MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Department of Business Administration
BAS 152-Business Statistics
Prof. Dr.
Uğur Soytaş
Spring 2016
Class room:
Office Hours :.
Class Hours :
Office: H115
Email: soytas@metu.edu.tr
Phone: 210-2048
Class web site: https://odtuclass.metu.edu.tr/
Course Materials:

Required text: Newbold, Carlson, and Thorne. Statistics for Business and Economics,
Prentice Hall 2006.

Optional: These are available in the library o Groebner, Shannon, Fry, and Smith, Business Statistics: A Decision-Making
Approach, Prentice Hall 2001.
Call number: HF1017 G73 o Bowerman and O’Connell, Business Statistics in Practice, McGraw-Hill/Irwin
2003. Call number: HF1017 B654.

Powerpoint presentations used in class will be provided online. It is advised that you have these chapter handouts with you during the class.
Course Description and Objectives:
A course covering basic statistical concepts and methods useful in decision making in the business environment. Emphasis on descriptive and inferential tools used in converting raw data into useful information. Use of statistical computer packages and interpretation of statistical results. Topics include descriptive statistics, discrete and continuous probability distributions, sampling distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, simple linear regression, multiple regression, multiple regression model building, time series analysis.
Focus is on interpretation of statistical results rather than computation. However, a significant amount of computation will also be required.
Course Outline:
1.
Statistics and Describing Data
2.
Probability and Discrete Probability Distributions
Midterm 1
3.
Continuous Distributions and Normal Distribution
4.
Sampling and Sampling Distributions
Midterm 2
5.
Estimation and Hypothesis Testing
6.
Simple Regression
Midterm 3
7.
Multiple Regression
8.
Model Building
9.
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

And if we have time:
10.
Additional Topics in Sampling
11.
Time-Series Analysis and Forecasting
Assignments and In-Class activities
 Assignments will be collected at the beginning of the class period on the due date. Late (no matter how late) assignments will not be accepted under any circumstances.

I will require you to do some of the assignments using either Excel (Analysis toolpak and
PHStat add-ins) or MINITAB

Lab schedule will be announced in class.

In class assignments (you may prefer to call them pop quizzes) will also be conducted.
There is a high negative correlation between the number of students in attendance and the probability of having an in class assignment.
Grade determination
Assignments 10%
20% Midterm 1
Midterm 2
Midterm 3
Final
20%
20%
30%
Make-up Exams:
There will be one comprehensive make-up exam given to those students that missed an exam and had valid reasons and documentation. The make-up exam will follow the final exam.
Greek Letters Commonly Used as Statistical Notations alpha beta ki-sqre delta mu nu pi rho sigma tau theta
  
2        

Middle East Technical University
Department of Business Administration
Rules of Academic Honesty
February 2004
Cheating: All university, faculty, and department principles on academic honesty will be strictly enforced. The usual consequence for academic dishonesty is failure in the course and additional disciplinary action. Examinations are individual and are to be completed without unauthorized outside assistance. Persons observed cheating during examinations will receive a failing grade in the course. Homework assignments are individual, unless otherwise specified by the instructor, and are to be completed without unauthorized outside assistance as well. Persons observed cheating in their homework assignments will receive a score of zero for the portion of the semester grade that is allocated to such assignments.
Plagiarism: The instructor assumes that students will do their own work. By placing their names on assignments (individual or team), students are affirming that the contents are their original work. Ideas should be stated in the student’s own wording. Violation of this provision will be considered as unethical behavior, subject to disciplinary action. If you have any doubt about the use of a specific material, see the instructor ahead of time.
Civility in the Classroom: Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment which is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have an opportunity to gain from time spent in class, students are prohibited from using cellular phones or beepers, eating or drinking in class, arriving late or leaving early without prior permission, or engaging in any other form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in classroom shall result in, minimally, a request to leave class.
Examination Rules: Students must present a valid METU Student ID before they can be allowed into the examination rooms. Those students who cannot present this ID will not be allowed into the examination room under any circumstances. Cellular phones must be turned off and stowed away during the examinations. Students whose phones are observed to be turned on and/or not stowed away will receive a score of zero for the examination.
Other Remarks
1.
Any student who may require special arrangements because of a disabling condition should contact the instructor within the first week of classes.
2.
Grades will be posted by the student number. Under no circumstances will the instructor reveal the grade of a student to a person other than him/herself.
3.
There is a positive correlation between attendance and success in the class; therefore, the instructor will take the necessary measures to check on attendance both for the class and lab/recitation hours.