Stat 411, Fall 2005

Nicholas Keuler

Contact Information

Office: 1217A MSC

Email:

Office Hours: After class MWF, and by appointment

Teaching Assistant

Lei Xu

Email:

Office: B248 MSC

Office Hours: TBA

Required Textbook

Elementary Survey Sampling, 5th Ed., by Scheaffer, Mendenhall, and Ott

Discussion Sections

DISC 311: 3:30 M, 215 Ingraham

Discussion is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended. Attendance at discussion is used to resolve borderline grades.

Tentative Syllabus (With Rough Text Chapters)

  1. General Statistical Preliminaries: General notation, measures of location and spread, random variables, expected values and variances, estimation, concept of bias (Ch. 2)
  2. Sampling-Specific Preliminaries: Sampling terminology and notation, sample vs. census, sampling distributions, sampling with vs. without replacement (Ch. 2, and a bit of Ch. 3)
  3. Simple Random Sampling (Ch. 4)
  4. Stratified Random Sampling: Regular, proportional, and optimal (Ch. 5)
  5. Two – Stage Random Sampling: Cluster and systematic (Chs. 7-9)
  6. Ratio and Regression Estimators: Application to simple and stratified sampling (Ch. 6)
  7. Sampling with Unequal Probabilities: HTE and IPPS (No significant coverage in the book)
  8. Non-Sampling Error: Non-response, dishonesty, bias, measurement error (Mostly my personal notes, some things are in Ch. 3)
  9. Miscellaneous Topics: Time permitting; may include estimation of population size (Ch. 10), or estimation of subpopulation quantities (Ch. 11), among other things.

For each of 3-7, we will discuss: how to draw the sample, how to determine the sample size and allocation of the units, how to estimate the desired quantities, and the accuracy of those estimates.

Homework / Cases

Expect 4 – 6 assignments emphasizing calculations and formulas, as well as a few short papers (cases) emphasizing critical thinking and design. Cases must be handed in before class begins on the day they are due, as we will discuss them during that lecture. Late work will not be accepted. You are encouraged to work together on the homework, but please write the case study papers on your own.

Exams

There will be two in-class exams, scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th, and Monday, November 21st, 7:15 – 9:15pm. This is not so that I can make the exams extra long, it’s so that I can make them regular-sized but give you lots of time to work. In lieu of a final exam, there will be a project / presentation (see below).

Final Project

As a final step towards the congealing of your new sampling knowledge, you will each develop your own sampling design, complete with administration protocol. You will not have to actually carry out the sample, but you will have to be thorough in your anticipation of possible complications. On the last few days of class, everyone will present their designs by giving very brief (5–10 min.) presentations. Further details will be available near mid semester.

Grading

Homework / Cases 30%, Two midterms 20% each, Final Project 30%