Course Syllabus
Economics 3818-300
Introduction to Statistics with Computer
Application
Fall
2003
Randall Walsh, Assistant
Professor
Economics 11
Voice: (303) 492-4599
Email: mailto:%20nicholas.flores@colorado.edu
Lecture Location: MCOL
E155
Meeting Times: M-W-F 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. plus assigned
recitation.
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.; Friday 10:30 - 11:30
a.m.; and by appointment
Jason Green, Teaching
Assistant
Office:
Email: jasong@ucsub.colorado.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Recitation Locations:
311, Tuesday 9 - 9:50 a.m., Clare Small 209
312, Wednesday 2:00 - 2:50
p.m., Hellems 245
Textbooks: The Basic
Practice of Statistics, David S. Moore
Excel Manual for Moore's Basic
Practice of Statistics, Fred M. Hoppe
TI-83 Graphing Calculator Guide
for Moore's Basic Practice of Statistics, David K. Neal
Study Guide
for Moore's Basic Practice of Statistics, William I. Notz, Michael A.
Fligner, and Rebecca Sorice
Necessary Hardware and Software: Microsoft Excel will be used for much of the data analysis. The Excel manual listed under textbooks is highly recommended since it will lead you through the Excel applications for the course. Microsoft Excel is supported in all of the campus computer labs, including the lab in the basement of the Economics building. The manual is designed specifically for this course. In addition to using Excel, you will need a two variable graphing calculator that has functions for correlation, mean, standard deviation, and least squares regression line. This calculator will be necessary for in-class exercises as well as for tests. The TI-83 manual listed above leads you through course applications for the TI-83 graphing calculator. While you may use any two variable graphing calculator for the course, the availability of the manual makes the TI-83 an attractive choice.
Course Objectives
This course introduces statistical methods and their applications to a variety of problems, including economics and business. The course will provide an inductive treatment of statistical methods. Rather than focus on your memorizing formulas, a strong emphasis will be placed on the analysis of data which will require extensive use of Microsoft Excel on the computer and a graphing calculator in class. In order to succeed in the course, you will need to keep up with all of the work (readings, lecture, homework) because the concepts and techniques build on one another. Class and recitation attendance is mandatory (policy below).
Prerequisites
Course prerequisites are Economics 1000, or 2010 and 2020; and Economics 1078 and 1088 or equivalent. These prerequisites are strictly enforced.
Course Components
· Lecture: With help from you and your fellow students, we will try to make lectures an interactive experience. I will encourage participation by calling on you and hopefully you will at times desire to share your own insights and experiences.
· Class Exercises: Some topics lend themselves to in-class exercises as another way of learning. These exercises will sometimes involve the entire class and at other times involve smaller groups down to the individual level.
· In-class Quizzes: There will be weekly in-class quizzes (on Friday) that will help prepare you for exams.
· Homework: There will be mandatory homework assignments for each section. These assignments will be graded on a standard zero to one hundred point scale. Homework plays a prominent role in your success in the class.
· Midterms & Final: Two in-class midterms and a final will be given on the dates noted below. Make-up exams will not be possible for the midterms. If you have a legitimate and verifiable excuse, test weighting can be adjusted. Otherwise missing a midterm will result in a zero for the midterm that was missed. The final is mandatory. Failing to write the final will result in an F regardless of the average coming into the final.
Evaluative Criteria
Homework
15%
In-class Quizzes 15%
Midterm
I
20%
Midterm
II
20%
Final
30%
Important Dates
August 25, Classes Begin
September 1, Labor Day
October 2-3, Fall Break
November 27-28
Thanksgiving Break
December 11, Last Day of Classes
December 17
(Wednesday), Final Exam 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Attendance Requirement
Daily attendance will be taken in both class and recitation beginning the second class meeting and the first recitation. In order to receive a passing grade in the course, you must attend a minimum of 80% of the lectures and 80% of the recitations. A sign-in sheet will be circulated during each class and recitation meeting. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have signed in by the end of class and recitation.
Special Accommodations Policy
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Services Office in Willard 322 (phone 303-492-8671).
Policy Regarding Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonestly will not be tolerated. Breaches of this policy will result in a course grade of F and a reporting of the incident to academic affairs.
Course Assignments and Announcements (link)