Introduction

Performing research in experimental physics involves acquiring, processing, analyzing and interpreting data with much higher proficiency than typically required during undergraduate studies. In particular, a rigorous treatment of measurement uncertainties is crucial for a proper validation of the hypotheses motivating the experiments. We aim to bridge this gap both at the theoretical and the practical level, so each session will consist of a lecture to introduce the concepts and a computer-based practical part where they will be applied. We will discuss the following topics:

• Probabilities: random variables, distribution laws, moments
• Sampling and statistics
• Error and uncertainty: definitions, error propagation and composition
• Linear fitting: weighting, parameter uncertainty. Confidence intervals
• Nonlinear fitting: algorithms, constraints, difficulties
• Introduction to Bayesian theory