Introduction to Statistics


Course Syllabus

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Instructors
  • Course Description
  • Goals of the Course
  • Course Materials
  • Statistical Computing
  • Examination Policy
  • Assignments
  • Course Grade
  • Course Outline
    • NUMBER OF CREDITS : 5
    PREREQUISITE: High school higher algebra or Math. 1000

    INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Engin A. Sungur Jon E. Anderson
    OFFICE: 253 SCIENCE 234 SCIENCE
    TELEPHONE: (320) 589 6325(320) 589 6306
    ELECTRONIC OFFICE HOURS: MWF, 1-2(Central)TTh, 1-2(Central)
    E-Mail sungurea@caa.morris.umn.edu anderson@cda.morris.umn.edu
    Course E-Mail math1601@cda.morris.umn.edu


    COURSE DESCRIPTION: Scope,nature, tools, language, and interpretation of elementary statistics. Descriptive statistics; graphical and numerical representation of information; measures of location, dispersion, position, and dependence; exploratory data analysis. Elementary probability theory, discrete and continuous probability models. Inferential statistics, point and interval estimation, tests of statistical hypotheses. Inferences involving one or two populations, ANOVA, regression analysis, and chi-square tests; use of statistical computer packages (ViSta, XLispStat, DataDesk).


    GOALS OF THE COURSE:
    1. Learn to understand the main features of traditional and modern statistics.
    2. Learn how to analyze statistical data properly.
    3. To understand the role of formal statistical theory and informal data analytic methods.
    4. Gain an understanding of statistical methods relevant to upper division interdisciplinary courses.
    Our aim is to enable the students to appreciate the richness of Statistical Science invite them to the probabilistic thinking. Statistics is the science of the future. Any technique that you are going to learn will help you to understand the unknown better, and in turn it will increase in your success in other courses and in your future professional career. We strongly encourage you to take the other advanced level statistics courses.

    We hope that you will like statistics and choose it as a field that you would like to work in.


    COURSE MATERIALS:The students are recommended to have the following CD-ROM which would require either:

    STATISTICAL COMPUTING:The following three statistical software packages will be supported. Vista and XLispStat can be obtained without any charge. DataDesk is available on the ActivStats CD-ROM.

    EXAMINATION POLICY: Three midterm examinations and a final exam will be given. Examinations will be handled electronically. Time table for the examinations is given below:
    EXAMINATIONDATE/TIME THE EXAM WILL BE AVAILABLE DATE/TIME THE EXAM WILL BE DUE
    EXAM 1Nov. 7, 1997(Friday)/

    5 pm(Central)

    		 Nov. 10, 1997(Monday)/

    6 pm(Central)

    EXAM 2Dec. 5, 1997(Friday)/

    5 pm(Central)

    		 Dec. 8, 1997(Monday)/

    6 pm(Central)

    EXAM 3Jan. 9, 1998(Friday)/

    5 pm(Central)

    		 Jan. 12, 1998(Monday)/

    6 pm(Central)

    FINAL EXAMJan. 20, 1998(Tuesday)/

    5 pm(Central)

    		 Jan. 23, 1998(Friday)/

    6 pm(Central)

    EACH EXAMINATION (INCLUDING THE FINAL) WILL BE OPEN-BOOKS, OPEN-ELECTRONIC SOURCES AND OPEN-NOTES.


    ASSIGNMENTS: Nine assignments that will be given throughout the course will be handled electronically. No late homeworks will be accepted without a valid excuse. Solutions will be available electronically on the following day that the assignment is due.


    COURSE GRADE: The weights of homeworks and exams are given below:

    ASSIGNMENTS: 15%
    EXAM. 1, 2, 3: 60%
    FINAL EXAM: 25%