S&DS103

 

Introduction to Statistics

Tues / Thurs 11:30 - 12:45 

Burke Auditorium, Kroon Hall, 190 Prospect Street

 

SYLLABUS Fall 2018

 

Trying to decide if this class if for you? Click HERE to see some sample lectures of what we'll cover!

 

 

 

 

 

The Instructor :

 

Jonathan Reuning-Scherer Email : jonathan.reuning-scherer@yale.edu (best way to reach me)      Phone : (860) 906-8197 (cell / text) Two Office Locations : 205 Prospect Street, Office 3c (Sage Hall first floor) 24 Hillhouse Ave, first floor (Stat Department) Office Hours – You are encouraged to come and talk to me about class questions and about general statistics questions.  GET HELP SOON AND OFTEN! Please sign up for a time by clicking here- that way you won't be waiting around needlessly.  If you don’t sign up for a time, I may not be there. Additional times added later in the semester. §        Monday : 9 am-12 pm (Center for Teaching Learning - CTL), 1:30-2:30 (SAGE HALL), §        Tuesday : 10-11am (SAGE HALL) §        Thursday : 9-10 am (SAGE HALL) Open Q&A with JDRS - Starting September 11! Mondays : 2:30-3:30pm Kroon 321 (205 Prospect St) Thursdays : 10-11am in Bowers Aud (205 Prospect St)

 

The TA(’s) :  These people are super helpful so use them!

 

Laura Small : laura.small@yale.edu   Office Hours : Mondays, 5-6:30pm Wednesdays, 7:30-9pm in the CSSSI STATLAB (219 Prospect St, Kline Biology LL)		Diego Many Gutierrez : diego.manya@yale.edu   Office Hours : Wednesdays, 1-4pm in the CSSSI STATLAB (219 Prospect St, Kline Biology LL)
Henry Glick : henry.glick@yale.edu   Office Hours : Flipped Class		Annie Stoeth : annie.stoeth@yale.edu   Office Hours : Tuesdays, 5-8pm in the CSSSI STATLAB (219 Prospect St, Kline Biology LL)

The Goals :

 

Our aim is to understand basic statistical techniques by looking at examples in a variety of natural and social sciences.  We will also briefly examine some more advanced statistical techniques that are dealt with more fully in other Yale Statistics classes (i.e. regression, ANOVA, logistic regression).   Data examples may include :

·         Comparison of root stimulant treatments on different oak species

·         Analysis of time to dissipation of pesticides in soils

·         Comparison of soil core samples on marshland near industrial parks

·         Differences in attitudes of students in New Haven school students before and after environmental education

·         Data provided by you -  This is your chance to have a real statistician analyze your data for free!

 

The Books and Software:  

 

 

You will need in-class access to the online notes which will be published in three batches. Files are on CANVAS under resources and also availalbe via links below :

• Most students print out the four-per-page version of notes, double sided and bring to class to add comments. . Click HERE for the document for FIRST third of semester.
• If you'd like a larger print version, you may want to print out the two-per-page document and bring to class. Click HERE for document for FIRST third of semester.
• Some students simply use the PDF file on their iPad/Laptop and add comments electronically. Use the ONE PER PAGE pdf file for FIRST third of semester.

 

Technically, there are no required textbooks for this class. However, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND purchasing ONE of the the main course texts (or some other recent intro stats textbook (I'm happy to check it out if you like)).  Clicking on the pictures will get you to AMAZON to purchase this book.

If you want to save some money, get a used book or get an older edition!

 

SOFTWARE : Use of some software package is necessary.

• MINITAB is the main package discussed
• SPSS will all be discussed, available for rental for $42 for 6 months from link below. This DOES work on Macs.
• You are welcome to use R, JMP, SAS, STATA. R CODE PROVIDED HERE
• I STRONGLY discourage you from using Excel. It's basically impossible to use for this class

 

OpenStax College : Statistics. This is a good way to go - a free, downloadable ebook. Covers most of the material we will cover, clear examples. Doesn't discuss MINITAB, order is somewhat different than we will use. Noted on schedule as OCS. Download HERE
OpenIntro Statistics. Another good free PDF stat book. Again, no MINITAB, not as glossy as a traditional stat book. On the other hand, good explanations, and it's FREE. You can also order a hard copy on AMAZON for about $10.. Download HERE
De Veaux, Velleman, and Bock : Stats : Data and Models, 4th edition. A comprehensive, good, sturdy, statistics book. Easy reading, good examples, seems clear to me.  Noted in schedule as SDM.  I'd suggest getting 2nd or 3rd edition used for about 15$ on AMAZON.
Moore and McCabe and Craig,  Introduction to the Practice of Statistics,8th edition (earlier editions are totally fine and much cheaper!)  A comprehensive, good, sturdy, statistics book.  Recently updated to have better examples and some nice material on the accompanying CD or now online. Noted in schedule as M&M. Get 7th edition used for about $25 on AMAZON.
Triola and Triola : Biostatistics.  I LIKE this book!  Realistic, humorous, GREAT examples, well written.   Obvious slant toward biological sciences. Bit older now, but fine (2005)
Gonick and Smith : The Cartoon Guide to Statistics.  A humorous, non-threatening, and almost entirely accurate introduction to probability and statistics.  I’ll point out relevant parallel passages in M&M and The Cartoon Guide.  On reserve in the library.  Noted in Syllabus as CG.
MINITAB : The main software package discussed in this course is MINITAB, version 17. MINITAB is available at the STATLAB (140 and 125 Prospect Street) and is also available on all cluster computers around campus (in dorms, etc) and on FES lab computers. You can download MINITAB for FREE from http://software.yale.edu for use on your personal computer. This runs ONLY under windows, which means that you have to have a windows partition to run on a MAC (see FES IT folks)!
SPSS 24 : Another good software choice is SPSS, whicht DOES work natively on Macintosh. Available for rental for 6 months from on-the-hub for $45 (get the IBM® SPSS® Statistics Base GradPack 24 for Mac (06-Mo Rental) ) . Works on Macs or Windows systems. Also available on STATLAB computers AND on FES lab computers where you can use it for FREE!
R 3.4.1 is available on computers at the STATLAB / CSSSI. You can get R for your computers for FREE by downloading online. Click here.  Available for Windows, Macintosh, Linux.  A great program, but pretty challenging to learn. Some online intros are available : http://www.r-project.org/ and search for Contributed Documentation. See resources folder on this site for some R intros. R CODE PROVIDED HERE

 

 

OPTIONAL Introduction to MINITAB sessions are offered Sept 5 4:00pm or 4:40pm, or Sept 7, 9am, 9:40am, 10:20am. All in CSSSI STATLAB Classroom

 

Introductions to MINITAB, SPSS, R available on CANVAS in the FILES folder under SOFTWARE INTROS

 

 

The Decision : is this course for you?

This course is for you if

•     You've never had statistics and would like to learn some
•     You have an interest in one of the subject areas listed above
•     You don't want to see too many proofs and you don't like calculus with your statistics
•     You want to be able to use statistics on your data AND you want to understand (and question) other's use of statistics 

This course is probably not for you if

•     You've had AP statistics
•     You like proofs and calculus
•     You don't intend on keeping up - we move very quickly!

If you like calculus with your statistics, check out S&DS 241/242, a year-long probability/statistics intro with calculus

If you've had AP stats and want a good follow-up course, check out S&DS 238a, Intro Stats for Scientists, or S&DS 230, Data Analysis..

If you can't take this class, check out S&DS 100b, another good intro course that's offered next semester

 

The Lectures : 

 

You will need in-class access to the online notes Most students print out the four-per-page version of notes, double sided and bring to class to add comments. 35 Double sided pages, about $5 to print out through Yale Print Services. Click HERE for the document for FIRST third of semester. If you'd like a larger print version, you may want to print out the two-per-page document and bring to class. Click HERE for document for FIRST third of semester. Some students simply use the PDF file on their iPad/Laptop and add comments electronically. Use the ONE PER PAGE pdf file for FIRST third of semester.

The Videos :  As an aid to your learning, two types of video resources will be available:

• Video recordings of each lecture will be available. Click on 'Media Library' on the CANVAS FES 510 site.
• Videos used in the flipped stats course. Look for link on main FES510 page on CANVAS

 

 

The Requirements : 

 

Homework :   Assigned and due weekly (8 assignments total).  Homework is VERY important (for you, not me) - you just have to get your hands dirty to understand statistics.  Working together is encouraged.  Copying is not.  You must turn in your own solutions to each problem set.  I’m generally a pretty easy going guy : however,  homework is due on the date specified, no exceptions. 

 

Get Help from TA's during office hours, from JDRS during office hours or open sessions

Each week, there is a homework solution session right after class – Thursdays from 1-2pm in Kroon G01.  The problems will be worked out in detail at this session.  These are also excellent opportunities to ask general questions and increase your understanding.

 

Exams :     Two exams : each is a three-hour, take home, open note exam.  See schedule for times.

            Project :    See below 

 

Quizzes : After about 2/3 of classes, there is an online quiz of 10 questions for you to take on CANVAS. Canvas should let you know when these are due. You can take the quiz three times, and you'll see the correct answers each time. The point of the quizzes is to help you make sure you understand key topics. YOU SHOULD COMPLETE THESE WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF FINISHING A TOPIC.

Class participation : We will make regular use of Turning Point class participation software. This will be an AP you can use on your laptop or smart device. More on this shortly.

   

The Grades : Your grade will be calculated by whichever method gives the higher score.

Method A      Homework       35%    Midterms         15% each    Project             28%    Participation      2%    Quizzes             5%        Method B      Homework       25%    Midterms         15% each    Project             38%    Participation     2%    Quizzes            5%   All Grades are posted online so you can check our record keeping - click on GRADES at left.

         The Bottom Line : Do the work, learn statistics, forget the grade.

 

 

The Project:

 

·         You can choose a data set that you are working on in another class or any data set you find interesting.  Yale has EXCELLENT resources to help you find datasets. For FES, check out http://guides.library.yale.edu/FESalumni/data put together by the FES librarian Carla Hester.   Yale in fact has a data librarian, Michelle Hudson - her datasite is here : http://guides.library.yale.edu/c.php?g=295812&p=1972501, If you are totally stumped, try http://lib.stat.cmu.edu.  Also, see http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/index-medium.html  for social science data (must be accessed through Yale portal).

·         You can also check with me about data sets from other students.

·         You can also collect your own survey - I can make it a requirement for class folks to fill it out - see www.surveymonkey.com

·         If possible, work in groups (2-4 people is good).  It will be easier and more rewarding for you and me!

·         In the RESOURCES folder on the classes server under PROJECTS you can find more detailed instructions AND examples of good past projects.

·         I am happy to look over drafts of your project with you before your final submission.

·         Projects are due by Tuesday, December 20, midnight!

·         Please submit a copy of your data with your project (unless dataset is exceptionally large).  

·         Projects should be submitted electronically to jdrs@aya.yale.edu.  If possible, please submit as an MS WORD document (not PDF file) : this allows me to type in comments and email back to you.

 

As you work on this project, I expect you will regularly pester myself and TA’s.

 

 

The Experience of past students

 

Last year : 

•     50 people checked out the class, 40 completed

•     1 (2%) wished they had taken the version with proofs and calculus

•     100% of people who came to a weekly help session found it very helpful.  However, only 20 (50%) actually came

•     The most common unsolicited comment was that students wished they hadn't fallen behind

•     The second most common unsolicited comment was that students wished they had gotten help sooner

•      2 (4%) thought my humor was corny and painful

 

 

The Schedule

 

 

 

The End