Course Title:
| Introduction to Statistics | |
Course Materials:
Bluman, A. G. (2007). Elementary statistics: A step by step approach (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Scientific calculator required.
Statistical software availability. | |
Course Description:
| STAT 200 Introduction to Statistics Prerequisite: MATH 103 or MATH 107. An introduction to statistics. Topics include descriptive statistics, methods of sampling, tables, graphs, percentiles, concepts of probability, normal and chi-square distributions, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing of one and two means, proportions, binomial experiments, sample size calculations, correlation, and regression. Applications in business, social sciences, and other fields are discussed. Students who receive credit for STAT 200 may not receive credit for the following courses: BEHS 202, BEHS 302, BMGT 230, ECON 321, GNST 201, MATH 111, MGMT 316, PSYC 200, SOCY 201, STAT 100, STAT 225, or STAT 230. | |
Course Goals/Objectives:
This course will actively pursue the UMUC curriculum-wide areas of focus: globalization, information literacy, effective writing, and computer technology (including the use of the Internet WEB). Methods which may be used include lectures, discussions, problems, data analysis projects, Internet projects, and computer simulation project, including computer graphics.
The minimal objectives that the student should be able to do upon successful completion of this course include the following:
* Define and use basic statistical terms
* Identify various data collection and sampling methods
* Calculate measures of central tendency, variation, and position, and interpret these statistics
* Construct and extract information from statistical graphs and charts
* Solve counting applications, calculate application probabilities, and calculate probabilities using probability distributions
* Construct confidence intervals and calculate appropriate sample sizes
* Test hypotheses and apply correlation and regression analysis
* Input data, run statistical tests using statistical software, and interpret the results
* Apply these techniques to the solution of practical problems drawn from fields such as mathematics, business, and the social, life and physical sciences | |
Course Introduction:
| This course is designed to develop a basic understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics. STAT 200 provides the quantitative tools for decision-making and develops the ability to interpret statistical results in professional literature as well as the media. This course is intended to accommodate every student who needs an introductory statistics course, regardless of the subject in which one plans to major (psychology, business, education, social science, engineering,...everyday life...). | |
Grading Information and Criteria:
There will be three 75-minute exams each worth 15% of the final grade, assignments which may include a statistical project using statistical software (like Excel) worth 25% of the final grade, and a comprehensive final exam that is worth 30% of the final grade. All exams will be closed book and closed notes. Students may be required to memorize fundamental formulas, other formulas will be provided on a formula sheet.
Exam 1 = 15 points
Exam 2 = 15 points
Exam 3 = 15 points
Assignments/Project = 25 points
Final Exam = 30 points
Grades will be determined by the number of points you have earned as follows:
Grade Points
A = 90-100
B = 80-89.9
C = 70-79.9
D = 60-69.9
F = <60
NOTE: Faculty may edit this model. Participation as a component is advisable for online classes and may be incorporated in f2f classes. If the faculty wishes to incorporate homework as part of the course grade, then the above percentages will change. If homework is graded, it may count no more than 15% of the course grade. | |
Other Information:
* Study time (including reading and exercises) can be expected to be 2 to 3 times the amount of lecture time. That is, for every hour in class expect to spend 2 to 3 hours out of class studying.
* Students who fall behind or fail to attempt the exercises could well find themselves in difficulty. Try to incorporate the skills and methods learned in this course in everyday life. It is the best way to learn.
* Attendance: It will be to the student's advantage to attend all classes. When absence is unavoidable, it is a student's own responsibility to makeup any work missed before the next class session. For administrative purposes, attendance will be recorded. Students expecting or experiencing long absences during the term should contact the faculty.
* Class Discussions: Students are encouraged (indeed, expected) to participate. Ask questions.
* Homework assignments will be given for each class session. You are responsible for solving all problems assigned. Completing all the homework problems should help you prepare for the exams. If there are any problems that you found difficult or were unable to solve, be prepared to ask questions concerning those problems. Mastery of math depends on practice, practice, practice!
* In addition to the textbook, you will need a scientific calculator that does two-variable statistics. You may also need graph paper. Please ensure the grid size is large enough to see without the aid of a magnifying glass. A straight edge and a few different colored pencils or pens will also be useful. Also, for the project, you will need the use of statistical software (like Excel), which is part of the standard load on all computers in the UMUC labs and it is often also installed on computers located in public libraries. | |
Project Descriptions:
| A statistical project using Excel (or similar software) will be completed. Step-by-step instructions will be provided by the faculty. You will be required to provide descriptive statistics, computer graphics, and analyses and interpretations for a set or sets of data. Submit the computer printout of the completed project along with a written report of your analysis. The due date is the class meeting prior to the final examination. | |
Academic Policies:
Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines.
See the UMUC policies at the following URL:
http://www.umuc.edu/policy/ | |
Course Schedule:
Tentative Schedule; may be modified by instructor as circumstances deem necessary. All readings and assignments are from Elementary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach, 5th edition, by Bluman. Please read the sections to be covered prior to the class meeting. Homework assignments will be comprised of the odd numbered problems in each section unless specified otherwise during the class meetings.
Meeting 1
1.1-2.2, 3.5 Definitions, Sampling Techniques, Frequency Distributions, Stem and Leaf Plots
Meeting 2
2.3-3.3 Graphs, measures of Central Tendency and Variation
Meeting 3
3.3-3.6 Measures of Variation and Position, Boxplots
Meeting 4
4.1-5.2 Counting Techniques, Sample Spaces and Probability
Meeting 5
5.3-5.6 Exam I, Probability Rules
Meeting 6
6.1-6.4 Discrete Probability Distributions
Meeting 7
7.1-7.4 Normal Distributions
Meeting 8
7.5-8.2 Normal Distribution, Confidence Intervals and Sample Size
Meeting 9
8.3, 8.4 Exam II, Confidence Intervals and Sample Size
Meeting 10
9.1-9.5 Hypothesis Testing
Meeting 11
8.5,9.6,10.1,10.3 Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing utilizing the Chi-Square Distribution and the F Distribution
Meeting 12
10.2,10.4-10.6 Testing the Difference between Two Means, and Two Proportions
Meeting 13
13.1, 13.2 Exam III, ANOVA
Meeting 14
11.1-11.5 Correlation and Regression
Meeting 15
(12.1-12.4)* Projects Due, Chi-Square Tests, Review for Final Exam
Meeting 16
Final Exam
*Selected portions of Chapter 12 will be covered.
NOTE: Exam I covers Chapters 1-4
Exam II covers Chapters 5-7
Exam III covers Chapters 8-10
Final Exam is comprehensive | |
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