112—Statistics and the Media. (3) Statistical and information literacy. Experimental and survey design; descriptive statistics; basic probability; simple confidence intervals and hypothesis tests; statistical software; collection, management, and evaluation of information; and presentation of statistics in the media. Credit given for only STAT 110 or STAT 112.
Course Homepage: TBD
Usually Offered: Fall and Spring Semesters
Purpose: To introduce students to basic statistical concepts and methods; to teach students modern methods for collecting information with regard to statistical studies from a variety of sources and to appropriately critique and report findings from those studies.
Current Textbook: Seeing Through Statistics (4th Edition) by Jessica M. Utts. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2015.
|
Topics Covered |
Chapters |
Time |
|
Research Methods: Researching information, writing reports and appropriate citation (across semester) |
all |
2.0 weeks |
|
Statistics – Benefits and Risks: Statistical terminology, data sources, measurement |
1-3 |
1.0 week |
|
Sampling: Why sample? Simple random samples, other sampling designs |
4 |
1.0 week |
|
Experimental Design: Experiment or observational study? Randomized comparative experiments; matched-pairs design, block designs; case studies |
5-6 |
1.0 week |
|
Describing Distributions: Tables and graphical displays; numerical summaries; normal distributions |
7-9 |
2.5 weeks |
|
Probability: Simple properties of probability, finding probabilities by simulation, lotteries, and expected value; personal probability |
14-16 |
1.0 week |
|
Sampling distributions: Diversity of samples; expectations; Central Limit Theorem |
19 |
1.0 week |
|
Confidence intervals: Population proportions; population means; comparing two population means |
20-21 |
2.0 weeks |
|
Significance Testing: Population proportions; population means; comparing two population means |
22-24 |
1.5 weeks |
|
Bivariate Relationships: Continuous – Association, correlation, regression, and prediction; Categorical – 2X2 tables |
10-12 |
1.0 week |
The above textbook and course outline should correspond to the most recent offering of the course by the Statistics Department. Please check the current course homepage or with the instructor for the course regulations, expectations, and operating procedures.