MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
Department of Mathematics
Rockville Campus
Fall 2012
Course Outline: MA 116, Elements of Statistics
Course Chairs: Dr. Paul Duty (240) 567-5381, SW 20
Dr. Mussa Abdulkadir (240) 567-5341, SW 130A
Textbook (packaged with MyStatLab): Statistics: The Art and Science of Learning from Data, 3rd Ed.
Authors: Alan Agresti and Christine Franklin
Publisher: Pearson
ISBN: 9780321729552
Note (2nd option): If students wish to use the E-book (packaged with MyStatLab), they may purchase a MyStatLab Student Access Code Card: ISBN: 9780321694645
Course Description:
This is an introductory non-calculus statistics course intended to serve a variety of students who need a working knowledge of statistics. Topics to be covered include descriptive analysis and treatment of data, probability and probability distributions, statistical inference, linear regression and correlation, chi-square, and some nonparametric statistics.
The following course outline allows time for four 50-minute tests (or three 1 hr 15 minute tests) in addition to the required two-hour final examination.
Chapter / Sections to be Covered / Suggested # of Weeks1 / Sections 1.1 – 1.3 / ½
2 / Sections 2.1 – 2.5 (You do not need to cover Section 2.6.) / 1
3 / Sections 3.1 – 3.4 / 1½
4 / Sections 4.1 – 4.3 (You do not need to cover Section 4.4.) / 1
5 / Sections 5.1 – 5.2 (You do not need to cover Sections 5.3 – 5.4.) / ½
6 / Sections 6.1 – 6.2 (You do not need to cover Section 6.3; For Section 6.1, you only need to cover "Probability Distributions of Continuous Random Variables" (pp. 271 - 272). ) / 1
7 / Sections 7.1 – 7.2 (You do not need to cover Section 7.3.) / ½
8 / Sections 8.1 – 8.4 (You do not need to cover Section 8.5.) / 1½
9 / Sections 9.1 – 9.5 (You do not need to cover Section 9.6.) / 2
10 / Sections 10.1 – 10.2, 10.4 (You do not need to cover Sections 10.3, 10.5; For Section 10.4, you only need to cover matched pairs test for comparing means.) / 1
11 / Sections 11.1 – 11.2 (You do not need to cover Sections 11.3 – 11.5.) / 1
15 / Section 15.1 (You do not need to cover Section 15.2.) / ½
TESTS AND REVIEW / 2
14
Important Information
· One of these calculators (TI-83, TI-83 PLUS, TI-84, TI-84 PLUS, or TI-89) is required for classroom use. Instructors should demonstrate using either an overhead unit or, if available, a Smart Station. If an instructor needs to borrow an overhead graphing calculator for classroom use, please contact the Math/Science Center (240-567-5200), Macklin Tower 02.
· More emphasis should be placed on conceptual understanding and less emphasis on computation. Students are not required to memorize formulas.
· We strongly encourage professors to assign MyStatLab on-line homework for their students and count this on-line homework a portion of their students' grades (5% - 10%). Paul Duty personally recommends that on-line homework count 10% of the grade.
· If you have any questions about MyStatLab, the MyStatLab technical support team is excellent and will be able to help answer all your questions. Here is their contact information (for instructors and students) and hours of operation:
MA 116 Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Use a variety of graphical and numeric tools to explore and summarize categorical and quantitative data, including linear models of associations between two quantitative variables.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance that random sampling and randomization play in producing data that allow one to draw conclusions about the underlying populations.
3. Use the results of the central limit theorems for sample proportions and sample means to predict the long-term patterns of variation of those statistics under repeated sampling based on an understanding of the normal distribution.
4. Calculate and interpret confidence interval estimates of population parameters (proportions and/or means).
5. Formulate and conduct tests of significance for population parameters (proportions and/or means) and interpret the results in the original context.
6. Understand that statistical procedures have specific requirements necessary for their application, and verify that the fulfillment of these requirements have been satisfied for the situation with which the student is dealing.
7. Use statistical software (computer or calculator based) to explore and analyze data; interpret the results produced by that software in context.
8. Express in clearly written form, and always in the context of the particular problem situation, the results of statistical investigations and analyses.
1