Welcome to Math 209
Office Hours: Monday 3:05-4:00, Tuesday 1:15-2:00, Wednesday and
Friday 9:00-9:50, or by appointment.
The best way to contact me is to call /stop by during
office hours or to send me an email. I will typically respond to any
email within 24 hours.
Text: Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, 4th edition, by David
Moore and George McCabe
Goals: As our textbook defines it: "Statistics is the science of
collecting, organizing, and interpreting data." It's our mission
to learn the fundamentals of this science, at a practical level. Notice
that our textbook uses the phrase, "practice of statistics."
Specifically, I have these student goals in mind for the course:
• Students will appreciate the usefulness of obtaining and analyzing
data for making decisions and advancing knowledge. (Decisions through
data)
• Students will understand the "big picture" description
of what statistics is and be able to identify the components of the
big picture in specific instances of statistical work. (The Big Picture)
• Students will understand the importance of data collection and
be able to critique the quality of studies based upon issues of data
collection. (Data quality)
• Students will appreciate the prevalence of statistics in the
advancement of knowledge and will be able to intelligently discuss media
reports about studies that involve statistical issues. (Statistics in
the media)
• Students will be able to apply basic data analytical techniques
to uncover patterns and truths within data sets, and will understand
the primary importance of graphing the data. (Data analysis)
• Students will be able to apply the basic techniques of statistical
inference to data, to interpret the results of a statistical analysis
using the concepts of confidence intervals or tests of significance,
and to assess when particular inferential procedures are appropriate.
(Statistical inference)
• Students will be able to communicate the results of statistical
analyses or quantitative findings in writing and speaking. (Communication)