STAT 5021: Statistical Analysis

Course Description

This course is a general introduction to statistics. The intended audience is non-Statistics graduate students who need statistical competence. Course topics include descriptive statistics, elementary probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, regression, and ANOVA.

Class Information

Lectures and Labs

Lectures are scheduled from 11:45 to 12:35 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Classroom Office Building room B35.

Labs meet on Thursdays in Vocational-Technical Education room 220. There are 3 lab sections:

• lab 7 meets from 12:50 to 1:40,
• lab 6 meets from 1:55 to 2:45, and
• lab 5 meets from 3:00 to 3:50.

Instructor

Brian Shea
Email: bshea < a t > stat.umn.edu
Office Hours: 10:00 - 11:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday in Classroom Office Building room 146D

Teaching Assistant

Patrick Zimmerman
Email: patzimm < a t > stat.umn.edu
Office Hours: 4:00 - 5:00 Tuesdays in Classroom Office Building room 146D

Textbook

We will use Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, sixth edition by Moore, McCabe, and Craig. Since homework problems will be taken from the text, you will need access to a copy.

Web Page

Homework assignments, announcements, computing materials, lecture supplements, a copy of this syllabus, and similar materials are posted to the course web page: http://www.stat.umn.edu/~bshea/5021/.

Grading

Homework

Homework assignments will be due on Fridays by the end of class. You may submit assignments at any time before that. Assignments will be posted on the course web page.

Homework assignments will involve computing. We will use the R package for computing. R is widely used within statistics and available for free. It may be downloaded at http://cran.us.r-project.org/ from The Comprehensive R Archive Network. I assume that you know nothing about R.

Late homeworks will not be accepted, but your lowest homework score will be dropped.

You should collaborate with other students on the homework. However, you must turn in only your own work. Copying is not permitted.

Particulars of homework grading are left to the discretion of the teaching assistant, who will address questions and concerns regarding homework scores.

Please keep the following in mind.

1. Since Pat grades the homework, Pat needs to read it. So, homework needs to be legible. But that's not the most important thing about homework.


2. The most important thing about homework is that it's your notes for the exam. So you need to be able to read it. In a few weeks, you're going to be preparing for the first midterm; the easier it is for you to read your homework solutions, the better. It doesn't sound like a very long time, but it's surprising the things you can forget in a few weeks---especially if you're dealing with unfamiliar material.
   
   I strongly suggest that when you are preparing your solutions you should consider their primary audience to be you studying for an exam. Now, in order to get feedback, the teaching assistant needs to understand your solutions, and hopefully his feedback will be helpful. But, soon enough, a student (let's call that student You) is going to be using your homework (along with some feedback) to study for a Statistics exam. Write for You. Keep in mind that You will probably feel nervous and a bit overwhelmed. So, be clear: make your solutions reasoned arguments, even if they're short ones.


3. Finally, the homework is due on Friday whether or not you're satisfied with it. Hand in what you have, but do keep in mind that You and Pat need to be able to read it.

Examinations

There will be two midterms and a final. You will be permitted to bring an 8.5 by 11 sheet of notes to the exams. You may need a calculator for some problems. Tables will be provided if neccessary.

The first midterm is scheduled for Monday 6 October. The second midterm is scheduled for Monday 10 November. The midterms are 50 minute exams and will be held during regular class time. The first midterm will cover chapters one through five, and the second midterm will cover chapters six through eight.

The final is scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 Monday 15 December. The final exam will be cumulative.

In accordance with University policy, makeup exams will be arranged in the case of legitimate and unavoidable absences. If you must miss an exam, notify the instructor as soon as possible. You must notify the instructor prior to the exam. Makeup exams may be arranged to be taken any time before the exam is returned to the class.

Final Grades

Final scores will be determined by a weighted average of homework and exams: 10% for homework, 25% for each midterm, and 40% for the final. If you are taking the course S/N, you will need at least a C- to earn an S grade.

I will assign letter grades based on the observed distribution of final scores. However, you are guaranteed the following:

• at least A- if your final score is above 90;
• at least B- if your final score is above 80;
• at least C- if your final score is above 70;
• at least D if your final score is above 60.

Administrative Matters

Incompletes

In accordance with University policy, incompletes will be assigned only in case of extreme hardship and at the instructor's discretion. The temporary symbol I will be awarded to indicate that the course has not been completed. This requires a written agreement between the instructor and student specifying the time and manner in which the student will complete the course requirements. Requirements must be met within one year.

For graduate and professional students, an I remains on the transcript until changed by the instructor or department. For all other students, work must be submitted within one year of the last day of final examinations of the term in which the I was given; if not submitted by that time, the I will automatically change to an F or an N for the course.

Disability Services

Should you require arrangements, inform the instructor and Disability Services.