Statistics 190 Section 10

Basic Statistics
Fall 2017

Instructor: Dr. Uran Chu

VH 2244
785-7430
Email: uchu@truman.edu

Office Hours: M 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.,

T 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
W 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Th 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
F 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tutor Hours and location:

Make appointment with Center of Academic Excellence

Prerequisite: Completion of the Elementary Functions Essential Skills requirement.

Miscellaneous: This course counts toward the 63-credit Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS)
graduation requirement, also for Statistics minor and Statistical method minor.

Course Objective: To understand how to use data as real world evidence to support
claims or hypotheses. To justify actions and decisions, not just based on hunches, but
based on evidence. To provide a solid preparation for future Statistics courses.

Text: Sullivan, Michael, 2008,2011,2014. Fundamentals of Statistics, 4th Edition.

Prentice Hall

Grading: Test 1 12%

Test 2 12%
Test 3 12%
Final 25%
Computer/ Hand-in Homework 14% (7% each)
Quizzes/Class Activities 14% (7% each)
Mini-Project 11%

Graded on a straight curve or a curve:

I plan to use a straight percentage system (90/80/70/60), but I leave myself the option of
applying a slight curve for final grades. The slight curve will be a less stringent grading
system. I will adhere rigidly to the lower end of the scale and you should expect to obtain
at least 60% of the points to receive a passing grade. (In other words, the grading could
only be easier than the straight curve, not tougher!)
 Exams: There are no excuses for missing an exam. Makeup exams (for approved
absences) will not be administered unless arrangements have been made prior to the
exam. If you anticipate missing an exam (for an approved reason!) let me know as soon
as possible BEFORE the exam. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that exam. If
you must miss an exam day due to a required university-sponsored activity or a graduate
school or employment interview, we will pre-arrange a time for you to take the exam
prior to your departure (and it wont be considered a makeup exam). Otherwise,
exams must be taken when scheduled except for extreme emergencies (e.g.,
hospitalization), and I reserve the right to require documentation of said emergency.
Any makeup exam may be in a different format than the original exam.
If students miss an exam due to unforeseen circumstances, and can supply proof of them,
the instructor will take them into due consideration, and may elect to have the student do
a make-up exam. I will allow for a cheat sheet, 8.5 x 11, one sided for each test (four-sided for
the final). No cell phones, iphones, ipads, or any type of device which allows
communication with others (or has photo capabilities) will be allowed during the exam.
Anyone found using these devices during an exam will have their exam confiscated and
be given a zero. Please be sure to shut-off your phone prior to the beginning of any
exam. (Just do not use these devices and you will be alright!) Hand held calculators are
allowed. Once the students enter into an exam, he or she may not leave the room unless
there is an emergency of some kind. So, take care of all your businesses before the
examination time. Once the examination starts, you may not exit the room until you turn
in your exam.

Homework: There are two portions. One portion for each chapter is on-line, on
Blackboard. These are the high-level conceptual questions that should be relatively easy
to answer. Everyone should aim to get a perfect score on these, because you will have
three tries to get them all correct. After each try, unless you get it perfect, write down the
answers marked correct before you begin the next try. Also, write down the answers you
did not get correct and look at the hints. Many often times, the hints point you straight to
the right section of the book so that you dont have to do a lot of searching, and get the
questions right. Most of you should get everything perfect by the 2nd try; if not, the third
try. After the 3rd try, there are no more attempts allowed. So, do get them all right before
that. You should complete this portion of the homework before you try the hand-written
portion for each chapter. They should give you a deeper level of understanding before
you attempt the hand-written portion. There are no late penalties for this portion of the
homework. Make sure you read carefully all everything offered up by the computer. It
will make your life easier afterwards!
The hand-written portion of the homework will be assigned on a regular basis and
will be collected at the beginning of the lecture on the day that it is due. The due dates
will be announced in class. The written-homework questions will consist of two
portions: the review problems that will have accompanying video solutions to them, and
the actual homework problems that you will hand in. The review questions are sample
questions that are like the actual homework, except that their solutions are on video for
you to look at so that you can understand how to set up the problems. These review
videos are under the Content section of the course web page. Remember, the review
questions do not need to be handed in; the actual homework problems you do need to turn
them in. Working together on the homework is permitted and even strongly encouraged,
but each individual in the class should turn in their own paper in words with their own
understanding. Students should not copy verbatim, or change a little bit, of other
students homework, because when you do and you both make the same kind of unlikely
coincidental mistakes, you will be asked by me to explain how you got the answer(s).
Dissatisfactory answers at that point might prompt me to report you to Academic
Dishonesty for disciplinary action. So, you can work in groups and see how you would
get the answer, but make sure that you separate yourself from the group during the
homework writing process and give answers in your own words! Late written homework
will receive deductions of 10% immediately, and 10% for each additional week that it is
late thereafter, and they will not be accepted after the final exam.

Quizzes/Group Activities: Quizzes are given on Blackboard. There will be six of them.
You need to finish them on time or else the link will disappear from you and you cannot
access the quiz again (you get a 0 for that quiz). Both the quizzes and activities are
posted under Weekly folders. While the quizzes are computer-graded, the Activities
require students to form work-groups, 4 to 5 would be optimal, and hand in one hard-
copy for the entire group. The due-dates for all 6 Quizzes are posted under the
Information section, titled, Quiz Due Dates. The Group Activitiess due dates will be
announced in class instead.

Discussion: Answer some questions; start some meaningful threads. You can post some
intelligent comments there to make up for missed Quiz points, for yourself. Do not make
trivial comments as I like what you have said; it really clarified things up. Give
Statistical reasons why you like the posts. Do not be critical without first complimenting
some aspect of your fellow students comments. Be supportive, and others will do the
same for you. Students who post any derogatory or offensive comments will not be
allowed to get extra credit points for the semester.

Mini-Projects: Students should form work groups of 4 to 5 for the project. The project
will involve collecting/researching data and submitting a written report on your findings.
You will be informed of this later on this semester.

Attendance: Regular attendance in the class is expected but not required, but because of
the speed of the class, strongly encouraged! Of course, regular attendance is not
sufficient in itself to understanding the material. Completion of the readings and
homework are vital to your understanding of the material. If you miss a lecture, there are
back up video lectures for you to look at. They are under the Content Section, under
Links to Video. Copy and paste the pertinent section into your favorite browser, and you
will be taken to the video. Now, Panopto sometimes malfunctions and asks you for my
granted permission. By all means do so through email. The setting now is such that
anyone with a link may view the video, but Panopto sometimes does some automatic
reset unbeknownst to me, and I have had students emailing me for permissions in the
past. Go ahead and do so for right now. As soon as Panopto fixes this problem, we wont
have this problem anymore. Now, students have always fed back that in-class lectures
were better because they got to ask questions, live. They are definitely more interactive.
That seems to make some difference! You can imagine how this fast-paced, conceptually
difficult course with lots of work can be difficult to learn from without instant
questioning and feedback. Watching video lectures might help but some students say
they dont tend to get as much out of my video lectures as compared to the live lectures.
Also, the videos were old videos recorded two Springs ago. The lectures in this semester,
while similar to the last, will not be exactly identical. Make sure that you check your
notes with classmates who are in class as not to miss anything. The availability of the
back-up-videos still does not eliminate the need for student to get all the in-class
announcements and messages!

Academic Integrity: : Students must not commit any of the following actions:

*Cheating: Defined as using or attempting to use unauthorized (a) materials, (b) information,
or (c) study aids in any academic exercise.

*Fabrication: Defined as unauthorized (a) falsification or (b) invention of any information

(including research data) or citation in an academic exercise.

*Facilitating academic dishonesty: Defined as (a) assisting or (b) attempting to assist another
to commit an act of academic dishonesty, whether or not that action is associated with any
particular course.

*Plagiarism: Intentional representation of the words or ideas of another as ones own in any
academic exercise. The term plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, (a) the use, by
paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work or sections of a work
of another person without full and clear acknowledgement; (b) the unacknowledged use of
materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or
other academic materials, including material taken from or ordered through the Internet;
and/or (c) the unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced
through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.

*Sabotage: Defined as, but is not limited to, the unauthorized interference with,
modification of, or destruction of the work or intellectual property of another member of
the University community.

Any of the above actions committed by students will result in penalties (possible failure of the
course) and notification to the Dean of Student Affairs Office and Vice President of Academic
Affairs. (Just dont do it!)

Special Needs: If you have any special needs during this class, you should contact me
and the Disability Services Office (x4478) early in the semester, perhaps right away. To
ensure specific accommodation, that office must document and verify your needs. Then
it is up to you to set up an appointment with me, prior to having the accommodations
delivered, to arrange for the delivery of the accommodations, as recommended by the
Disability Services Office in writing (student has the writing). The Disability Services
Office should give you all pertinent information. Please see
http://disabilityservices.truman.edu/ (Do this as early as possible!)

Classroom Behavior: Behavior that persistently or flagrantly interferes with classroom

activities is considered disruptive behavior and may be subject to disciplinary action.
Examples of disruptive behavior are, but not limited to, intimidation or harassing
behavior, inappropriate, disrespectful, or uncivil responses to the comments or opinions
of others, threats/challenges to do physical harm (even when stated in a joking manner),
use of obscene or profane language in the classroom or transmitted electronically,
excessive talking, early departure from class without permission, and refusal to comply
with faculty direction. Such behavior inhibits other students ability to learn and an
instructors ability to teach. A student responsible for disruptive behavior may be asked
to leave class pending discussion and resolution of the problem and may be reported to
the Office of Student Conduct.

Class Conduct
Start/Finish Times: I plan to start class promptly, and will do my best to make sure that we are
done 50 minutes later. As such I would ask that you try to be in your seats and ready to go at the
start of our scheduled time. If you are running behind, I do encourage you to still come to class
but please try to be courteous to your fellow students and try and minimize the distraction as you
enter.
Cell Phones: Ideally, I would ask that you turn off your cell phones during class. After all, you
are paying for my time to facilitate your learning of the material. At a minimum, I would ask that
you set your ringers to silent so that you dont disturb your fellow students if someone tries to
contact you during class.
Talking: While discussion of the lecture material is strongly encouraged, chatting with your
neighbor can be very distracting to the other students. Asking questions of me during the lecture
is completely appropriate (and asking a fellow student for clarification is fine) but please refrain
from casual conversations during class time. Those in dire need of conversing with their friends
during class should use a silent method such as texting (or passing notes).
Class Cancellation: I will do my best to notify you as early as possible if I would need to cancel
class (conferences, inclement weather, illness, etc.) via email.

NOTE I will follow university policy and alternative final exams will only be
scheduled for individuals who have 3 exams scheduled on the same day. Under no
circumstances will any final exam be given before the first day of finals week.

Schedule:

Below is a rough schedule of what we will be talking about each day. I strongly suggest
that you read ahead of class as it will significantly help your understanding of the topic of
the day! I reserve the right to change the exam dates by 1 lecture, no more!
Week Date Topics Text Chapters
1-2 8/21-8/28 4 Syllabus/ Data Collection 1
1 8/25 Last Day to Drop a Course without $50
fee
2-3 8/30-9/6 3 Organizing and Summarizing Data 2
3 9/4 Labor Day
3-4 9/8-9/14 4 Numerically Summarizing Data 3
5 9/18-9/21 3 Relationship between two numerical 4
variables
6 9/25 Probability and Probability 5
Distributions
6 9/27 Test 1 1-4 (4: easy questions)
6 9/29 Last Day to Drop a Class Without a W
6-7 9/28-10/5 Probability and Probability 5
Distributions
8 10/9-10/12 Discrete Probability Distributions 6
9 10/16-10/18 Normal Distribution 7
9 10/19-10/20 Midterm Break
10 10/23 Normal Distribution 7
10 10/25 10/26 Sampling Distributions 8
10 10/27 Last Day to Drop a Class with a W
and a $50 fee
11 10/30 Estimating the Value of a Parameter 9
11 11/1 Test 2 Hard 4 questions to 8
11 11/2 Estimating the Value of a Parameter 9
12-13 11/6-11/15 Hypothesis Testing 10
13 11/16 Inference on 2 Samples 11
11/20-11/24 Thanksgiving
14 11/27 Test 3 Hard 8 questions to 10
14-15 11/29 12/8 Inference on 2 Samples 11
Final 12/15 1:30 p.m. Final Exam (Friday) Comprehensive
to 3:20 p.m.

I will try my best to adhere to test dates (Note Exams 2 & 3 and their proximity to last
day to drop a class and Thanksgiving). Should we be able to get ahead of schedule, we
will still adhere to this set of test dates.

Statistics Essential Skill: Outcome Statements:

1. Recognize the overall importance and broad application of statistics from its use
in research to its use in everyday life;
2. Understand the technique of random sampling and the production of good data;
3. Be able to use basic descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis (EDA) to
select appropriate statistics for both univariate (one variable) and bivariate(two
variable) data on quantitative scales;
4. Understand distributional characteristics of variables measured on quantitative
scales including shape, central tendency, variability, and percentiles;
5. Understand the basic rules of probability and the importance of language in
calculations of probabilities (percentages);
6. Understand the basic theory behind the three main areas of inferential statistics:
point estimation, confidence intervals, and tests of hypothesis;
7. Be able to use inferential statistics on a variable measured on one or two samples,
including selection of procedures, verification of assumptions application of
procedures, and interpretation of results; and
8. Be able to use a statistical package (Minitab) for computation and meaningfully
interpret the results.
9. *To learn a few basic principles of exploratory research on any topic. In short,
you can start doing research after you learn the contents of this course!

Lets learn how to harness the power of real world data together, and set yourselves apart
in todays tough job market!!

How To Succeed in this Course: So, how exactly should you study for this course in
that time that you have diligently set aside? First, skim the text to get an idea of whats
ahead, then quickly read through it before we are scheduled to cover that topic. In other
words, pre-read the chapters before you come to class. In class, youll hear my own
explanation of the concepts, but if you have looked at the chapter, the terms will not be
unfamiliar and you will understand the material better. The most important component of
your study is next: after weve talked about a topic, practice applying these concepts by
working on problems (homework or otherwise). Problem solving is the BEST method to
learn Statistics! I usually recommend spending at least 50% of your study time actively
solving problems. Exercising the application of your new knowledge to practice
problems will help you to do well on the problems that will be on the quizzes, tests, and
final exam. So, PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
Do the Computer problems on Blackboard first. Then do the hand-written
problems. Come to lectures; come to my office hours. My job is to make you learn the
material in a time-efficient manner. Being in close contact with me should help you save
time. Make sure you hand in all assignments, and be on time for every quiz, group
activity, or examination. Do the best you can on examination. Prepare for them well.
That is how you succeed in this class.