue with my profession as a teacher and also a researcher at higher institutions when I complete the masters and possibly the Doctoral program to refine my knowledge and serve my community. I shall also plan projects and advise students to be active in research because that is the only way to get Mother Ghana and Africa as a whole from its predicaments.