MATH-180: Introduction to Statistics

MATH-180: Introduction to Statistics

Review the syllabus and if you have any questions/concerns regarding the syllabus contact your Instructor immediately.

Course Description

This course teaches you how to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data in order to make decisions about the world. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, discrete probability distributions, normal probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing with one sample, hypothesis testing with two samples, correlation, regression, chi square tests, and analysis of variance.

Student Centered Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will master the objectives outlined each week as well as be able to:

• present their solutions neatly, completely and accurately so that they may be understood by readers familiar with the topics being considered.
• participate in class discussions on statistical problems.
• employ technology in preparing both problem solutions as well as graphs and tables.
• think critically when examining data and drawing conclusions from it.
• identify statistical presentations that distort data or draw false conclusions and comment on the ethics of such practices.
• master the computation of confidence intervals, test statistics, probabilities, and other required calculations.
• interpret the value of quantitative data.

Textbook and Technology Requirements

• Textbook.  The electronic version of the textbook (ebook) is included with the purchase of WebAssign (see below).  If you wish, you may also purchase a print version of the textbook Introduction to Statistics, Think & Do; v4.1, Scott Stevens – Champlain College, ©2013 Worldwide Center of Mathematics, LLC, ISBN-13: 978-0-9885572-2-2, through the Champlain bookstore.
• WebAssign.  Homework and testing will be done through the WebAssign online system.  Sign up for an account at http://webassign.net/ (Links to an external site.) by specifying the Class Key and purchasing access.
  • The class key for WebAssign for this class is:  champlain 1174 6529
  • The class section number is 81.  This is just so you will recognize you are in the correct section of this course.
    
  • Please note that WebAssign will allow you free access for 14 days from the start of the course before you must pay for it.
• Statistics Software.  In the textbook the author will occasionally suggest you use software instead of hand calculations to work certain complicated or tedious calculations.In this course I suggest you use one (or both) of the following:
  • A TI-84 Plus calculator or TI-84 Plus calculator emulator software. (Cost:  Either free or about $6:00, depending on your computing environment).  This is a tried and true resource that fits nicely with the problems we will solve in this course.
  • • The author has created videos (Links to an external site.) that relate directly to the sections of the text where use of the TI-84 is appropriate and demonstrates, step-by-step, how to solve problems using it.
    • The actual Texas Instruments calculators will typically run more than $100 when purchased new. Your options are to buy a new one, buy a used one on the internet, or download a TI-83 or TI-84 emulator to your computer, tablet, or smart phone.
    • Some people like to put them on their smart phones or tablets while working a homework problem or viewing a related video on their computer screen.
    • If you have an Android device, you can download a free TI-84 Plus emulator for Windows and Android devices at https://wabbit.codeplex.com/ (Links to an external site.)
    • If you have an IOS device (iPhone, iPad) you can download a TI-84 Plus emulator (GraphnCalc83) at the app store on your iPhone or iPad.  The cost is about $6.00.
    • TI-83 Plus calculator.  If you happen to have a TI-83 Plus, it is keystroke compatible with the TI-84 Plus.  Please be aware that the TI-83 does not have the invT and χ 2-GOF Test functions that we will use so you will need to use another resource for them.

• • Minitab Express.  (Cost:  free)  This is a statistical software program that is run on your computer.  While Minitab has been selling statistics software for over 30 years on a variety of platforms the Express version is desirable because it runs on both Windows and Macintosh computers.
    • The author has created videos (Links to an external site.) that relate directly to the sections of the text where use of Minitab Express is appropriate and demonstrates, step-by-step, how to solve problems using it.
    • Minitab Express has the added advantage of copying and pasting data into its spreadsheet-like interface. This is most useful when your datasets are a little larger.
    • Minitab Express is free to Champlain College students.
    • To Install the software you need to
      • download either the software for MiniTab Express for Windows (Links to an external site.) or Mac  (Links to an external site.)
      • download the license file.
      • Make sure you save the license file in the same folder to which the Minitab Express software was downloaded.  In a standard Windows environment both files automatically come to your Downloads folder unless you have configured Windows differently.
    • Note: The first time you run Minitab Express it brings up a How-to video to get you started.

Topic Outline

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Statistics
• Chapter 2: Descriptive Statistics
• Chapter 3: Statistical Tables and Graphs
• Chapter 4: Introduction to Probability
• Chapter 5: Discrete Probability Distributions – Binomial Distributions
• Chapter 6: Continuous Probability Distributions – Normal Distributions
• Chapter 7: Confidence Intervals
• Chapter 8: Hypothesis Testing with One Sample
• Chapter 9: Hypothesis Testing with Two Samples
• Chapter 10: Correlation and Regression
• Chapter 11: Chi-Square Tests & ANOVA

Methods of Assessment

Your final grade will be determined based on:

Description of Methods of Assessment

Weekly Homework Assignments

Each homework assignment will be done in WebAssign and is based on the textbook test bank.  You just enter your answers online, and WebAssign automatically grades it and gives you instant feedback. You can elect to complete additional questions for extra practice and to improve your score.  Homework assignments are always due by Sunday night (11:59pm).

Weekly Discussion Forums

The weekly discussion forums will open Sunday night each week and remain open for one week. Students are expected to post their initial response by Wednesday night (11:59pm) as well as comment on the responses of 2 other students by Sunday night (11:59pm). Please refer to the discussion rubric for the expectations of good discussion posts.

Exams

Exams will be similar to homework assignments in format (multiple choice/fill in the blank format and from the same test bank), but with more questions. You will have unlimited time to complete each exam, but, unlike weekly homework assignments, will not have the opportunity to retake the assessment. There are 4 exams total: Exam 1 (chapters 1-4); Exam 2 (chapters 5-7); Exam 3 (chapters 8-9); and Exam 4 (focus on chapters 10-11, with a cumulative review of the previous 9 chapters).