Overview. The purpose of this course is to teach the basic concepts and some elementary methods in statistics with the minimum use of mathematics. Having learned the material contained in this course, a student should have some rudimentary knowledge about how data is collected, how to organize and to display the data, how to interpret the results and how to draw conclusions from the results. The textbook is Statistics: Concepts and Controversies, by D. Moore and W. Notz, 7th Edition, Freeman. Students must read each chapter before lectures. We will present only the fundamental concepts through examples. Roughly, we will cover about one section per hour. Some long sections may need two hours. In Part I, we may touch some sections very lightly and assign them for home reading. In addition to the final examination, we will have three partial tests and weekly quizzes. We will assign homework at the end of each section and discuss some of them in detail in class. Hand calculators are allowed. Check here for an update on this syllabus.
Prerequisites: One and one-half years high school algebra.
Classes begin Mon 12/Jan/09. There will be weekly quizzes, three (3) one-hour Partial Examination and a Final Examination. Makeup exams will not be given unless (exceptionally) arranged in advance. No class on Mon 19/Jan/09 (University is closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) and during Spring Recess (Mon 16/Mar/09 -- Sat 21/Mar/09). Classes end Mon 27/Apr/09.
Part I: Producing Data. Chapters 1-3, emphasize methods of sampling designs
(6 hrs). Chapters 5-6, emphasize methods of designs of experiments (4 hrs).
Chapter 8, emphasize the concepts of unbiasness and precision (2 hrs). Review and
first test (2 hrs).
Part II: Organizing Data. Chapters 10-13, should cover the boxplot which is
widely used nowadays and should explain in details the properties of normal
distributions (6 hrs). Chapters 14-15, emphasize the concepts of correlation, the
use of scatterplot and the use of regression line prediction (6 hrs). Review and
second test (2 hrs).
Part III: Chance. Chapters 17-18, 20, emphasize the concepts of expected values
and the law of large numbers. We may add a few examples to illustrate the concept
of random variables and the computation of expected values (4 hrs).
Part IV: Statistical Inference. Chapters 21-22, 24, proceed slowly and
patiently to understand the concepts behind the formal statistical reasoning (8 hrs).
Review and third test (2 hrs).
Homework assignments will be given for each section discuss some of them in class. It is crucial to the success in this course to do the homework regularly, even if usually they will not be collected. Keeping up with the homework is probably the single most important things you can do to improve your chances for a good grade.
Attendance and class participation are essential components of the learning process and will be used in determining borderline grades. Attendance to class will be excused (only) in the case of sickness or other emergency. Missing a bus, oversleeping, other tests the same day, etc., are not sufficient reasons for missing a lecture. You will be asked to document the circumstances which caused you to miss the lecture. Ask questions! It's your responsibility to ask about anything you don't understand. Write down the things that bother you while you're reading the text or working on problems, so you'll be ready with a list of questions when you come to class and/or office hours. There's no such thing as a stupid question, usually other students are grateful that you asked the question. Do not allow yourself to get behind. Cell Phones and Pages should be turned off during class.
Grading. About ten (10) quizzes 20 points. Each of the three (3) partial examinations is 20 points, and the final exam is 40 points (up to 120 points). We may have up to three (3) bonus computer assignments (about 2 extra points each). An almost standard grading scale will be applied (120-110 is A, 110-100 is A-, 100-95 is B+, 95-85 is B, 85-80 is B-, 80-75 is C+, 75-65 is C, 65-60 is C-, 60-55 is D+, 55-45 is D, 45-40 is D-, 0-40 is F). This scale may be lowered (never raised) if necessary accordingly to the distribution of grades. HOWEVER, please note the departmental policy saying that if your final exam grade is not passing (i.e., C- or better), then your best grade is D+. This means that you need a 50% correct in the final (and a 50% in the quizzes, unless special circumstances) to pass with a C- or better. At the end of the semester, finals grades will be posted in final grades, next to the last four digits of the student's PID. Students who do not complete the course requirements, or do not withdraw appropriately (in timely ways), should receive a failing grade F. Students who request withdrawals beginning with the 5th week of term will receive one of these notations: WP (withdrawal with a passing grade earned to date) or WF (withdrawal with a failing grade earned to date) or WN (withdrawal with never attended, or no graded work to date).
Tutoring. Available in 1198 FAB, Phone (313) 577-3195. Hours Mon-Thu 09:00-18:00 and Fri 09:00-17:00.
Office Hours. Mon and Wed 10:35 -- 11:20, and by appointment at 1229 Faculty/Administrative Building , Phone (313) 577-3196, Dr. J.L. Menaldi, e-mail: menaldi@wayne.edu (please use your WSU mail account), 12/Jan/09.