Week 5

This week we will be talking about probability.  This marks the transition in the course from descriptive statistics to inferential statistics.   In the first three chapters we studied descriptive statistics, methods that help us describe, organize, and display data in meaningful way.  We’ll use the probability concepts in this chapter for the rest of the course where we’ll focus on inferential statistics, which involves using sample data and probability models to draw conclusions about a larger population. 

These problems can be tricky!  Many students consider this chapter to be somewhat difficult, so please make sure that you give yourself enough time for the online homework. 

The discussion board resumes this week.  Please post three times over three different days to receive the maximum discussion board credit.

Week 4

This week we will have the first online test.   The test is due on Thursday, February 16 at 11:59 p.m.

You can access the first online test by clicking on the “Tests” button on the course homepage. This test is untimed and does not need to be completed in one sitting. On some test problems, there will be an option to show your work using the math palette provided. Although you will not be required to show your work because MyMathLab will automatically grade the questions, I will review any questions that are marked incorrect to see if you can earn some partial credit. Partial credit will not be awarded under any circumstances if you do not show your work because I have no way of knowing whether you made a slight error or just made a lucky guess.

When you are ready to submit your test, click on the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page. Do not click “Submit” until you have completed the entire test.

If you have any questions, please let me know. All of the work that you do should be your own.  You should not have outside assistance.

Week 3

This week we will continue talking about statistics for describing, exploring, and comparing data.  In particular, we’ll talk about measures of variation and position.    After you get some practice calculating these statistics by hand, most of these statistics can (and should) be computed using technology.   There are videos on my website at www.profsullivan.com demonstrating how to use your TI-83/84 calculator and StatCrunch to calculate these statistics.   Note that you will need to learn how to use your TI-83/84 calculator in order to solve problems on the midterm and final exams.  I will ask you to use StatCrunch for the two data analysis projects.

There are three discussion board postings that are due over three different days this week.  For the discussion board, I am going to ask you to read an article called “The Median Isn’t the Message,” a short essay by the late Harvard evolutionary biologist Stephan Jay Gould.  

If you look at the schedule, you will notice that the first take-home test is coming up next week.   This is an online test with the option to show your work.  If you choose to show your work on a particular question, there may be the possibility of partial credit in the event that the question is marked wrong.   I will make the take-home test available at the end of this week.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  I'd be happy to help via email or by a face-to-face meeting during my office hours.  In addition, if you're on campus, the Academic Resource Center (ARC) offers free tutoring.

Week 2

This week we will be talking about organizing and displaying data using tables and graphs.   We will also begin looking at numerical summaries of data:  the mean, median, and mode.

I enjoyed reading your introductions; we have quite a varied group.   In this week’s discussion board, I will ask you to reflect on how you have used statistics to make decisions in your own life.  Remember that in order to receive full credit for this week's discussion board assignment you must post three times.  At least one post should be a response to my question. The other two posts can be replies to other students or posts in the general questions forum. 

For full credit, you must post over three different days because I would like you to check the discussion board throughout the week.   You will not receive full credit for the discussion board if you post multiple times on the same day.  For example, you post three times on Saturday, you will be given credit for only one post.  Please see the syllabus for more information. 

Finally, if you haven't taken the class survey, there is a link to it on the course homepage.  I would appreciate it if you will fill out this anonymous survey.  We will use the data generated by this survey in a future data analysis project.

Week 1

I’d like to welcome you to online statistics.

This week we will be working on Chapter 1. This chapter emphasizes a general understanding of some basic statistical concepts such as populations and samples, parameters and statistics, types of data, and sampling methods.

The online homework for this week is due on Thursday evening and Saturday evening at 11:59 p.m. Remember that the homework problems may be done an unlimited number of times until you receive a perfect score.   Based on feedback from previous online students, although it might seem more expedient to jump right into the homework and use the learning aids to help you solve the problems, you will most likely find that you absorb the material better if you are able to put the problems in context.  So you should take a look at the ebook and my lecture notes before beginning the homework.

There is also a discussion assignment this week. In order to get discussion credit, you should post an introduction by Saturday evening.   

If you have any questions on the material, please post your questions to the discussion board so that everyone can benefit from the response. You also may use the “Ask My Instructor” button next to every problem to send me an e-mail regarding that problem.

Finally, I've posted a link to a survey on the course homepage.   I've asked students in all of my statistics classes to complete the survey.  We will use the results of the survey in future data analysis projects.