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.