guided independent study

800:072 Introduction to Statistical Methods
Course Details        Return to course list         Enrollment information

Course credit

3 credit hours

Course description

Descriptive statistics including correlation and curve fitting. Intuitive treatment of probability and inferential statistics, including estimations and hypothesis testing.

Delivery

web This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.

print This course is available in a print-based format. Mail completed assignments to the GIS Office. We will forward them to the instructor for grading.

Prerequisites

UNI students with credit in 800:172 should not enroll in 800:072.

Instructor

Michael Prophet, Associate Professor

Evaluation

14 assignments, 4 exams

Overview

Statistics is the study of collecting, organizing and interpreting data. This study plays a vital role in multiple areas of many professions. Economists, financial analysts and government leaders depend on statistics involving inflation and unemployment; physicians must understand the implications of statistics appearing in medical journals; engineers develop standards of reliability based on statistical analysis of experimental data. These are just a few of the examples that illustrate the value of learning statistics.

Course objectives

The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the methods and techniques of descriptive and inferential statistics; in addition, the student will learn basic probability theory and set theory. Specifically, we will learn

  • several ways to produce graphical summaries of qualitative and quantitative data
  • several techniques of building numerical measurements for describing quantitative data
  • the fundamentals of probability assignment
  • the fundamentals of discrete probability distributions
  • three specific probability distributions
  • the fundamentals of continuous probability distributions
  • how to work with normal probability distributions
  • the fundamentals of sampling distributions
  • how to make point and interval estimates of population parameters
  • how to construct and perform a statistical test of hypothesis

Course organization

The course is organized into 14 assignments and 4 tests. The details for test taking are:

  • you have 90 minutes to take each test
  • each test has 12-14 questions
  • the questions are mostly short-answer type; there are a few multiple-choice questions.
  • all tests are closed-book
  • each test comes with a Formula Sheet (included in the course packet). You may not write additional notes on any of the Formula Sheets - except for the Test 3 Formula Sheet (see below)
  • the Test 3 Formula Sheet is (intentionally) blank - you may write notes/formulas on this sheet for the test. This is the only Formula Sheet on which you can write notes.

Each assignment consists of readings from our text and problems from the exercises. The solutions to the exercises are included in the course packet. Also in each Assignment is a section of "Instructor's Comments" - these are additional descriptions of the topics under discussion. You will probably find the Comments most helpful after you have completed the corresponding reading assignment from the textbook. Each assignment concludes with a quiz. The details for quiz taking are:

  • the quizzes are based on the readings and exercises
  • you have an unlimited amount of time for each quiz
  • you may use your book and notes while taking the quiz; keep in mind, however, that the tests are closed-book
  • each quiz consists of 4-7 multiple-choice questions
  • the quizzes are graded and count toward your final grade

Basic Outline

  • Descriptive Statistics
    • Assignment 1: Graphical Descriptions
    • Assignment 2: Numerical Descriptions
    • Assignment 3: Bivariate Data
    • Test 1
  • Probability and Discrete Probability Distributions
    • Assignment 4: Basic Probability and Simple Events
    • Assignment 5: Counting Rules and Conditional Probability
    • Assignment 6: Intro to Probability Distributions and the Binomial Distribution
    • Assignment 7: The Poisson and Hypergeometric Distributions
    • Test 2
  • The Normal Distribution, Sampling Distributions and the Central Limit Theorem
    • Assignment 8: Calculating Probabilities
    • Assignment 9: Sampling Distributions and The Sample Mean
    • Assignment 10: The Sample Proportion
    • Test 3
  • Inferential Statistics
    • Assignment 11: Point Estimation
    • Assignment 12: Interval Estimation
    • Assignment 13: Hypothesis Testing and the Population Mean
    • Assignment 14: Hypothesis Testing: Differences in Mean and Binomial Populations
    • Test 4

Grading

In summary, there are 14 assignments (reading and exercises), 14 graded quizzes and 4 tests (a given Formula Sheet accompanies each test).

There are a total of 590 points available; they are summarized below:

Quiz 1: 10 points

Quiz 2: 14 points

Quiz 3: 10 points

Test 1: 110 points

Quiz 4: 8 points

Quiz 5: 12 points

Quiz 6: 14 points

Quiz 7: 8 points

Test 2: 110 points

Quiz 8: 12 points

Quiz 9: 12 points

Quiz 10: 8 points

Test 3: 110 points

Quiz 11: 8 points

Quiz 12: 12 points

Quiz 13: 12 points

Quiz 14: 10 points

Test 4: 110 points

Textbook(s)

Mendenhall, W. & Beaver, R.J. Introduction to Probability & Statistics. 11th edition.

Texts are available from the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com

To enroll

ONLINE
GIS enrollment information

IN PERSON
UNI Continuing Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)

For more information

Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu