Text(s)/Materials:

Moore, David S. 1997. The Active Practice of Statistics. New York. Freeman.

Course Description:

Data Analysis is a one semester math elective designed to introduce students to the underlying concepts of statistics. It is not intended to take the place of a university level statistics course. Rather, its intent is to increase the students' ability to deal with their world in a quantitatively meaningful way and to enable them to organize and extract information from the data they encounter.

The course has begun with a study of descriptive statistics involving work with measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, standardized variables, and graphical representation of data. The course will next focus on the study of probability and how it relates to several different types of discrete and continuous distributions. The semester will conclude with work on inferential statistics including experimentation, sampling, and tests of significance.

Teaching and Learning Methodology and Philosophy:

It is frequently the case in a university setting that students learn statistics as a series of formulae to be used in specific situations. The goal of the Data Analysis course at IMSA is to encourage students to develop an understanding and appreciation of statistical reasoning rather than a mastery of statistical topics.

Student Expectations:

Students will be asked to complete individual and small group assignments designed to develop both the basic skills and conceptual understanding needed to perform the effective analysis of data. In addition, students will be expected to read and complete assigned problems from the basic text as well as supplemental textual materials.

Each student will participate in and present 3-4 projects which will apply the skills and concepts learned. Students are encouraged to choose data from areas of their own special interest and to link it, wherever possible, to work they are doing in other courses. They will be responsible for ongoing self-evaluation of their learning as demonstrated by a reflective evaluation of each project.

Students will be required to keep a journal in which they must make two entries per cycle.

Assessment Practices, Procedures, and Processes:

It is assumed that because students have elected to take this course, they will exhibit a reasonable degree of enthusiasm and effort in its completion. Grades will be determined by the level and quality of class participation as well as the assignments and projects described. One-third of the grade will be based on assignments and class participation, one-third on projects, and one-third on an examination given at the end of each quarter.

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