Course
Description:
Statistical Decision Making
is an elementary statistics course designed to show the student how
statistics is used in problem solving and decision making. Topics may
include graphical representations of data; measures of central tendency
and variability; elementary concepts in data collection and design of
experiments; elementary probability concepts;
the normal and t distributions; correlation and regression; confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for means, proportions and
differences of means and proportions; and chi-square tests. Special emphasis is placed upon
the understanding of concepts and the proper use of statistics in real
life situations. This course is a
Longwood University General
Education course and counts as 3 semester credits. Learning Objectives: This course will give students a working knowledge of the ideas and tools of basic statistics. Students will learn to:
Prerequisites: Since this is a general education course, there are no prerequisites for the course. Professor: Dr. M. Leigh Lunsford. For Dr. Lunsford's office location, phone number, email address, schedule (including office hours), and other general information, go to her homepage: http://www.mathspace.com/Lunsford/ Meeting Times and Locations:
Required Stats Portal: Stats Portal is a web site containing a complete eBook that supports highlighting and note taking, study resources, and your assignments. We will be using the Portal for assigned coursework, so you are required to purchase access to it. You may do this by purchasing a package containing the print text and access code from the bookstore, or you can purchase access to the Portal directly from the publisher at www.portals.bfwpub.com (a preview is available at this site as well). Please be sure to see the Stats Portal Activation Directions before trying to access the Stats Portal. Optional Course Textbook: Essential Statistics, First Edition, by David S. Moore. Your book for this class should have come bundled with an Activation Code for the Stats Portal. Note that Stats Portal includes the complete eBook so it is not required that you purchase a print textbook as well. Stats Portal alone sells for approximately half the price of the print text. The bookstore is, I believe, also selling packages of the print book and Portal access at a significant discount, so make sure you check all of your options before deciding what to purchase. Required Technology/Computer Configurations:
Determination of Course Grade:
Grades will be assigned on a ten point scale (90's A; 80's B; 70's C; 60's D; 50's and below F). Basic Skills Mathematics Quiz: Our goal is to increase student success in this course (i.e. we want you to succeed!). On the first day of class you will be given a short basic skills mathematics quiz. The purpose of this quiz is to identify students who may have difficulties in statistics and help them get the extra attention they might need. Thus students who earn a score of 50% or lower on the Basic Skills Mathematics Quiz will be required to obtain at least 6 hours of tutoring in Longwood University’s Learning Center. These six hours must be completed no later than Tuesday, February 28, 2012 (i.e., one week before the last day to withdraw from the course). Failure to complete this requirement will result in a grade of “F” for the course. Honor Code: I expect you to conform to the Longwood University Honor Code as contained in the Student Handbook. All material handed in to me, including on-line homework, falls under the honor code. On-Line Homework: On-line homework work will be completed via the Stats Portal (except for a few exceptions). After each class period I will assign problems to work via the Stats Portal. These will be due before the next class period (typically by 8:00 a.m. the day of the next class period). The on-line work will not be available to take after the due date. Please check the Stats Portal everyday for your on-line assignments. A Note About Your Homework Grade: Because you have three attempts at each homework problem, you can use your book, and I will be dropping some of your lowest homework scores, your homework average should be a number that will help your final grade. However, it is important to note that just because you have a high homework average it does not mean that you have mastered the material. I have provided samples of old quizzes and tests on my webpage that will help you study for your in-class exams. Make-up On-Line Homework: Because you have plenty of time to complete your On-Line Homework and I will be dropping some of your lowest scores, there will not be any make-up on-line homework. In-Class Exams: In class exams will be harder than your on-line homework as you will only get one attempt, they will be closed book, you will have a set amount of time to work the exam (i.e. the class period) and you will need to show all of your work. To help you prepare for the in-class exams, I have provided sample quizzes and tests (some with answers) on my website. A minimum of a one week notice will be given for exam dates. Please see the class schedule below for the tentative exam dates (for more detailed information about exam dates see the Calendar in Stats Portal). Except in the case of an emergency, a make-up exam must be scheduled before the scheduled exam date. If the exam has already been given and you have not previously scheduled a make-up, then you will receive a zero on that exam. Final Project: You will have a hand-in final project that you will be working on during the end of the semester. I will give more information about the final project after the last drop/add day. Final Exam: The final exam for this course will be comprehensive. You cannot miss the final. Failure to take the final exam will automatically result in an F grade for the course. Please see me as soon as possible if you have a conflict with the final exam date. Final Exam Dates:
Extra Credit: Extra Credit will NOT be given - period. Attendance & Excused Absences: You are expected to attend every class. If you miss classes it will most likely be reflected in your grades (i.e. you will perform poorly). The following college attendance policy will be followed per the Class Attendance section of the Academic Regulations chapter of the Longwood University Undergraduate Catalog: Missing 10% of class meetings may result in a lowering of one letter grade. Missing 25% of class meetings for any reason will result in an automatic “F” for the course. Absences are excused only for illness, college sponsored activities, and recognizable emergencies. You must have the proper documentation for an excused absence. Student Health Services can provide documentation only for students hospitalized locally or absent at the direction of Student Health Services personnel. You must also assume full responsibility for all material covered during your absence, including scheduling any early in-class quizzes or make-up exams. A grade of "0" will be assigned for all work missed due to unexcused absences. Resources for Students Learning Statistics:
Office of Disability Services:
Any student who
feels s/he may need
an accommodation based on the impact of a
physical, psychological, medical, or learning
disability should contact me privately.
If you have not already done so, please contact
Longwood's Office of
Disability Support Services
to register for
services. You must work through the Office of Disability
Support Services to receive any accommodations.
Class Schedule: Below is a very tentative class schedule. This schedule may change due to class pace, etc. However, it is provided here for your information. For a more detailed schedule depending on our actual classroom interaction please see the Calendar page of the Stats Portal.
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