Overview of statistics and learn how statistics shapes the way we look at information
Intro to
Design of statistical studies
Basic sampling methods
Descriptive statistics
Probability distributions
Sampling distributions
Inference in surveys and experiments
Regression
Categorical data analyses
Analysis of variance
Use of some software (Excel, Matlab, etc. I will show examples with R)
Prerequisites
Math 175
Required materials
Text Book: no formal textbook but the following book is a decent reference
Barbara Illowsky, Susan Dean, et. al. (2017). Introductory Statistics. OpenStax. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). OpenStax.org. You can either use the PDF version or buy a hard copy either from the various sites, including OpenStax.org
Calculator: You will need any type of calculator that has the exponent and square-root function for homework and tests (scientific or graphing is acceptable)
Grading
30% Homework 70% Quizzes
Assessment
Homework: All homework assignments are to be handed in or submitted on time. If you do not submit it on the due date, you will receive an assignment grade of zero. Late assignments will not be accepted without a university-approved excuse. You can either contact me directly, or go through the Dean of Students (http://www.students.uidaho.edu/dos/) who will take care of contacting all your professors about absences. Traveling home for vacation is not a valid excuse for missing assignments and exams. See assignments page for more detailed information about assignments. Homework will not be graded for accuracy rather for completion. Solutions will be available for comparison and understanding of material.
Quizzes: Administered weekly (for a total of six), in BbLearn, and are designed to gauge students’ ability to comprehend basic material from previous and current lectures and readings. Many of these questions will form the basis of questions on exams. There will be no makeup quizzes for non-attendance without valid University excuse or valid doctor's note prior to the event in question.
Attendance: While not mandatory, lack of attendance is highly correlated with lower grades and less understanding, and that should be no surprise. Just remember there are in class quizzes that cannot be made up simply due to skipping class without a good reason, nor without prior communication about it.
Work policy: I do understand that life happens. However, if you do not properly communicate with me, I reserve the right to deny requests for make up work, regardless of the circumstance (excluding lack of consciousness or other unavoidable events).
Classroom etiquette: Stay off phones and other similar devices while in class. It is rude to be on your phone while you are in class (it is distracting to others); your purpose of being in class is to learn. Humans cannot multi-task like we think we can (new studies have proven that we cannot do it nearly as well as we think). It is to your benefit to pay attention as you can learn the material easier. If it is that important that you need to pay attention to your phone or computer, then by all means - please do so, but not during class.
Extra Help
There is outside help for this course. The Statistics Assistance Center (SAC) is located in the Library on the second floor and you may get help from the tutors during their hours of operation. The hours are available starting the third day of classes. Their website will have the updated hours but roughly they are MTWR 2-4.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is an important concept and will be enforced in the class. Breaches of academic honesty include cheating on a test, falsifying data, misrepresenting the work of others as your own (plagiarism, or improper citation of sources), and helping other students cheat and/or plagiarize. For detailed academic integrity standards and procedures, please consult Article II of your student handbook. Breaches of academic integrity will not be tolerated and will result in an F for the course and referral to the Dean of Students for further disciplinary action.
Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have documented temporary or permanent disabilities. All accommodations must be approved through Disability Support Services in order to notify your instructor(s) as soon as possible regarding accommodations needed for the course. DSS contact information: Idaho Commons Building room 306, phone (208) 885-6307 and email [email protected].