STAT 130M
                                        Course  Syllabus, Part II    

            Inferences, decisions, and predictions play a vital role in everyday life as well as in organized research. In many cases knowledge of statistics will allow a quantitative assessment of risk involved with each inference and hence improve inference-making abilities.

 

Course Objectives:

1.      That the students learn basic techniques in descriptive statistics including computation and interpretation of measures of central tendency, relative position, and dispersion and the construction and interpretation of graphs and tables.

2.      That the students learn probability terminology and becomes familiar with the methodology necessary to solve elementary probability problems.

3.      That the students learn how to compute expected values and how to use them in decision making.

4.      That the students learn probability computations associated with the normal and binomial distributions.

5.      That the students learn basic terminology and methodology associated with statistical inference. This includes sample size determination, confidence interval construction, hypothesis testing, and proper usage of statistical tables.

6.      That the students learn how to apply inferential techniques to a wide variety of application areas including but not limited to business, medicine, social sciences, engineering, computer science, sports and law.

7.      That the students become more adept at analyzing the content of newspaper and magazine articles in a quantitative and objective fashion.

 

Course Prerequisite: Qualifying score on a placement test administered by the University Testing Center or Math 101M. This course is intended for non-statistics majors, but requires a second-year high school algebra course and good arithmetic skills.

 

Required Textbook:  Essentials of Statistics by Mario F. Triola, 2^nd edition is the required textbook for the course. The latter portion of this course outline contains textbook sections that will be covered during the term, as well as textbook exercises relating to these sections. It is strongly recommended that the student work these problems to insure a thorough understanding of the material. The list is considered a minimal number and a student who falters with these is urged to work extra problems. These problems are not to be turned in for grading. In order to minimize the time spent on performing arithmetic calculations, the student is encouraged to use a calculator (with square root button) on the homework and exams. Familiarity with the operation of the calculator is essential. No sharing of a calculator during the exams is permitted.

 

 

Grade Determination: The student’s final grade in STAT 130M is based upon performance in three areas. These areas are now discussed.

1.    Exams: A final examination worth approximately 30% of the total number of points attainable in the course will be given during exam week. Several other in-class examinations will be administered during the semester. The dates of these examinations are determined by your instructor and will be disseminated to the class at the appropriate time. Some homework may also be given and graded. These grades will be included when computing your exam scores. A make-up exam will be offered in the case of a documented illness and in other exceptional circumstances. It is not possible to guarantee that a make-up exam has the same difficulty level as the scheduled exam.  Therefore, a student is encouraged to be present for all exams, quizzes and tests. A student who must miss a class is expected to get the notes from other students. Although excessive absences can have a negative effect on a student’s learning and performance, absences from class are not counted in a student’s grade. An honor code signature line is required on all written work turned in for a grade. However, you are free to collaborate on any homework exercises not turned in for a grade.

2.      Computer Homework: These are based upon computer assignments from MyMathLab. This special software will be discussed in class.
     

 

Class Demeanor: Many sections in STAT 130M are large. In order to promote the most conducive atmosphere for classroom operation the following rules are to be observed:

a)      Be in your seat at the time your seat at the time your class is scheduled to begin.

b)      Remain in your seat until the termination of your class.

c)      No talking is permitted during the class period.

d)      Cell phones and beepers must be turned off in the classroom.

 

 

 

 

Withdrawal Policy: Any student may drop this course on or before the withdraw  date indicated in the Schedule of Classes and receive a W grade in the course. Withdrawal after this date is not usually permitted. However, in the event of an illness or other severe hardship beyond the student’s control the student should submit, no later than the last day of classes, a written petition for permission to withdraw to the instructor and the chairperson. If permission is granted by both, a grade of “W” will be recorded. Any appeal of decisions should be brought to the Dean of the College of Sciences.

 

 Honor Code: By enrolling in this course you agree to adhere to the honor code on all written work: “I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the Honor Code.”

 

During exams spread out as much a possible and try not to sit next to another student.  The instructor reserves the right to relocate any student(s) to ensure the Honor Code is not compromised.  An Honor Code Signature Line is required on all written work turned in for a grade. However, you are free to collaborate on any homework exercises not turned in for a grade.

 

Writing Policy: The exams and project will require that you respond in writing to present a solution, derivation, or proof.   All such work, whether it uses standard or symbolic writing, must be presented in a clear and logical form, and is reasonably free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

 

Disability Services Policy: All reasonable accommodations will be made for any student with disabilities. Only those students who have been documented at the Office of Disability Services will be eligible for these accommodations.

 

Computing Policy:  The student is permitted to use a scientific calculator on homework

exercises and on tests.  Programming and text editing/read-back capabilities cannot be used on your calculator during quizzes, tests, and exams.

 

Attendance Policy:  A student who must miss class is expected to get the notes from other students.  Students are expected to be present for all quizzes, tests, and exams.  Attendance is strongly encouraged (mandatory) in that excessive absences can have a negative effect on a student’s learning and performance. However absences are not counted when computing a student’s course grade.

 

Make-up Exam Policy:  A make-up exam will be offered in the case of a documented illness and in other exceptional circumstances for which a student will be asked to provide documentation.  No other work can be made up under any circumstances.  It is not possible to guarantee that a make-up exam has the same difficulty level as the scheduled exam. Therefore, a student is encouraged to be present for all exams, quizzes, and tests.

 

  

Suggested Exercises

 

Chapter	Title	Exercises
1	Introduction to Statistics Section 1-4 will be omitted	Page  9      1, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 Page 17  All odd numbered problems from 1-21
2	Describing, Exploring, and Comparing Data Section 2-7 will be omitted	Page 42   All odd numbered problems from 1-19 Page 52    1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 Page 64    3, 7, 11 Page 81    3, 11, 17, 19,  27, 28 Page 93    1, 3, 7, 13, 15
3	Probability Sections 3-1 through 3-3 will be covered	Page 120   1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 23, 24 Page 129   1, 3, 9 – 19 odd
4	Probability Distributions	Page 176   1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21 Page 186   11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25, 29, 31,33 Page 193   5, 7, 11, 15
5	Normal Probability Distributions Section 5-4 and 5-6 will be omitted	Page 215   1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25,                   37, 39 Page 223   1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 Page 244   11, 13, 15
6	Estimates and Sample Sizes Section 6-5 will be omitted	Page 280   3, 7, 15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35,                   37 41  Page 294   5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29 Page 310   13, 17, 19, 21
7	Hypothesis Testing Section 7-6 will be omitted	Page 351   (instructor may prefer to omit  Sect. 7-2) Page 361   1, 3, 4, 5, 11, 15,  Page 369   9, 11, 13 Page 379   13, 15, 17, 19, 27
8	Inferences from Two Samples Section 8-2 will be covered	Page 408    5, 15
9	Correlation and Regression Sections 9-1 and 9-2 will be covered	Page 460    9, 11, 13