Course Syllabus for Introduction to Statistics | NSC 309, Study notes of Earth Sciences

Download Course Syllabus for Introduction to Statistics | NSC 309 and more Study notes Earth Sciences in PDF only on Docsity! Division of Statistics & Scientific Computation NSC 309: Introduction to Statistics Unique #49310 Spring 2008 Instructor: Teaching Assistant: Dr. Michael J. Mahometa Matthew Grady michael.mahometa@ssc.utexas.edu mattgrady81@hotmail.com 471-4245 Office Hours: PAI 3.04 Office Hours: MEZ 2.104 Mondays 9-10 am Tuesdays 11am–12pm Wednesdays 3-4:30 pm Thursdays 1-2pm Blackboard (Bb): http://courses.utexas.edu Announcements, course handouts, lecture notes, exam materials, grades and discussion boards will be posted on the course blackboard site. If you have a question about the course, please check Bb before emailing the instructor or the TA. Software (Excel) You need access to a statistical software package to complete your exams in this course. We will be showing you how to use Excel to organize data and run basic statistical analyses. If you do not have a copy of Excel, you can purchase Microsoft Office from the Campus Computer Store. Please note that you may use a different statistical package if you wish, but the instructor and TA will not be easily able to respond to questions regarding other statistical packages. Textbook Intro Stats, by DeVeaux, Velleman & Bock (at the CoOp). Course Description This course is designed to help you learn the introductory descriptive and inferential statistical procedures that are commonly used in research concerning health, behavior and attitudes. You will learn the assumptions underlying common statistical procedures, the types of hypotheses that can be tested by these procedures, and the inferences that can be drawn from their results. After completing this course, you will have developed a sufficient foundation from which you can begin to conduct your own analyses and critically evaluate the statistical analyses of others. Classroom Expectations This course emphasizes an understanding of statistics that goes beyond memorization. This is accomplished by engaging you in guided learning activities in the classroom, purposeful group activities and regular interactions with real data. Talking, writing and thinking about statistics will help you learn it, and most students find that being in class is very valuable. We will also use class time to clarify the exam questions, share pointers on working with the datasets, and discuss strategies for making the exam process smoother and more productive for you. Your active participation and attendance are essential and will be rewarded in the final course grade. Graded Assignments I have two different goals for you in this class. First, I want you to learn to ask good questions when you look at data. Second, I want you to become familiar with the statistical mechanics of “crunching” numbers. For this reason, you will be graded on two kinds of assessments: Take-home exams that give you time to ask and answer good questions, and in-class quizzes that test your ability to apply the statistical techniques. I encourage you to make use of the Undergraduate Writing Center to ensure that your take-home exams are clearly written. Description of Assignments 1. Excel Quiz : This quiz will assess your ability to perform some basic skills in Excel. You will be given a short dataset and a help-sheet on how to sort and organize data, calculate a mean, and generate simple analyses. The TA will be running two Excel workshops to help you prepare. This quiz is preparation for your take-home exams, but you can get help from your friends, the TAs or myself. Submit your quiz via the Bb link by the due date for credit. 2. Quizzes: There will be seven planned quizzes throughout the semester. You must be present for credit. You will have about 25 minutes for each quiz. You will know the quiz questions in advance – they will be drawn from the textbook problems that have been identified as homework. The quizzes take the place of graded homework. You will be allowed to drop your lowest quiz grade. If you are absent on the day of a quiz, that counts as your drop. 3. Take-Home Exams : There will be four take-home exams. These exams require you to work with a set of data that I will post on the course website. You will be asked to write up your results in the form of a statistical report, following the guidelines given to you. Take-home exams must be turned in – typed and stapled -- on the day they are due. On the day of the exam, you will also complete in-class questions at the beginning of the period. You may use your take-home exam to help you answer these questions. If you are late to class, you will not receive additional time on the in-class portion of the exam. 4. Final Exam : The final exam is mandatory. It will be multiple-choice and will cover material from the entire semester. If you wish, you may count your final exam twice by allowing it to substitute for a grade on a previous take-home exam. What You Should Know about Absences If you miss a quiz, you will not be able to retake it. If you are absent on an exam day, you cannot make up the in-class questions. I will not accept late exams in the classroom. Schedule an appointment with me, and academic penalties will be assessed at that time. If you have exceptional circumstances or a serious illness, you must notify me before a quiz or exam is due so that we can discuss your options. I am a reasonable person, but my decision to accept late work is based heavily on the responsibility you demonstrate in addressing issues like these. Academic Honesty Your take-home exams are given to you to complete independently, without the assistance of your classmates. If you have questions about an exam, you are encouraged to seek assistance from the instructor or your TA during class or during office hours. When it comes to exams, you may not seek guidance from your peers, and you may not compare your outcomes with your peers . Students who violate these expectations can expect to receive a failing grade on the exam and will be reported to the Dean of Students office for academic dishonesty.