Introduction to statistics(online)

Instructor:Dr. Scott CrawfordEmail:Office: Ross 333

Click herefor a link to the intro class that has all the videos and notes

There you will find a videos:

Welcoming you to class

Helping you get started in Webassign

And more…

Class: According to University policy class is 4 hours a week in class and 12 hours a week of homework. That time will be spent watching videos of instruction, searching additional material, completing online homework, posting on the discussion board, visiting with tutors, TAs, and office hours. The only difference it makes that you are taking this class online is that class is attended online from anywhere anytime each week.

Course Description: Statistics is the tool to answer scientific questions given data. Your goal is to read scientific claims and understand the limits of their research, interpret what the results mean, and demonstrate the ability to analyze their data. The main tools taught in this class are confidence intervals and hypothesis tests (with p-values). The topics include descriptive statistics, one sample mean and proportion, two sample means and proportions, regression, and chi-squared tests.

Text: There is no required textbook. Any introductory statistics book will cover the same material as this class. There are videos of instruction and notes that can be used. There is a required Webassign code. You can purchase a code through the bookstore or direct from Webassign.net. The access key (class code) is given in the next paragraphto access the class. Details are listed below.

Webassign: You must purchase an access code. The bookstore sells them, or you can purchase them direct from At the website on the right hand side next to the log in button is a link that says “I Have a Class Key”. Click on that link and then put in the class key uwyo 5778 8167. Then create your Webassign account (if you have made an account in another class you are welcome to use it if you want). When you reach the home page there are four sections that should be of interest:

My assignments: This shows the homework assignments. They are due every week on Fridayat 11:59pm. If you are late you may extend the homework deadline by 1 day for a 10% penalty of the points you earn from then on. The penalty only applies to points earned after the extension request. (This is done automatically within Webassign). You may have three extensions for up to one week after the deadline. An extension without the penalty requires a University Excuse can cover more than half the week that the assignment was due. It is considered your responsibility to begin the homework early enough to manage computer problems, power outages, content problems, illness, or personal struggles.

Each question can be submitted 5 times. That means there is no excuse for not being able to get the correct answers – if you have missed a question 3 times you should find help. There are TA’s, discussion boards, and office hours as well as working with other students. The homeworks are posted weekly, so you cannot do the homework early. This keeps everyone working on the same assignment at the same time just as it would be in a classroom setting. The first assignment is due in the first week and it is your responsibility to make sure we can find solutions to any problems before the assignment is due.

We have found that students who work together tend to do better. Do not just guess. The answer to question 1 on the homework (you know it’s only there to force you read this syllabus) is “teach”. That’s because teaching this material to other students is a fantastic way to learn it. Believe it or not you can actually teach yourself by explaining what you don’t understand to someone else.

Communication – Class forums: The discussion board is a place to ask questions about the homework, concepts, or share frustrations. It is part of your grade to post every week. If you have nothing of value to post there is a folder of “Funny/Random” where there are no rules (except not offensively vulgar)

Announcements: Videos will be posted in announcements, as well as information on the tests. Any changes to the class structure or deadlines will be announced here as well as in an email. It is expected that you will read the announcements and keep track of the deadlines.

Grades:This will have your current grade. At the beginning it will say you are getting 0, but as assignments are completed it will do a better job of predicting.

Exams: The tests for this class are proctored. The proctoring services are provided through the outreach program. They are willing to work with you to find solutions that can succeed. The type of proctoring depends on where you live:

Laramie students: Go to WyoCourses, click on Calendar, and click on Scheduler. You will see a list of times that you can sign up to the exams in EN 2109 where a proctor is provided for you. If the calendar doesn’t work that means you need to look on the right hand side where calendars are listed and turn on the calendar for this class.

In-state students: In-state students will go to aUW Outreach Regional Center. A list of regional centers can be found at You simply make an appointment and your proctor will have all the exam information necessary.

Out-of-state students: Exams must be taken under the supervision of an approved proctor. If you would like to use a test facility, you can try a Google search for the words “exam proctoring”, “proctor services”, etc and look in your region.

Persons currently employed in the following capacity meet the guidelines:

A school administrator or other school official in a supervisory position—superintendent, principal, counselor, academic advisor, dean, department head,

An educational training officer—hospital, armed forces, this includes nursing supervisors.

A public librarian in an administrative position—director, assistant director, head librarian

Testing center or student services office at a college or university

Other proctors hired should be under OCP approval and supervision

NOTE: Regardless of their position, relatives, fiancé, friends, and direct supervisor(s) are not permitted to serve as proctors.

OCP reserves the right to reject any proctor.

You must provide your proctor’s name, official title. Address, email address and complete phone number to t least a week before the exam.

Calculator: Any calculator is allowed on the exam that does not have wireless communication. Test questions attempt to not give an advantage to students who have fancier calculators.

Participation: Participation requires you to post to the discussion board every week. The discussion board on Webassign is a great place to ask questions and give answers to other students. This is a great venue for teaching other students what you have figured out. Due to the large number of online students there needs to be a system for finding support with each other. We will drop your lowest two posting scores (which means you are allowed to forget two times).

It is recommended that you post questions about homework problems, about concepts you don’t understand, or concerns with the class. If you need to post and cannot think of what to say, then post in the folder of “funny or random thoughts”. Even posting something useless demonstrates that you knew the resource was available.

Exams:

The exams are online through the Webassign Program. Students outside Laramie can be allowed to use their own laptop, but you are not allowed to visit any website besides Webassign during the exam. The tests are cumulative, timed, and closed book, but you will be allowed a study sheet for the exams (two sheets on the final).

Exam 1:September 26, 27, or 28

Exam 2:Oct 31, Nov 1, or 2

Final Exam:December 12, 13, 14

Grading:

Participation10%

Homework20%

Exam 120%

Exam 225%

Final Exam25%

A: 90-100

B: 80-89

C: 70-79

D: 60-69

F: Below 60

There is no extra credit or extra projects in the class. If you are concerned about what grade you will need on the final to get a particular grade I can send you a calculating sheet. By federal law I cannot send grade information through email.

Rounding grades: I encourage students to complete the teacher evaluation. For students who do the evaluation I can round their grades up 1%. I do not round anything beyond that.

And it doesn’t make sense to – no matter where I draw the line someone will be just below it.

Incompletes: A grade of “incomplete” is only an option for students who have completed more than 2/3 of the class (after the second exam) and have faced unexpected, uncontrollable, and debilitating personal circumstances. An incomplete can help a student complete the class later to manage a sudden disability.

Disability Statement:

If you have a physical, learning, sensory or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and provide documentation of your disability to University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall

.Academic Honesty:

The University of Wyoming is built upon a strong foundation of integrity, respect and trust. All members of the university community have a responsibility to be honest and the right to expect honesty from others. Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable to our community and will not be tolerated. Cheating on the tests will result in a failing grade and referral to the academic integrity office.

The instructor may make changes to the syllabus as the course proceeds. If necessary, these changes will be announced in Webassign.

Office Hours: There is a stat lab open 10am-5pm MTWHF for you to come get help. I have office hours from 11am-12pm on MWF. You are welcome to visit our office officially or to set up a meeting by Skype or Google Chat.

There is also tutoring available at the STEP Tutor Center. STEP is located in Coe Library. Sessions are drop in (no appointments) and are 30 minutes in length. Students who seek academic help in this class tend to perform 15-20% better than students who do not. Please visit the STEP Tutor Schedule for days and times:

Course Outline

Week 1
Aug 29
Aug31 / Syllabus
Introduction to Webassign
Access the homework
HOMEWORK 1 due / Week 9
Oct 20
Oct 26 / Test for one proportion, CI for p CI for two proportions
Pooling proportions, Ho for p1=p2
HOMEWORK 8 due
Week 2
Sept 1
Sept 7 / Stat/param, cat/num mean/median, boxplotsStd dev, notation, mean vs median A and B, A or B, A | B
Bayes theorem
HOMEWORK 2 due / Week 10
Oct 27
Nov 2 / Test 2
October 31,November 1, or 2
Week 3
Sept 8
Sept 14 / Normal, density curves, z-table
P(x>3), P(x>=3), highest 5%,
z-bridge, Middle 95%,
further than 5 from mean
HOMEWORK 3 due / Week 11
Nov 3
Nov 9 / Lurking variables Sources of Bias
Sampling Schemes
Experimental terms
Sampling Schemes, Seven pitfalls
HOMEWORK 9 due
Week 4
Sept 15
Sept 21 / Distribution of xbar
P(xbar>3), p(x>3),
highest 5% of xbars
HOMEWORK 4 due / Week 12
Nov 10
Nov 16 / Tables, Expects using independence
Chi-squared test of independenceE>5, df, 2x2 chi-squared = test of two proports
HOMEWORK 10 due
Week 5
Sept 22
Sept 28 / Test 1
September 26, 27, 28 / Week 13
Nov 17
Nov 23 / THANKSGIVING BREAK
No participation required.
No homework due this week
The next homework is still available
Week 6
Sept 29
Oct 5 / Ho, Ha, 7 steps of a hypothesis,
p-value, Alpha, beta, power, confidence, Hypothesis tests,
Making Conclusions
HOMEWORK 5 due / Week 14
Nov 24
Nov 30 / Chi-squared Goodness of fit
Matching Uniform/Normal distributions
HOMEWORK 11 due
Week 7
Oct 6
Oct 12 / Confidence Intervals
Proper statements on confidence
HOMEWORK 6 due / Week 15
Dec 1
Dec 7 / Regression
R, R2, When R=0
Y=bo+b1x, prediction,
Test H0:B1=0, reading output Residuals, 5 assumptions HOMEWORK 12 due
Week 8
Oct 13
Oct 19 / Testing with sigma unknown
t-tablesTesting two means,
matched pairs, Independent must add variances
HOMEWORK 7 due / Week 16
Dec 8
Dec 14 / Final
December 12, 13, 14