STAT 113: Statistics and Society
Fall 2014, TRADITIONAL
Syllabus
Lecturer: Ellen Gundlach
Email: (best way to contact)
Office: HAAS 176 (phone: 765-496-6875)
T.A.: Jeremy Troisi
Office hours: Most questions and problems can be handled through e-mail. If you send your t.a. a screenshot of the problem and talk us through your work, we can do pretty well that way. Any student can visit the office hours of any instructor. We have many office hours available to you in the help room. See Blackboard Learn for a full list of times and locations.
Course site: Blackboard Learn. Google Chrome is not compatible with Blackboard Learn. Use Firefox or Internet Explorer. https://mycourses.purdue.edu/
Help room: HAAS 115
Course description: This is a course on statistical concepts emphasizing applications in public policy and in the social and behavioral sciences. Significant writing and discussion are required. No mathematics beyond simple algebra is needed, but numerical skills are strengthened by constant use. STAT 113 can be used for general education or as preparation for later methodology courses. This course teaches statistical ideas that will be useful in understanding and designing research in most areas of study.
Course goals: (Specific learning objectives for each chapter are listed in Blackboard.)
1) Distinguish between and qualify methods of data collection.
2) Interpret graphs and statistical analyses.
3) Express and calculate the likelihood of events.
4) Create a narrative from statistical analysis.
Required materials:
1) The textbook (Moore and Notz, Statistics: Concepts and Controversies, 8th edition, W.H. Freeman). See additional information on Blackboard.
2) StatsPortal online resources from W.H. Freeman to go with the textbook. See instructions in Blackboard for how to register. http://courses.bfwpub.com/scc8e.php
3) Perdisco Online Homework. Register through www.perdisco.com. See instructions in Blackboard.
4) Access to Microsoft Excel software.
5) A scientific calculator (graphing calculator is ok but not necessary). Cell phones, PDAs, and laptops will not be allowed during exams or quizzes.
6) An activated Purdue University Computing Center career account.
7) Access to Mixable through your Purdue account (see note later in syllabus).
8) 3 inch x 5 inch index cards for quiz “cheat sheets.”
9) iClicker (Either 1st or 2nd generation is fine.) Our classroom frequency is ??. You will need to register your iClicker on the Blackboard Learn site.
Course components and grades:
Exam 1: 20%
Exam 2: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Perdisco Online HW: 12%
Recitation quizzes: 15%
Mixable discussion assignments: 8%
Class participation: 5%
Total 100%
This course will follow the 90-80-70-60 grading scale for A, B, C, D cut-offs. +/- grades will be given at instructor’s discretion below these cut-offs. If you earn a 90.000 in the class, for example, that is a solid A. If you earn an 89.11 in the class, for example, this may be an A- or a B+. Most likely there will not be a curve, but that will not be decided until all the grades are in for the whole semester. DO NOT COUNT ON A CURVE. There is no extra credit available. The “total” columns in Blackboard are not correct—Blackboard sets these up automatically and cannot be deleted. Blackboard wants all course components to count equally (one HW = one exam) even though we weight each course component according to the list above, so the instructor does grade calculations using Excel instead. You will be provided with a grade estimate after Exam 1, after Exam 2, and before the Final Exam.
Schedule:
The schedule for the course is posted on Blackboard. It is your responsibility to keep up with the schedule and not miss any deadlines. Late work will not be accepted.
Campus emergencies:
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Here are ways to get information about changes in this course: Blackboard or by e-mail from the course coordinator or your instructor. General information about a campus emergency can be found on the Purdue website: www.purdue.edu.
Illness and other Student Emergencies:
Students with extended illnesses should contact their instructor as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made for keeping up with the course. Extended absences/illnesses/emergencies should also go through the Office of the Dean of Students.
StatsPortal/Textbook:
You are expected to read your textbook for each chapter and to take advantage of the many helpful resources on StatsPortal. You can use the eBook (already within StatsPortal) or a paper copy of the book—the material is the same. StatsPortal is where you find the Excel manual, extra videos discussing the concepts, and the Learning Curve study tool, in addition to other great ways to learn the material.
Homework:
· Online homework is done through the Perdisco. You will need to purchase access online. See Blackboard for more instructions.
· Late homework cannot be accepted by the instructor. Homework is never excused.
· You have 2 attempts on each homework assignment, and your higher score counts.
· One HW score will be dropped at the end of the semester. If you were sick, had an emergency, had technical difficulties, etc. and missed a HW, this is the one which will be dropped. You do not get to drop an additional low HW score just because you have a good reason for missing one. We recommend you start the homework early in the week so that you can make the most of your two attempts.
· Computer difficulties are not a valid excuse for having late homework. It is your responsibility to start the homework early in the week so that you will have time to finish it even if computer difficulties arise. If there is a problem with the Perdisco system, immediately contact technical support (e-mail ).
· If you have questions about the homework, you can visit the help room or e-mail screen shots and all the steps for your work to your TA. Allow 24 hours for your TA. to reply (not including weekends). Your instructor will not do your homework for you.
Exams:
· The exams will be closed book/closed notes exams. They are pencil-and-paper exams.
· The exams may contain multiple choice, matching, short answer, show-your-work, problem-solving, and reading comprehension questions.
· You will be allowed to bring pencils, a calculator, and ONE one-page cheat sheet (8 1/2" x 11", handwritten, both sides) to each exam. This one-page handwritten cheat sheet will be worth 1 point on the exam.
· Purdue IDs will be checked at all exams.
· It is up to you to put any formulas on your cheat sheet. No formula sheet will be given.
· Exam 1 and Exam 2 will last exactly one hour, and the Final Exam will last two hours.
· All STAT 113 students in the Lafayette area (including traditional, hybrid, and online sections) will take the exam together at the same time. See the Blackboard site for the seating chart.
Make-up Exams:
· Valid reasons for missing an exam include university documented absence, illness, and/or a death in your family. Work is not a valid excuse. Forgetting about an exam is not a valid excuse.
· If you must miss an exam due to a class conflict or school trip, you need to print off a “Make-up Exam Form” from Blackboard, complete the form, and turn it in to your lecturer at least a week in advance with appropriate documentation included with the make-up exam form.
· If you are missing the exam due to an emergency, you must e-mail your lecturer and your T.A. with details of your situation and the information requested on the Make-up Exam Form from the course website no later than 9 am the day after the scheduled exam.
· Your lecturer will need to approve your documentation (university or doctor’s note, obituary, etc.) before your exam grade will be recorded.
· Failure to meet these deadlines may result in a score of 0 points for the exam.
· We make every effort to accommodate student schedules while also protecting the integrity and security of the exam. The make-up exam time will be chosen based on the schedules turned in to us by the students sometime early in the week of the exam. If you turn in your form after the exam has been scheduled, then you will have to adjust your schedule to the time that has already been chosen. Usually only one make-up exam time will be scheduled following each regular exam.
Quizzes:
· On most Mondays, you will have a quiz in recitation. See the schedule for details.
· The quiz will last 10 minutes, and it can be given at the beginning, middle, or end of class. You are expected to attend and participate in the entire recitation regardless of when the quiz is given.
· Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped, whether it is a 0, an excused absence, or just a low score. Only one quiz score will be dropped, regardless of reason.
· You are allowed to bring a 3 inch x 5 inch index card “cheat sheet” with anything you want written on it as long as it is handwritten in your handwriting. No photocopying, faxing, electronic printing, or using a friend’s cheat sheet, etc. You can use both sides of the card. Your name must also be on the card, and you will turn it in with your quiz. It will be returned to you with your graded quiz. The cheat sheet will be worth 1 point (out of 20 total possible points) on each quiz.
· It is up to you to put any formulas on your cheat sheet. No formula sheet will be given.
· Twice during the semester you will have a project presentation instead of a quiz.
Mixable:
You can read more about Mixable here: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2010/100928BowenMixable.html
You will have formal discussion assignments you are required to post on Mixable. See the Mixable handout on Blackboard for specifics of this assignment and how to use the system.
Traditional students need to make sure all Mixable posts go in the RECITATION section site, not in the lecture section (numbered 002). Posts in the lecture section will not be graded.
Class participation:
Class participation points will come from a variety of activities, including:
· iClicker questions in lecture.
· Syllabus quiz in Blackboard.
· Official course evaluation proof at end of the semester.
In the Tuesday/Thursday large lectures, iClickers will be used (starting the 2nd week of classes). Each iClicker question is worth 2 points: 1 point for answering anything and an additional point for giving the correct answer. There may be one, several, or no iClicker questions on a particular day.
· If you get at least 80% of the class participation points, you will receive full credit for the class participation. Earning less than 80% of the class participation points will be scaled downward appropriately.
· There is no need to make excuses for lost iClickers, dead batteries, illness, oversleeping, etc. since you are only required to get 80% of the possible class participation points to receive full credit.
· Any student seen with more than one iClicker in his/her possession will receive an automatic 0 for class participation for the semester.
· Register your iClicker on the Blackboard Learn site at the beginning of the semester.
Use of technology during class:
Use of laptops, cell phones, iPods, iPads, etc. is prohibited in lecture and recitation unless a medical condition (with documentation) requires you to use technological adaptations. The only technological devices students are allowed to use in class are calculators (of the type that could be used at the exams—not communication devices) and iClickers. We want your full attention during class, and using the internet or texting during class is distracting to you, your instructor, and to all of the students around you. Using technology during class can warrant penalties ranging from public embarrassment to receiving a 0 for class participation or even being turned in to the Dean of Students (for repeated offenses).
Special needs:
If you have been certified by the Office of the Dean of Students as someone needing a course adaptation or accommodation because of a disability OR if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please contact your instructor during the first week of classes. You will need to fill out the Academic Accommodations form found on Blackboard. If you have a letter from ODOS stating that you may have extra time on the exams/quizzes or use the testing center, you will also need to e-mail the instructor at least a week in advance of each exam with information about your testing appointment in the DRC testing center for on-campus students. Off-campus students will also need to show their letter to their proctors in order to get the additional time or special testing conditions.
Grades on Blackboard:
It is your responsibility to make sure the grades recorded on Blackboard are correct. You should also let your lecturer know if you think something was graded incorrectly. However, all of this should be done in a timely manner. (You shouldn’t wait until finals week to let us know that you need more points on HW #1. Any grades earned before Exam 1 should be checked before Exam 1, etc.) All grades in Blackboard (other than the final exam) should be finalized by the end of Dead Week. You should keep all of your graded papers from this course until after the grades come out at the end of the semester in case you have a dispute.