INTRODUCTION
TO STATISTICS
Math 1181, Spring 2009
Instructor:
Dr. Rachel Hall
Office: 229 Barbelin
Office Hours: T 9:30-10:30, W
10:30-11:30, F 11-12, and by appointment
Telephone: (610) 660-3096 (Office)
E-mail: rhall@sju.edu
URL: http://www.sju.edu/~rhall/Stats
Overview: Statistics is the science of collecting,
organizing and interpreting numerical data. Statistical literacy is an
essential skill that enables people to understand and make sensible decisions
based on the analysis of numerical information. Data and numerical arguments
exist not only in all areas of academic inquiry but also in everyday
life. The following principles have informed the design of this course:
Course Goals: This semester, I would like to
help you to apply and interpret the results of a variety of statistical
techniques from both descriptive and inferential statistics; to understand the
fundamental concepts in statistics including sampling, experimentation,
variability, distribution, association, causation, estimation, confidence,
hypothesis testing, and significance; to critically review and analyze
statistical arguments found in the popular press and in scholarly journals; and
to appreciate the relevance and importance of statistics.
Prerequisite: none. Students who are concerned about their placement in this
class should discuss it with me in the first week of classes.
Text: The Basic Practice of Statistics, 4th
edition by
David S. Moore, chapters 1-18 and 20.
SPSS: New versions of the textbook purchased at the SJU bookstore
will be bundled with the student Windows-based version of the SPSS software and
an access code for the on-line companion and homework system StatsPortal. If
you elect to buy a used book or not to buy a book, you will still need to
purchase the access code for StatsPortal. You do not have to buy SPSS since it
is available on the computer labs on campus. If you want your own copy of SPSS,
note that it is much more expensive to buy a stand-alone version of this
software. If you do not have a
Windows computer, your cheapest option is to purchase StatsPortal, which
includes an electronic version of the book. A student version of SPSS is not available for Mac.
Calculators: You will need a calculator for homework
and exams. Any calculator below TI-92 is acceptable. If you forget
to bring your calculator to a quiz or exam, you are out of luck—sharing is
not allowed.
Homework: You will need to register and use
StatsPortal to submit homework assignments online. You should start working on the homework problems for a
section as soon as that section is covered in class. Some assignments will
require the use of SPSS. Late homework will not be accepted;
however, the lowest two grades will be dropped.
Class Survey Analyses: You and your classmates will design a survey and we will use
the data throughout the semester.
Four assignments will be based on this data. Although you may consult with
other students and seek help from me, the work you turn in should be your own. Be
sure to cite all sources properly, including internet sources.
Tests: There will be three tests, scheduled for
February 18, March 18, and April 15 (all Wednesdays). A cumulative final
exam will be given on Wednesday, May 6, 2-4 pm. Makeup tests will
only be given to students who contact me by email (rhall@sju.edu) or phone (610-660-3096) within 48
hours of missing a test.
Students with a valid, verifiable reason for missing a test or the final may take a makeup without
penalty if they bring validation; those who have missed a test without a
valid, verifiable reason may take a makeup with a 30% penalty, assuming that
they contact me within 48 hours. Valid excuses include illness,
death in the family, or an official university activity such as an athletic
event or field trip.
Grades: Grades will be weighted as follows:
240 points: three
test grades (each is worth 80 points)
200 points: final
exam grade
80 points: homework
grades (each is worth 10 points; lowest two grades dropped)
80 points: four
analyses of class surveys (each is worth 20 points)
The grade cutoffs are 560 A, 540
A-, 520 B+, 500 B, 480 B-, 460 C+, 440 C, 420 C-, 400 D+, 360 D, and below 360
F. Grades may be curved at the end of the semester. You have the option of
replacing either your total quiz grade or your lowest test grade with your
final exam grade.
Academic Honesty: Dishonesty includes cheating on a test,
falsifying data, misrepresenting the work of others as your own (plagiarism, or
improper citation of sources), and helping another student cheat or plagiarize.
At the very least, an academic honesty infraction will result in the filing of
a violation report and a grade of zero on that particular assignment; serious
or repeated infractions of the Academic Honesty policy will result in failure
of the course. For complete information about the University’s policy on
Academic Honesty, consult the Student Handbook 2008-2009.
Attendance: Class attendance is
mandatory. Although I do not have a rigid cut policy, anyone who has
missed lots of classes and is doing poorly in the course should not expect much
sympathy from me. If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to
make up the material and make sure your work is turned in on time. If you
have a special circumstance that may interfere with your regular attendance,
please discuss it with me.
Students with Disabilities: Students who have or think they may have
a disability (learning, physical, or psychological) are encouraged to contact
Services for Students with Disabilities, Room 113, Science Center, 610-660-1774
or 610-660-1620 as early as possible in the semester. Accommodations can only be provided to a student with
current documentation (within 3 years).
Students are encouraged to discuss their instructional needs and
accommodations (“reasonable academic adjustments”) with their professors early in
the semester. All student requests
for extended time to take quizzes or exams in a distraction free environment
must be discussed with the professor a minimum of one week prior to the
scheduled date of the quiz or exam. The student must complete the
Extended-Time Request Form, obtain the professor’s approval, and submit the
form to the office of Services for Students with Disabilities a minimum of 3
days prior to the date of the scheduled exam. Failure to follow these procedures could result in a denial
of the request. Exceptions to exam
schedules requires prior written approval of the professor.
Schedule (subject to change):
|
Dates |
Chapter |
Assignments due |
Important dates |
|
Week 1 |
Chapter 1 |
HW 1: 1.24, 1.30, 1.32, 1.36, 1.37, and 1.38, due 1/28 |
|
|
Week 2 |
Chapter 2 & 3 |
HW 2: 2.30, 2.34, 2.38, and 2.44, due 2/6 |
|
|
Week 3 |
Chapter 3, Intro to SPSS |
HW 3: 3.28, 3.30, 3.32, 3.34, 3.36,
3.38, 3.46, 3.48, due 2/14 |
|
|
Week 4 |
Chapter 4 & 5 |
|
|
|
Week 5 |
Chapter 7 (review) & 6 |
HW 4: 6.24, 6.28, 6.30,
8.30, 8.34, 8.36, 8.38, 8.40, due 2/27 Analysis 1, due 2/24 |
|
|
Test 1,
Friday, February 20, Chapters 1-5, 7 |
|||
|
Week 6 |
Chapter 8 & 9 |
|
|
|
Week 7 |
Chapter 10 |
HW 5: 9.26, 9.28, 9.30, 9.34, 10.4, 10.9, 10.13, 10.15, 10.30, 10.32,
10.34, 10.36, 10.51, due 3/18 |
Spring Break, 3/8-3/14 |
|
Week 8 |
Chapter 11 |
|
Freshman grades due, 3/18 |
|
Test 2,
Tuesday, March 24, Chapters 6, 8, 9, 10 |
|||
|
Week 9 |
Chapter 11 & 14 |
Analysis 2, due 3/31 HW 6: 11.8, 11.9, 11.20, 11.21, 11.31, 11.32, 11.34, 11.36,
11.41, 11.42, due 4/1 |
|
|
Week 10 |
Chapter 15 |
HW 7: |
|
|
Week 11 |
Chapter 16 |
HW 8: Analysis 3 |
Last withdraw, 4/6 Good Friday, 4/10 |
|
Week 12 |
Chapter 17 & 18 |
HW 9: |
|
|
Test 3,
Wednesday, April 15, Chapters 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
|||
|
Week 13 |
Chapter 18 & 19 |
HW 10: |
|
|
Week 14 |
Review |
Analysis 4 |
Last day of class, 5/1 |
|
Final Exam,
Wednesday, May 6, 2:00-4:00 pm, Chapters 1-11, 14-19 |
|||