Statistics for Business
PMBA 421
Summer 2012
Office Hours: By appointment
Chris D. Gingrich, Ph.D.
Office: CC206e
432-4154
chris.gingrich@emu.edu
Course Description and Objectives
This course provides a basic foundation in the discipline of statistics and statistical analysis. Statistics is
used widely in business management including accounting, operations, human resources, finance and
marketing. Understanding of the role that statistics plays is important in your development as a
manager. This course requires only a facility in basic algebra. The course is delivered on-line through
Aplia, a web-based course content provider, and will use Moodle (http://moodle.emu.edu), the EMUprovided learning management system.
The objectives of this course are to provide the following:
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Understanding the basic definitions of data including scales of measurement and basic
descriptive statistics.
Understanding how to describe data with both tabular and graphical presentations.
Understanding measures of central tendency and measures of variability and the various
techniques used to describe these measures.
Understanding the relevance of basic probability to the understanding and application of
statistical analysis.
Knowing basic discrete probability distributions and how to use them in making statistical
inferences.
Knowing basic continuous probability distributions and how to use them in making statistical
inferences.
Understanding concepts of sampling and sampling distributions and how they are used.
Knowing how to compute confidence intervals for means and proportions and knowing the
relevance of those intervals and how they are used.
Knowing how to frame conjectures into testable hypotheses and how to conduct hypothesis
tests.
Knowing how to compare means, how to create experimental designs and how to conduct an
analysis of variance.
Knowing how to compare proportions and how to create tests of independence.
Knowing how to use basic simple regression to model causality
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PMBA 421
Statistics for Business
Required Text and Materials
Essentials of Statistics for Business and Economics, 6th Edition, David R. Anderson, Dennis J. Sweeney and
Thomas A. Williams. (Thomson South-Western, 2011) ISBN 0-538-75457-5
This course will use Aplia to deliver course content and assessment. The cost of Aplia is $90 which
includes on-line access to the text in e-book format. The e-book text is available for the duration of the
course. If you prefer purchasing a hard-copy of the text you can do so through Aplia for an additional fee
or you may purchase a new or used copy from any book seller.
Chapter assignments and assessments are handled through Aplia. Examinations are handled through
Moodle. In addition to these graded items, each textbook chapter contains exercises (with answers
posted on Moodle) that students should use for additional practice for topics not fully mastered from
the Aplia exercises.
Aplia Registration
Aplia is part of CengageBrain, which allows you to sign in to a single site to access your Cengage
materials and courses.
1. Connect to http://login.cengagebrain.com/
2. If you already have an Aplia/Cengage account, sign in. From your Dashboard, enter your
course key (GRA8-TZLD-D22P) in the box provided, and click the Register button.
If you don't have an Aplia/Cengage account, click the Create a New Account button, and
enter your course key when prompted: GRA8-TZLD-D22P. Continue to follow the on-screen
instructions.
Aplia Payment
Online: Purchase access to your course (including the digital textbook) from the CengageBrain
website.
After paying, you will have the option to purchase a physical book at a discounted price. If you
choose to pay later, you can use Aplia without paying until three weeks after the start of the
course.
Grading Policy
Grading will be based on the following scale:
A
A-
94-100
90-93
Summer 2012
B+
B
87-89
84-86
C+
C
77-79
74-76
B-
80-83
C-
70-73
D+
D
2
67-69
60-66
F
Below 60
PMBA 421
Statistics for Business
Evaluation Criteria and Weights in Grade Determination
There will be weekly assessments on Aplia from the chapter material covered each week and three
section exams each covering four chapters. The weekly work on Aplia is due on Sunday nights by 11:45
p.m.
The final grade will be computed using the following weights:
Assessment
Aplia Weekly Assignments*
Exams (3)
Weight
55%
45%
*Average of 13 total assignments, with the lowest score dropped
Disability Statement
If you have received services in the past related to a learning disability or attention deficit disorder
and/or feel you may have such a problem in this course, please make an appointment with the
Coordinator of Student Disability Support Services in the Academic Support Center, 3 rd Floor, Hartzler
Library, 432-4233.
Class Schedule
Week
May 14-20
Week
1
May 21-27
2
May 28June 3
June 4-10
3
4
June 11-17
June 18-24
June 25-July 1
July 2 -8
July 9-15
5
6
7
8
July 16-22
July 23-29
9
10
July 30-Aug 5
11
Aug 6-12
12
Summer 2012
Topic
Introduction to Aplia;
Data and Statistics: An Overview and Introduction
Descriptive Statistics: Tabular and Graphical
Presentations
Descriptive Statistics: Numerical Measures
Introduction to Probability;
Exam #1 (Chapters 1-4)
No assignments due this week
Discrete Probability Distributions
Continuous Probability Distributions
Sampling and Sampling Distributions
Interval Estimation;
Exam #2 (Chapters 5-8)
Hypothesis Tests
Comparisons Involving Means, Experimental Design and
Analysis of Variance
Comparisons Involving Proportions and Tests of
Independence
Simple Linear Regression
Exam #3 (Chapters 9-12)
3
Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
PMBA 421
Statistics for Business
The first exam will come during week 4, the second exam during week 8, and the third exam during
week 12. The exams are timed at two hours and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday of the
specified week. While the exams are open book/open note they are not intended that you have the
opportunity to look up solutions to all the questions. Attempting to do so will cause you to run out of
time.
Assistance
This course is designed for independent study and learning. The course does not contain regular lecture
or instructor interface. However, students may ask the instructor to clarify points not understood and to
answer specific questions. The preferred contact method is by email.
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PMBA 421