Statistical Data Analysis: ST 260_004
Spring 2015 Syllabus
Class Time: M,W 3:30- 4:45
Location: 240 Bidgood Hall
Class Webpage: Blackboard (https://ualearn.blackboard.com). Check often for important class material
and announcements.
Instructor: Dr. Michael D. Porter
Office Hours: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Monday
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday
Email: mdporter2@bama.ua.edu
TA: Ketong Wang
Office Hours: TBD
TBD
And by appointment: please email.
Email: kwang18@crimson.ua.edu
Office: 348 Alston Hall
Phone: 205-348-6520
Office: TBD
Course Prerequisites: MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 121 or MATH 125 or MATH 126 or MATH
145 or MATH 146; and CS 102 or CS 150 or CS 120 or GES 131 or GES 145 or PLCS 380
Course Description: Introduction to the use of basic statistical concepts in business applications. Topics
include extensive graphing; descriptive statistics; measures of central tendency and variation; regression;
sampling techniques; designs; conditional probability; random variables; probability distributions; sampling
distributions; confidence intervals; and statistical inference. Computer software applications are utilized
extensively. Emphasis throughout the course in on interpretation. Computing proficiency is required for a
passing grade in this course.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Examine graphical exploration tools for extracting information from data.
2. Determine when to be skeptical of data results.
3. Use computer software to analyze data.
4. Interpret data results in the language of the problem.
5. View decision-making from a quantitative perspective.
6. Understand the importance of data collection and analysis in business decisions.
7. See the relevance of statistics in everyday life.
Required Text: Essentials of Statistics for Business and Economics –7th Edition, by Anderson, Sweeney,
Williams, Camm, and Cochran.
Suggested Text: The Cartoon Guide to Statistics, by Larry Gonick & Wollcott Smith
Other Course Materials:
This course requires the use of statistical software. Some options include:
 Minitab is available in Bashinsky Lab, or online using “Bashinsky Lab Anywhere” (BLA) to work at
home. (Note: Minitab is Windows only, but BLA should allow access through a browser).
 Excel or the OpenOffice/LibreOffice alternatives.
 R (http://cran.us.r-project.org/) is a free command-line based statistical language.
o Rcmdr is a convienient (and free) GUI (http://www.rcommander.com/).
o RStudio is a helpful (and free) program to run R (http://www.rstudio.com/ide/).
ST 260-004
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Spring 2015
HW #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Due Date
Jan 12
Jan 19
Jan 26
Feb 4
Feb 23
Mar 2
Mar 9
Apr 6
Apr 15
Topics
Introduction
Categorical Data
Quantitative Data
Probability
Discrete R.V.
Continuous R.V.
Statistical Sampling
Confidence Intervals
Regression
Assignment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Homework
Date
Feb 9
Mar 11
Apr 30
Ongoing
Percentage
22.5%
22.5%
30%
25%
Percentage
98%
93%
90%
88%
83%
80%
78%
73%
70%
…
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
C…
There will be no grade “curving” in this course. However, you will have an opportunity to let the final
exam grade replace your lowest midterm exam grade. In addition, the lowest homework grade will be
dropped. Because of this policy, there will be no make-up homeworks or exams! Attendance is expected.
Note: There will be no “extra credit” assignments; spend your time on the assigned work.
Academic Calendar: Important dates for the semester can be found on the academic calendar:
http://registrar.ua.edu/academics/academic-calendars/spring-2015-academic-calendar/#tab=tab-1
Severe Weather Guidelines: http://uanews.ua.edu/weather/
Disability Statement:
If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as
possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have
not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081
(TTY) or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course
adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham
Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.
Policy on Academic Misconduct
All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe
standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its
students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of
each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that
each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be
involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The
University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure
resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe
as indefinite suspension from the University.” See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.
Outline of Topics:
# of
Days
1
2
2
4
2
2
2
5
5
Topic
Specifics
Introduction
Descriptive Stats:
Tabular and Graphics
Descriptive Stats:
Numerical
Probability
Discrete Distributions
Continuous Distributions
Sampling Distributions
Inference
Statistical Modeling
Business Statistics, Software Review
Reading
Chapter
1
Plots and Tables
2
Statistical Description of quantitative data: mean, median, variance,
5number summary
Randomness, Probability Rules, Bayes Theorem
Bernoulli, Binomial, Geometric, Hypergeometric,
Uniform, Normal
Proportions, Sample Means, Central Limit Theorem, Survey Data
Point estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing
Correlation, Linear Regression
3
4
5
6
7
8,9
12
Unless otherwise noted, all reading from Essentials of Statistics for Business and Economics –7th Edition, by Anderson,
Sweeney, Williams, Camm, and Cochran.
ST 260-004
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Spring 2015