STT 231 – 101
STATISTICS FOR SCIENTISTS
SUMMER 2015
Instructor: Dr. Elijah DIKONG
OFFICE: C501 Wells Hall
PHONE: 884-1486
E-MAIL:
dikonge@msu.edu;
OFICE HOURS:
MW: 03:00 – 04:00 P.M. and Th: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. or
by appointment
CLASS MEETINGS:
MWF: 10:20 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
@ 175 Com. And Arts
TEXT:
Statistics for Scientists (Course Pack) by V. Melfi
Class Website: http://www.stt.msu.edu [For class notes, homework assignments, etc.]
Course Objectives: This is a calculus based course in Probability and Statistics. Students are
expected to review basic Differentiation and Integration of polynomial and exponential
functions. Our goals will be to get basic understanding of concepts in probability and statistics
and explore their applications to the sciences.
Quizzes: There will be 5 quizzes (40 points each) given during the semester. Each quiz will last
approximately 45 minutes. The total number of points for all quizzes is 200. Make up quiz will
not be given for any ‘lame’ reason. The class will be reminded through emails, and during
the lectures, one week prior to any quiz. See IMPORTANT DATES below for the tentative
dates of quizzes.
Homework: There will be 3 Homework Assignments worth 50 points each that will be given as
we cover the corresponding material. Homework assignments must be turned in on time. Late
submissions are subject to a 20% point reduction. Homework Assignments submitted two
days after the due date would not be accepted. Some of the homework exercises will have
elements of a project. You may work in groups of up to 5 students on the homework. If you
work in a group, you may turn in one Homework Assignment for the whole group (make sure all
group member’s names and PIDs are clearly written on the assignment cover page; see sample
cover page below). In addition, some reading and suggested homework problems from the text
will be assigned. These problems will not be collected. However, it is essential that you work
them out.
Homework Assignment 1: Due Monday June 01, 2015
Homework Assignment 2: Due Monday June 22, 2015
Homework Assignment 3: Due Monday June 29, 2015
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TESTS: There will be one in-class test or midterm examination. The mid-term examination is
worth 150 points. Test questions will be asked based on concepts covered in lectures, homework
problems, and the examples worked out in the class. Tests format consist of multiple-choice
questions, questions involving demonstration of work, and questions requiring short answers.
The tentative date for the mid-term examination is Wednesday June 10, 2015.
Final Examination: There will be a comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester. The
final examination is worth 200 points and is scheduled on Wednesday July 01, 2015, at 175
Com. and Arts. The time for the final examination is 10:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Extra Credit Problems: Optional extra credit problems will be given in class on a regular basis.
These problems will be due the next class period. Late submissions will not be accepted. I will
most likely assign extra credit problems on Fridays, and they will be due the following Monday.
Each extra credit point is worth 1/10 of a test point. For example, if you have earned a total of 25
points from extra credit problems, then 2.5 points will be added to your total score. I will not
return graded extra-credit work. The material will be used for research purposes. You will be
constantly informed though, of the total extra-credit points you have accumulated.
Remark: If you are unable to take an exam for a legitimate reason, you must contact the
instructor on or before the day of the exam. You must justify your absence before you are
allowed to take a make-up exam. You cannot take a make-up exam just because you are not
ready for the exam, or it is your birthday, or you are to attend a wedding ceremony, or for some
other lame reason.
Course Grade: The total (possible) number of points earned for STT 231:
Quizzes
Homework
Projects
5x40 = 200 pts
3x50 = 150 pts
Incorporated
in HW
Tests or
Midterm
Examinations
1x150 = 150 pts
Final
Examination
Total
200 pts
700
Points
Your course average is computed by taking the sum of marks of your 5 Quizzes, 1 Mid-term
Examination, 3 Homework Assignments, and Final Examination Score. The grading scale will
be as follows:
Percentage
90 - 100%
85 – 89.9%
79 – 84.9%
73 – 78.9%
65 – 72.9%
60 – 64.9%
55 – 59.9%
00 – 54.9%
Numeric Grade
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0
Points Range
630 - 700
595 – 629
553 – 594
511 – 552
455 – 510
420 – 454
385 – 419
000 - 384
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Remark: Grades are not curved or adjusted. This is not to dishearten students, but to let them
know that their grade is based on individual effort and not on comparative effort. By taking
advantage of the extra-credit policy, you can curve your grade throughout the semester.
Important Dates:
May 18
May 27
May 22
May 25
June 03
June 08
June 10
June 17
June 24
July 01
First day of classes
Quiz #1
Open add period ends
Memorial day – University closed
Quiz #2
Quiz #3
Midterm Examination
Middle of Summer A
Quiz #4
Quiz #5
Last day of classes for Summer A session
FINAL EXAMINATION
@ 175 Com. Arts; Time: 10:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Attendance: I recognize that students have busy lives and may have to miss some lectures.
There is no explicit penalty for missing lecture, but you are responsible for learning the course
material that you missed. A friend’s notes are a good place to start. That said, I will take
attendance each class meeting and will compensate all those who attend lectures over 90% of the
time, by adding 5 extra points to their semester total points.
Courtesy: With a large class size, courtesy is extremely important in maintaining an effective
learning environment. Here are some rules to follow.
 If you must arrive late or leave a lecture early, please do so in a way that does not
disrupt the lecture for others. In particular, choose a seat near to the exit.
 Do not talk in class unless you are asking the instructor a question or responding
to a question asked by the instructor. In particular, even quiet conversation with
your neighbor cannot occur.
 Cell phones, pages, and other noise-making devices must be turned off. If you
must be reached in an emergency, use a silent setting on your phone or pager.
Academic Honesty: The Department of Statistics and Probability adheres to the policies of
academic honesty as specified in the General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship
and Grades, and in the all-University of Integrity of Scholarship and Grades, which are included
in Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide. Students who plagiarize may receive a
0.0 on the assignment or fail the course.
To arrange for accommodation, students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for
People with Disabilities (355-9642).
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DISCLAIMER
The instructor reserves the right to make any changes considered to be academically advisable.
Such changes, if any, will be announced in class. Please note that it is your responsibility to
attend the class and keep track of the proceedings.
CLICKERS
Not required for this course this semester.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
Unit 1: Descriptive Statistics (Week 1 – Week 2)
 Data as collected information with its context;
 Displaying and summarizing quantitative data – histograms, simple stem-and-leaf
displays; Shape of a distribution (center, symmetry, spread, outliers, 5 – number
summary);
 Understanding and comparing distributions: 5 – number summary and boxplots;
comparing groups with histograms, comparing groups with boxplots;
 Exploring relationships between variables – scatter plots (Course Pack Chapter 4)
 Linear regression models: Computing least squares lines (Course Pack Chapter 5)
 Linear regression models: Prediction, residual, and influential points (Course Pack
Chapter 6);
 Linear regression models: Coefficient of determination, correlation coefficient,
interpretation in liner models (Course Pack Chapter 7);
 Estimating population size: Capture – Recapture Method (Course Pack Chapter 8)
(Project or class activity or assigned reading);
Unit 2: General Probability (Week 3 – Week 4)
 Probability Models: Finitely many outcomes; Events; Combining events; Assigning and
interpreting probabilities (Course Pack Chapter 9)
 Conditional Probability and Tree Diagrams (Course Pack Chapters 10 and 11);
 Discrete Probability Distributions: Geometric, Binomial, Hypergeometric distributions
(Course Pack Chapters 13, 14, and 15)
 Mean, Variance, Standard Deviation of Discrete Probability Distributions (Course Pack
Chapter 22)
 Independence and Joint Distributions (Course Pack Chapter 12)
 Continuous Random Variables and Continuous Probability Distributions: Density
functions – uniform densities, exponential densities, the standard normal densities,
computing probabilities and percentiles (Course Pack Chapters 19, 20, 21)
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Unit 3: Statistical Inferences (Week 5 – Week 6)



Sampling distributions for proportions and means: The central limit theorem (Course
Pack Chapter 24);
Confidence Intervals for proportions and means (Course Pack Chapters 25, 26, 27)
Hypotheses Testing for Proportions and Means: Test statistics, P – values, Type I and II
Errors, Power of a test (Course Pack Chapters 17, 18)
Extra Credit Work #1 (EC#1)
Read Course Pack Chapters 1 and 2. Do exercises 2.9, Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5. Your work must be
typed. Un-typed work will not be accepted. The due date for EC#1 is Wednesday May 27, 2015.
WELCOME TO STATISTICS FOR SCIENTISTS

E. DIKONG a.k.a. “Radio-Shack”
Of Statistics


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