STAT 103 Spring 2013
JOHN FELICE ROME CENTER, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
COURSE CODE: "STAT 103"
COURSE NAME: "FUNDAMENTALS OF STATISTICS"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2013
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR: Gatto Renato, rgatto1@luc.edu
HOURS: TTH 15:40-16:55
UNITS: 3.00
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: TTH 18:15-19:15 by appointment
COURSE AIMS:
An introduction to statistical reasoning. Students learn how statistics has helped to
solve major problems in economics, education, genetics, medicine,
physics, political science, and psychology.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Topics include: design of experiments, descriptive statistics, mean and standard
deviation, the normal distribution, correlation and regression, sampling,
estimation, and testing of hypothesis.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Represent and interpret quantitative information symbolically, graphically,
numerically, verbally, and in written form.
2. Recognize the limitations of mathematical and statistical models.
3. Develop an understanding of the nature of history of mathematics, its role
in scientific inquiry and technological progress, and its importance in dealing
with issues in the public realm.
4. Develop an understanding of the rudiments of statistics, including sampling and hypothesis testing, and the uses of statistical reasoning in everyday life.
TEXTBOOK:
“Statistics”, Freeman, Pisani, Purves, 4th Edition, ISBN 13 978-0-393-92972-0
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
There will be 2 exams each carrying 20% of the final grade, a final examination (comprehensive) worth 40%, and homework worth 10%. The remaining 10% is associated with attendance and class participation:
2 Exams..................................................40%
Final Exam .............................................40%
Homework .............................................10%
Attendance and Class Participation .......10%
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The grade scale is as follows:
A: 90%-100% (The student demonstrates complete, accurate, and critical knowledge of all the topics, is able to make
appropriate connections among different parts of the subject matter, uses the appropriate language and terminology
correctly and rigorously and is autonomous in his study)
B: 80%-89% (The student has a somewhat accurate knowledge of the subject matter and uses clear logic in his/her
arguments)
C: 70%-79% (The student has the essential knowledge of the subject matter, understands the topics, and can express
it in a simple language)
D: 60%-69% (The student has a superficial, mnemonic knowledge of the subject matter, is uncertain and makes errors
in the presentations)
F: below 60% (At best, the students has a superficial knowledge of some of the topics discussed in the course. He
makes serious errors in the presentations).
Numerically, the final grade is computed as follows: G=0.20 E1 + 0.20 E2 + 0.4 F + 0.1 H + 0.1 A,
where G is the final grade, E1 the score in the first exam, E2 the score in the second exam, F the score in the final,
H the average score in the homework, and A is the score associated with attendance and class
participation. The conversion between numerical grade and letter grade is described by the following table:
A 100 - 93
A- 92 - 89
B+ 88 - 86
B 85 - 81
B- 80 - 78
C+ 77 - 75
C 74 - 71
C- 70 - 68
D+ 67 - 63
D 62 - 60
F 59 – 0
-ADDITIONAL CLASS POLICIES:
Cheating is not tolerated (please see the University Catalog for the policy regarding
academic dishonesty).
Coming late to class or leaving early will be possible only with permission of the instructor.
No make-up exams will be given.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance will contribute to the final grade. Full credit for attendance will be given to people
with two or fewer unexcused absences. Three or more absences will result with a proportional
reduction of the grade.
SCHEDULE
Week 1: INTRODUCTION (Ch. 1 and 2): a. Controlled experiments,
b. Observational studies.
Week 2: DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS (Ch. 3-6): a. Histograms, b. Average and
standard deviation.
Week 3: c. Normal approximation, d. Measurement error. EXAM 1.
Week 4: CHANCE VARIABILITY (Ch 16-18): a. Law of averages.
Week 5: b. Binomial formula
Week 6: c. Expected value and standard error, d. normal approximation for
probability histograms.
Week 7: SAMPLING (Ch. 19-21, 23): a. Sample surveys, b. Chance errors in
sampling.
Week 8. c. Accuracy of percentages.
Week 9: d. Accuracy of averages. EXAM 2. TEST OF SIGNIFICANCE (Ch. 26-27, 29):
a. Tests of significance.
Week 10: b. More tests for averages, c. A closer look at tests of significance.
Week 11: CORRELATION AND REGRESSION (Ch. 7-12): a. Plotting points
and lines, b. Correlation, c. More about correlation.
Week 12: d. Regression, e. R.M.S. Error for regression, f. Regression line.
FINAL EXAM.
