Purpose: to learn the basics of analyzing data

This course is the first in a two-part sequence that teaches the basics of Statistics. During the first quarter, we examine some basic concepts: variation, valid comparisons, inference. We will emphasize techniques to discover patterns in data and to communicate patterns in data. Inescapably, we will find that mathematical (probabilistic) models can assist us, although they are not always necessary.

Required Text: Statistics: Making Sense of Data, William Stout, John Marden, Kenneth Travers, Mobius Communications, Ltd.

Recommended "Text": ActivStats, Paul Velleman, Addison Wesley.

Recommended Software: DataDesk student version. (This comes bundled with ActivStats.)

The text will be supplemented by handouts in class. These handouts should be considered required reading. Both ActivStats and DataDesk will be available in the 9^th floor, Boelter Hall, Statistics lab. Although DataDesk is the "student version", it is a fairly powerful and useful package, and you should find it to be a useful tool in the future, as well as in this class. For this reason, I recommend purchasing it if you have your own computer. However, you are welcome to use any statistical software package available to you, as long as it gets the job done.

Homework:

Homework will be collected every Friday in class. Late homeworks are not accepted and are given a grade of 0. Homework is late if it is turned in more than 10 minutes after the end of class on Friday. Homework counts for 10% of your grade. Your lowest homework score will be dropped.

Homework should be written out neatly and should give full explanations. The correct answer is never sufficient without the proper justification. You are welcome to work on your homework with a partner or in a small group, but the explanations given must be your own. Copying others' solutions is not acceptable.

If you have complaints about the grading of the homework, please discuss them with the TA. If you are unable to resolve your problem after meeting with the TA, feel free to discuss them with me.

The homework will consist of both problems assigned from the book, and on many occasions, special problems assigned on the computer. The problems can be grouped, roughly speaking, into three categories.

1) The simplest problems are probably those designed to develop a particular technical skill. For example, making a histogram, or finding the median.

2) Slightly more difficult are those that are designed to teach a concept or develop some intuition. Many of the simulation problems belong in this category. They are time consuming, but spending the time will pay off later.

3) The hardest will most likely be those designed to teach you how to use the concepts and technical skills. These will be open-ended problems, sometimes with no "right" answer. But these should also be the most fun; they will typically be data analysis problems, in which you are given a data set and asked a question about whatever is being studied by the researchers who collected the data.

Each problem will be graded a 0 (not done or poor attemp), 1 (good attempt, but mistakes), or 2 (correct answer, good and clear explanation.) If the problems take too much time for the reader, we might select some at random from each assignment and base the grade on those problems. Weíll keep you informed of any changes to the grading procedure.

Examinations

There will be a quiz given on every Friday except the first week. These will be brief quizzes on material covered in the previous week's homework and lecture.

There will be two midterms: Friday, November 5 and Friday, December 3.

The final exam is on Thursday, December 16, 3-6pm. Please do not leave town before this date. I will not make arrangements to give the exam at other times.

Grading

There are two schemes available. You don't have to choose; I'll choose the one that gives you the highest score:

1) Homework (10%), Quizzes (20%), Midterms (20% each), Final (30%)

2) Homework (10%), Quizzes(15%), Midterms (15% each) Final (45%)

Your grade will be determined relative to the other students in the class, which means I can't tell you ahead of time what it is. Once a final score is calculated, the median score will be worth a grade of a B.

Things to Keep In Mind

1) Check the homepage for info: http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~rgould/110af99 and follow the links from there to our class. Look under "announcements" for any late-breaking news that might affect homework or labs.

2) I want to meet and talk to each of you at least once. It's easier for me to determine the pace and content of the class if I receive feedback from you. Don't hesitate to visit during office hours or make an appointment. I might be pressed for time on any given day, but I will make time for you as often as I can.

3) Don't fall behind!! Easier said then done, but the nature of this course is that the content is very cumulative. If you don't understand what we're doing this week, you will have an even harder time the next week. Ask questions NOW! The week before the midterm it will be too late.

Contact Info:

My office hours are Mondays and Thursdays at 2. But I'm also available by appointment. To make an appointment, just send me email and suggest some times. If it sometimes seems difficult to make an appointment, just be patient. We all have very hectic schedules, and it can sometimes be difficult to find a time that we are both available. If you have a very quick question, please feel free to just drop by, but if I'm under some sort of deadline pressure, I might have to defer even quick questions until later.

My office is in MS 6151, which is in the North-East side of the building. The phone number is 310-206-3381, and my email is rgould@stat.ucla.edu.