Northeastern State University

College of Science & Health Professions

Department of Mathematics & Computer Science

Tahlequah, OK

MATH 3513 - Statistical Methods – Spring 2008

MWF 11:00 - 11:50 a.m. – SC 161

 

 

INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Julie Sawyer, Associate Professor

Office Hours: 10:00 – 10:50, Monday and Wednesday; or by appointment

Office:  LIB 154, Telephone:  918-444-3083, E-mail: sawyerjk@nsuok.edu

 

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Texts:

1.  Sawyer, J., Flash Review for Statistics, Addison-Wesley, 2002. 

2.  Brase, C. & Brase, C., Understanding Basic Statistics, 4th ed., Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.

A calculator with two variable capabilities is also required for the course.  Students should bring the books and the calculator to class.

NOTE:  Students MAY NOT share books or calculators during quizzes or exams.

           

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION

The design of experiments and investigation; statistical inference; probability and combinatorial methods; discrete and continuous distributions; expected values; sampling; point estimation

 

PREREQUISITE

Math 1513 (College Algebra) or equivalent

 

COURSE PURPOSE            

This is an introductory statistics course that presumes no knowledge of statistics or higher mathematics.  This course (or MATH 3623) is required of all mathematics education majors and is a service course for other majors across campus.  It is intended to develop the skills necessary for students to understand and critically assess the professional literature in their field.  The course is also designed to enable students to perform basic statistical analysis of a variety of experimental situations.  Emphasis is placed on the logic and process of statistical inference, the interpretation of the results of statistical analysis and the utilization of statistical analysis for decision-making.

 

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES

To develop an understanding of how statistics:  1) are used to summarize, simplify and describe data sets in a manner that makes the information easily understandable and 2) utilize sample data to make decisions about a population based on logic and probability.  The expected course outcomes will be realized primarily through lecture, discussion, demonstration, and group exercises involving problem solving activities in the classroom.  Specifically, students will be expected to achieve the following objectives:

1.         Identify types of data and statistical methods appropriate for different types of data.

2.         Summarize and describe data sets effectively.

3.         Demonstrate understanding of basic probability concepts.

4.         Recognize specific probability distributions and utilize them in problem-solving.

5.         Determine and apply appropriate statistical methods for a variety of situations and data.

6.         Demonstrate an understanding of the logic of hypothesis testing and perform appropriate hypothesis tests.

7.         Appropriately interpret the results of a variety of standard statistical analyses.

 

GRADING

$          There will be a total of 500 points in the course.  Each of the three mid-term exams will be worth 100 points, as will the comprehensive final.  Quizzes will also be worth a total of 100 points.

$          Each quiz will be worth 10 points.  The lowest quiz score will be dropped. 

$          Letter grades for the course will be assigned for the total number of points earned as follows:

                                                450 - 500                     A

                                                400 - 449.9                  B

                                                350 - 399.9                  C

                                                300 - 349.9                  D

                                                Less than 300               F

$          I reserve the right to reduce the number of points required for a letter grade based on overall class performance.

$          Students are advised that the last date during the semester when they may drop a course with an automatic "W" will be Friday, April 7, 2008.  If you decide to drop after this date, you will receive a “W” or an “F” at the discretion of the instructor.  The final drop date for the semester is May 2, 2008.

 

EXAMS

There will be three exams given during the semester.  The exam date will be announced approximately one week prior to the exam.  If a mid-term exam is missed for a fully documented reason, AND APPROVAL IS OBTAINED PRIOR TO THE EXAM TIME, a make-up exam or grade substitution may be given at the discretion of the instructor.  A comprehensive exam will be given on Monday, May 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.  ABSOLUTELY NO MAKE-UPS OR GRADE SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THE FINAL EXAM.      

 

HOMEWORK/QUIZZES

Homework will be assigned but WILL NOT be collected and graded.  Quizzes will be given every week except for exam weeks.  THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UPS FOR QUIZZES; however, the lowest quiz score will be dropped when the final grade is calculated. 

 

ADA COMPLIANCE

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.