Download syllabus - Hope College Math Department

Introductory Statistics
MATH 210-01
CRN 10524
Spring 2014
Professor: Aaron Cinzori
Class time/Location: MW 8:00-9:20 a.m. in SCICTR 3031
F 8:30-9:20 a.m. in VNZORN 152
Office/ Phone: VWF 216, X7528
Email: [email protected]
Text: An Introduction to Statistical Investigations, Fall-2013 Edition, by Tintle et al.
Course website: Resources for our course can be found at www.math.hope.edu/stats.
Office Hours: I have office hours 9:30-10:20 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. However, when I
am in my office, my door is usually open and you are welcome to come see me. You can check my class
schedule at www.math.hope.edu/cinzori.
Additional Help: Besides seeking help from me or your classmates, help for this course is available through
the Academic Support Center. They run a help session specifically for Introductory Statistics that meets on
Sundays: 6:30pm to 8:00pm as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in SciCtr 3031.
Curriculum: We use a nontraditional approach to teaching introductory statistics. While we end up with
basically the same outcomes as that of a traditional course, our path getting there is a bit different. A
traditional course consists of three sections: descriptive statistics, probability/sampling distributions, and
inferential statistics. With more and more statistics being taught in the K-12 curriculum, most of you
already have a grasp of descriptive statistics. We will quickly include the descriptive topics that are needed
for inference throughout the course, but will not devote the amount of time on these topics as is
traditionally done. The second part of a traditional course (probability and sampling distributions) is
typically included to help students understand the theory behind inferential statistics. We, however,
believe that introducing students to inferential statistics is better done using simulations called
permutation tests or randomization to learn the statistical inference process. Introducing inference this
way is more intuitive (and thus more understandable) and allows us to spend much more time on it.
Therefore, you should, gain a better understanding of the inferential process as we will thoroughly cover
the entire statistical investigative method throughout the entire semester. We will still cover the theorybased methods that are traditionally taught including tests and confidence intervals for a single mean and
proportion, matched pairs, comparing two means, comparing two proportions, comparing multiple means
(ANOVA) and proportions (chi-square), correlation and regression.
Pedagogy: Each chapter in our book contains a number of explorations to complete. After a brief
introduction of each concept (typically using the example in the section), an exploration will be assigned in
which you will learn or receive reinforcement. You will be involved in tactile learning experiences like
shuffling decks of cards and flipping coins to estimate p-values, use applets for simulations, collecting data,
and running experiments. You will also complete in-depth projects where you design a study, collect data,
use computer software to help interpret the results and present your results in both oral and written form.
Attendance and homework: We will work on many explorations during class. Therefore attending every
class and participating in these explorations is extremely important to help you understand the material.
Likewise, doing the homework further helps reinforce these concepts and it is important that all those that
are assigned are completed. Some of the assignments will be graded and some will not. However, your
success in this class is dependent on doing all explorations and homework that is assigned.
Academic Integrity: Although working with others on homework assignments is fine, each student should
submit his/her own solutions. Copying another student's work, particularly on quizzes/tests, and claiming
it as your own constitutes plagiarism and will be reported to the provost. Please see
http://www.hope.edu/lib/plagiarism/penalties.html for more information.
Assessment: Hope College expects all students to assess each course in an effort to continuously improve
student learning. At the end of the semester, you will be asked to assess how well this course met its
stated goals. Your responses will be kept anonymous, but I will take the collective results seriously in
thinking about how to provide Hope students the best possible education. Your responses matter. You are
urged to participate in this important process.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Any student whose disability falls within ADA guidelines should inform the
instructor at the beginning of the semester of any special accommodations or equipment needs necessary
to complete the requirements for this course. Students must register documentation with the Office of
Disability Services and/or Academic Support Center. If you have questions, contact Jeanne Lindell,
Coordinator of Academic Support Services for Students with Disabilities, at x7830 or [email protected].
Grading: A point distribution is as follows:
Tests (2) – 200 points
Final (Comprehensive) – 150 points
Quizzes/Assignments – ≈150 points
Final Project – 75 points
Each graded piece of work will be assigned a specific number of points. The final grade will be determined
simply by your percentage of the total points accumulated during the semester according to the following
scale: 0-59%=F; 60-62%=D-; 63-66%=D; 67-69%=D+; 70-72%=C-; 73-76%=C; 77-79%=C+; 80-82%=B-; 8386%=B; 87-89%=B+; 90-92%=A-; 93-100%=A.
Tentative Schedule
M
6
T
7
W
8
Th
9
F
10
Prelim
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
13
14
15
Chap 1
20
21
22
Chap 1
27
28
11
WINTER BREAK
12
17
18
19
6
7
Test 1
13
14
Chap 4
20
21
Chap 5
25
26
Chap 5
27
28
Chap 6
4
5
Chap 6
Chap 6
6
7
Chap 6
11
12
Test 2
Review
13
14
SPRING
BREAK
Chap 7
Last Day to Withdraw
17
24
18
19
25
26
Chap 7
31
1
7
2
8
28
Chap 8
4
Chap 10
10
11
Chap 10
15
16
Chap 10
17
18
GOOD FRIDAY
24
25
Project 2
22
23
Project 2
28
27
3
9
Project 2
21
21
Chap 9
Chap 10
14
20
Chap 8
Chap 9
A
P
R
I
L
Chap 3
Chap 4
Chap 5
10
31
Review
Chap 5
M
A
R
C
H
Chap 2
30
5
10
WINTER BREAK
3
24
Chap 3
4
24
Chap 1
23
29
Chap 3
F
E
B
U
A
R
Y
17
Chap 1
Chap 2
3
16
Chap 1
Project 2
29
30
Review
1
Final Exam
3:00-5:00pm
2