Mount
Saint Mary College
Newburgh, NY 12550
Division of Mathematics and Computer Science
MTH 207 - Elementary Statistics
Dr. J. Bready
Course Description:
This
course introduces the student to the fundamental concepts of Elementary Statistics,
including mean, variance and standard deviation, graphical representation of
data, distributions, probability, statistical estimation and hypothesis testing.
Students will be using SPSS, a statistical software package for the social sciences,
and will have access to the software in the computer lab.
Pre-requisites:
Algebra
Required text: Kendrick, J. R., Social
Statistics: An introduction using SPSS for Windows 2nd Edition, Mayfield Publishing,
2005.
Additional requirements: any scientific calculator (graphing calculator OK), 3.5" disk, CD, or memory stick
Course Objectives: At
the conclusion of this course, the student will:
* Understand the uses
and abuses of statistics
* Understand
methods of descriptive statistics, apply them appropriately for data analysis,
and interpret results
* Use
appropriate methods of hypothesis testing and interpret results
* Using
SPSS to create and analyze data sets developed during the semester
Course requirements,
penalties for late submissions, and absences:
Homework: 15% (one HW grade will be dropped)
Quizzes (3): 15%
Project: 25%
Paper: 5%
Tests (3): 40%
Students are expected to read each chapter.
This textbook has three types of problems: Skills Practices, General Exercises,
and SPSS Exercises. The answers to the Skills Practices are at the end of each
chapter. These problems will not be assigned for HW, but students are recommended
to use these problems for additional practice.Some homework
problems will be collected and graded. Occasional late homework will
be accepted, but it must be handed in BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS that it is due.
Attendance will be taken daily. Excessive absences can
be detrimental to the final grade. Make-ups will only be given for excused absences;
please plan accordingly.
Project: Students
will begin this project by distributing a survey to Mount Saint Mary College
students. Each student will enter his/her surveys into SPSS, and then all surveys
from both sections will be put into one data set, which each student will later
analyze. To analyze the data, students will use SPSS to answer a specific set
of questions. The results will then be written in a final paper that will be
approximately five pages in length, with additional pages for graphs. Although
some time will be given to work on this in the computer lab, the majority of
this paper will be completed in the computer lab outside of class. More details
will be given at a later date. This project will be due approximately one-two
weeks before the end of the semester. To see the outline for a previous project click here.
Paper: Students will read an article from Statistics: A Guide to the Unknown and write a reflection paper. Students must choose an article related to their discipline (major). Two copies of the book are on reserve in the library. The paper should include a summary (including citations), discuss the relevant statistics, and your reaction. Be honest in your reaction: if there were parts that you did not understand, discuss this. Some articles have more advanced statistics than others and some explain the statistics better than others. On the first page you should tell me what your major is and the title of the article, and you should have a bibliography at the end for the article you read. Papers should be at most 5 pages.
Grading Scale:
93-100 A
88-92 A-
85-87 B+
82-84 B
78-81 B-
75-77 C+
72-74 C
68-71 C-
65-67 D+
60-64 D
Below 60 F