Statistics in a Modern World
STAT 800

Fall 2006, CRN 11386, 3 credits
Department of Statistics
University of Pittsburgh

Time/Place MWF 1:00-1:50, CL G8
Instructor Dr. Nancy Pfenning
Office Cathedral 2710
E-mail nancyp+@pitt.edu
Website www.pitt.edu/~nancyp
Phone 624-8729 (statistics office, leave message with secretary)
  521-8349 (home, if urgent, before 10pm)
  624-8336 (during office hours)
Office Hrs Mon Wed 11:15-12:30; Thurs 11:00-12:00; Fri 11:00-11:30
  additional hours by appointment
Teaching Assistant Arlene Amodeo ara30@pitt.edu
  Office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 in CL 2712
Free Tutors Contact the Academic Support Center 648-7920 or visit their website and refer to Math Assistance

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Description

This course introduces statistical reasoning to a diverse audience. The main goal is the understanding of basic statistical principles so that the student can understand research reports involving statistics and applications reported in the media. Statistical reasoning will be taught through the use of examples. An important part of the course will be a non-technical discussion of controlled or randomized experiments. The subject matter will include many examples from the Health and Social Sciences.

Prerequisites

MATH 0031 (Algebra) or equivalent. No Computer Science background is needed. You will need a calculator; it doesn't matter what kind as long as you can operate it.

Requirements

Read the chapters and articles to be covered in Lecture before each class. Try to do as many chapter EXERCISES as you can on your own. Some solutions are given at the end of the book; use these to check your work. This should be done after each lecture in order to keep on top of the material, which is by nature cumulative and CANNOT BE LEARNED BY CRAMMING before exams.

Selected EXERCISES are to be handed in before the exam on the corresponding material. Be neat and attach extra sheets to show your work if necessary. For bookkeeping purposes, it is much easier for the grader to correct several chapters' worth of Exercises at once. For learning purposes, it is much easier for you to answer the assigned Exercises as soon as the corresponding material has been covered in lecture. The assignments are long; don't attempt to complete everything the night before they are due! Hand them to me in lecture on the due date. Absolutely NO LATE HOMEWORKS will be accepted. Answers should not be "shared" with other students---otherwise, credit must also be shared. PLEASE NOTIFY ME AND THE GRADER IF YOU INTEND TO WORK TOGETHER ON SOME EXERCISES. Solutions will be put on reserve in the Math-Stat Library (4th floor Thackeray) on the lecture day following the due date.

EXTRA CREDIT assignments are featured regularly in the Lecture notes. These are always due in the lecture directly following the lecture in which they are assigned.

The four IN-CLASS EXAMS are based on material covered in lecture and your textbook. Problems will be similar to the assigned Exercises but at times more comprehensive. They are closed-book, but you are allowed to bring and refer to a two-sided sheet of notes. Calculators are also permitted. Your grade will be based on the best 3 of your 4 EXAM scores (plus homework and final exam). There will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. For rare exceptions, I may at my discretion administer an exam to an individual prior to the scheduled time.

The FINAL EXAM will be based on all material covered in the entire course. It is closed-book, but two two-sided sheets of notes, and a calculator, are permitted.

Grading

4 Homeworks 200
Best 3 of 4 Exams 450
Final Exam 350
Total 1000

Course Grade

90-100% A; 80-89% B; etc. Plusses and minuses are used for borderline cases and to ensure fairness and consistency.

Textbook

Jessica Utts: Seeing Through Statistics, 3rd ed., Duxbury Press

Lecture Notes

Available for copying in Math/Stats library 4th floor Thackeray

Note: The material in this course is cumulative in nature. Thus, it is important not to fall behind in your reading or assignments or you will find yourself lost. If you are confused, see me or your TA for help.

Note to Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 216 WPU (412) 648-7890, as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course. See their website www.drs.pitt.edu


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