STAT 402B: Statistical Design and the Analysis of
Experiments
Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences Section
Spring 2016
SYLLABUS (and other useful information)
Instructor: Mervyn Marasinghe, Office: 2417, Snedecor, Phone: 4-7774, e-mail:
mervyn@iastate.edu,
Lecture: MWF 11 a.m., Town 0270
Office Hours: MF 2-3, T3-4
Please feel free to send e-mail to me anytime with questions or comments.
Lab Instructor: Jingru Mu; e-mail: mujingru@iastate.edu
Office Hours: T 4 R 10 F 2 (held in Room 2404, Snedecor Hall)
Text: Design and Analysis of Experiments, Douglas C. Montgomery (Eighth Edition)
Course Webpage:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mervyn/Stat402B_Spring2016/homepage_S16.html
Course Objective and Learning Outcomes :
Course Outline (tentative): To view this click on OUTLINE
Organizational Matters:
Grading:
Homework:
Project:
Exam I :
Exam II:
Final Exam:
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
200 pts
approx. weekly (8 assignments)
mid semester
Feb 15
Mar 28
May 4
Final Grade:
Final course grades will be determined by total points earned from the labs and exams according
to the schedule above divided by 600 and expressed as a percentage. The final percent will be
used to rank students and determine cut-off points for assigning letter grades. First, letter grades
A, B, C, D, will be assigned to those with percentages in the ranges 90-100, 80-89, 70-79, 6069 respectively. The cut-off points may be adjusted (lowered) later depending on the
performance of the entire class to increase the proportion of students in the class earning each
grade. Plus/minus grades will be assigned to scores near final cut-off points.
Exams:
• Plus/Minus grading will be used.
• Makeup exams will be given only if you contact me ahead of time and get approval prior
to the scheduled exam.
• All exams are closed book meaning you will not be allowed to use the textbook or notes
during the exam.
• An 8.5x11 inch formula sheet prepared by the student will be allowed.
• In the past, students have viewed the preparation of the formula sheet as a useful way to
review of the material covered.
• Any statistical tables needed will be provided.
• Cell phones or other electronic devices (e.g., PDA's, iPods, ear phones, etc.) will not
be allowed in the exam room.
• You must bring pencils, eraser and scratch paper and a calculator for all exams.
• Final is comprehensive and must be taken at the scheduled date and time.
Assignments: Statistics is best learnt by doing. The homework problems give you practice in
applying and reinforcing concepts learned in class. Some of the homework problems will be
from the textbook. Discussion with friends and classmates will help you learn the material and is
encouraged. However, you must turn-in your own work. Copying of others work is not a good
way to learn and will not be tolerated. Homework assignments will be distributed in class and
will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date. The homework may require the use of
the statistical software package JMP available on public computers on campus. Computer
analysis, if needed, must be conducted and output produced individually by each student. Late
homework will not be graded unless excused in advance and late homework will not be
accepted by your TA.
Project: I am thinking of assigning a take home project during the semester. This may involve
designing, possibly performing, and analyzing an experiment. Individual work will be required
on the project. This may also
require the use of JMP software.
Lectures: I will use lecture slides provided by the publishers of the text book. These closely
follow the material in the book. I will supplement these with my own notes that sometimes
provide additional information as well as re-do the same examples in my own presentation style.
Both of these sets of lecture slides and notes will be made available to you through this website. I
will provide an outline that relates these lectures and notes to topics covered in the class as well
as text book sections.
Computing: This class focuses on statistical concepts, not details of a specific computing
package. We will use JMP in class and many examples of its use for solving in class and lab
problems will be made available. No attempt will be made to give details of the use of the
language for general data analysis nor is it expected that students become experts in the use of
JMP. However, students may find it useful to learn JMP as much as possible while enrolled in
this class as they might find it extremely useful for performing statistical analysis of their
research work in the future. The TA will help you with learning JMP as well as specific
questions you may have. Outside of Snedecor Hall, JMP is available under MS Windows in labs
such as Carver 205 and Durham 139. For those who are interested in learning more about JMP,
the JMP documentation "Introductory Guide" and the "User's Guide", available as a
dropdown menu items in JMP software startup window on the desktop is adequate.
Academic Dishonesty: This class will follow the Iowa State University policy on academic
dishonesty found in the ISU catalog. A score of zero will be given for the entire assignment in
which the academic dishonesty occurred. In addition, anyone suspected of academic dishonesty
will be reported to the Dean of Students Office:
http://www.dso.iastate.edu/ja/academic/misconduct.html
Disability Accomodation: Iowa State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities
Act and Sect 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you have a documented disability and anticipate
needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with Professor
Marasinghe within the first two weeks of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your
need.. Retroactive request for accommodations will not be honored. Please have Disability
Resources (Disability Resources Office) complete a SAAR form verifying your disability and
specifying the accommodations you will need for this course. You will need to present this form
to Professor Marasinghe at the first meeting.
Dead Week: This class follows the Iowa State University Dead Week policy as noted in section
10.6.4 of the Faculty Handbook http://www.provost.iastate.edu/resources/faculty-handbook .
Harassment and Discrimination: Iowa State University strives to maintain our campus as a
place of work and study for faculty, staff, and students that is free of all forms of prohibited
discrimination and harassment based upon race, ethnicity, sex (including sexual assault),
pregnancy, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a U.S. veteran. Any student
who has concerns about such behavior should contact his/her instructor, Student Assistance at
515-294-1020 or email dso-sas@iastate.edu, or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance
at 515-294-7612.
Religious Accommodation: If an academic or work requirement conflicts with your religious
practices and/or observances, you may request reasonable accommodations. Your request must
be in writing, and your instructor or supervisor will review the request. You or your instructor
may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office or the Office of Equal Opportunity
and Compliance.
Contact Information: If you are experiencing, or have experienced, a problem with any of the
above issues, email academicissues@iastate.edu.