User-friendly computational software (Mac or Windows) is available from my statistics web site. Alternatively, you can use a commercial statistical package, such as STATA, or a spreadsheet program, like Excel. Also try my StatQuiz and StatGames software at my statistics web site. The course web site also has a large collection of old tests (and answers). Please e-mail me with any and all questions. Because of formatting glitches and viruses, please do not send me any assignments as e-mail attachments.
The class schedule is below. Please read each assigned chapter before class and please come to every class. Class discussions will assume that you have read the assigned chapter beforehand. If you miss more than one class, your numerical score for the course will be reduced by 1% for each additional class you miss.
This course must be taken for a letter grade. Course grades will be based on the following:
20% term paper Original research term paper, 10-20 pages in length. On November 14, hand in a 1-2 page description of your project, including your research hypothesis, the variables you will use, the sources for your data, and the statistical tests you will use. The first draft is due at the beginning of class on December 3; the final draft is due at the beginning of class on Monday, December 10. Half your grade on this paper will be based on the first draft; half will be based on the final draft. Here are some possible topics; others are at my statistics web site.
20% textbook exercises Ten assigned exercises from each textbook chapter; you may discuss the general material with other students and with me, but the specific work must be your own. Your answers must be completely legible—written cleanly and clearly—and are due at the beginning of class. Answers will be posted on this web site.
20% midterm The midterm examination, covering Chapters 1-5, will be on Wednesday, October 17, from 1:15 - 2:30. This will be a closed-book test emphasizing concepts, understanding, and applications.
40% final exam The final examination will cover all of the course material and will be similar to the midterm in structure, but 2 1/2 hours long, on Friday, December 21, from 2:00 - 4:30 in the afternoon.
If you want extra time on a test, you can buy time at a price of 1 point a minute; for example, if a test is handed in 10 minutes after the scheduled finish time, 10 points will be subtracted from the test score.
| Class Schedule | |||
| Monday | Wednesday | ||
| Sept 3, 5 | introduction | ||
| Sept 10, 12 | Chapter 1 lecture | Chapter 1 lecture | |
| Sept 17, 19 | Chapter 2 lecture Ch1 HW: 12, 25, 26, 46, 77, 86, 97,114, 119, 133 |
Chapter 2 lecture |
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| Sept 24, 26 | Chapter 3 lecture Ch2 HW: 11, 14, 24, 26, 27, 74, 88, 98, 104, 112 |
Chapter 3 lecture | |
| Oct 1, 3 | Chapter 4 lecture Ch3 HW: 4, 6, 7, 23, 44, 58, 59, 66, 93, 94 |
Chapter 4 lecture | |
| Oct 8, 10 | Chapter 5 lecture Ch4 HW: 14, 29, 33, 49, 65, 83, 84, 91, 108, 123 |
Chapter 5 lecture | |
| Oct 15, 17 |
Chapter 6 lecture |
midterm examination | |
| Oct 22, 24 | no class | Chapter 6 lecture | |
| Oct 29, 31 | Chapter 7 lecture Ch6 HW: 9, 16, 36, 51, 54, 56, 62, 71, 86, 109 |
Chapter 7 lecture | |
| Nov 5, 7 | Chapter 8 lecture Ch7 HW: 30, 47, 55, 68, 69, 72, 77, 80, 83, 117 |
Chapter 8 lecture | |
| Nov 12, 14 | Chapter 9 lecture Ch8 HW: 23, 43, 53, 58, 62, 69, 72, 73, 76, 78 |
Chapter 9 lecture term paper proposal |
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| Nov 19, 21 | Chapter 10 lecture Ch9 HW: 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 34, 36, 47, 51, 52 |
no class | |
| Nov 26, 28 | Chapter 10 lecture | Chapter 11 lecture Ch10 HW: 7, 17, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, 44 |
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| Dec 3, 5 | Chapter 11 lecture first draft of term paper |
Chapter 12 lecture Ch11 HW: 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25 |
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| Dec 10, 12 | Chapter 12 lecture final draft of term paper |
bonus lecture ch12 HW: 15, 17, 18, 24, 30, 31, 32, 37, 39, 55 |
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