Chapters 1 & 2:
The Role of Statistics &
The
Data Analysis Process and Collecting Data Sensibly
Key Terms and Concepts
| Descriptive statistics | Numerical, graphical, and tabular methods for organizing and summarizing data. |
| Inferential statistics | Methods for generalizing from a sample to the population from which the sample was selected. |
| Population | The entire collection of individuals or measurements about which information is desired. |
| Sample | A part of the population selected for study. |
| Categorical data | Individual observations are categorical responses (non-numerical). |
| Numerical data | Individual observations are numerical in nature. |
| Discrete numerical data | Possible values are isolated points along a number line. |
| Continuous numerical data | Possible values form an entire interval along the number line. |
| Bivariate and multivariate data | Each observation consists of two (bivariate) or more (multivariate) responses or values. |
| Observational study | A study that observes characteristics of an existing population. |
| Simple random sample of size n | A sample selected in a way that gives every different sample of size n an equal chance of being selected. |
| Stratified sampling | Dividing a population into subgroups (strata) and then taking independent random samples from each stratum. |
| Confounding variable | A variable that is related to both group membership and to the response variable. |
| Measurement or response bias | The tendency for a sample to differ from the population because the method of observation tends to produce values that differ from the true value. |
| Selection bias | The tendency for a sample to differ from the population due to systematic exclusion of some part of the population. |
| Nonresponse bias | The tendency for a sample to differ from the population because measurements are not obtained from all individuals selected for inclusion in the sample. |
| Experiment | A procedure for investigating the effect of an experimental condition (which is manipulated by the experimenter) on a response variable. |
| Extraneous factor | A variable that is not of interest in the current study but is thought to affect the response variable. |
| Direct Control | Holding extraneous factors constant so that their effects are not confounded with those of the experimental conditions. |
| Blocking | Using extraneous factors to create experimental groups that are similar with respect to those factors, thereby filtering out their effect. |
| Randomization | Random assignment to experimental conditions. |
| Replication | Ensuring that there is an adequate number of observations on each experimental treatment. |
| Placebo treatment | A treatment that resembles the other treatments in an experiment, but which has no active ingredients. |
| Control group | A group that receives no treatment or a placebo treatment. |
Notes from Mrs. Caso
These two chapters are an introduction to the basic concepts of statistics and conducting statistical studies. I expect you to gain the ability to identify and define different types of statistics, experiments, and sampling methods. You will also be expected to apply these concepts.
Planning a study is a major area on the AP Exam in the spring. So, here is an additional resource on that topic: Producing Data
In the timeline below (and for later chapters) I am going to mark any assignment to be done using MINITAB in bright purple. Any in the regular color should be done by hand or with a calculator. Videos to be viewed in class will be marked in Gold.
Since some test questions may be taken directly from the videos, you may want to view them online if you miss a day of class when a video is shown. The gold labels in the schedules are also links to the online copies of the videos. They are streaming media (video on demand) and may require a plug-in the first time you view one. To log into the site use the email address: guest@leeca.org and the password I gave you for the downloads page. You can save the login when the computer asks you if you want to save it.
Interactive Materials
ASA
Series: What is a Survey?Schedule
| Timeline: | 9 days | |
| Day 1: 08/29/11 (short day) |
Course introduction with distribution of texts and syllabi. | |
| Day 2: 08/30/11 (short day) |
Review of the class website. |
Against All Odds: Unit 1 (see note above for login information) |
| Day 3: 08/31/11 |
Discussion: Sections 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3 and Exercises 1.1 - 1.7 | Discussion: Ethics in Statistics |
| Day 4: 09/01/11 |
Discussion: Sections 2.1, 2.2, & 2.3 and Exercises 2.1 - 2.9 | Discussion: Producing Data |
| Day 5: 09/02/11 |
Discussion: Producing Data (continued) | MINITAB Lab: 2-2 |
| Day 6: 09/06/11 |
Discussion: Section 2.4 and Exercises 2.10, 2.13, 2.14, 2.16, & 2.21 | |
| Day 7: 09/07/11 |
Discussion: Section 2.5 and Exercises 2.24, 2.25, 2.27, 2.28, & 2.30 | |
| Day 8: 09/08/11 |
Discussion: Exercises 2.33,
2.34, 2.35, 2.36, 2.37, 2.38, 2.39, & 2.40 |
|
| Day 9: 09/09/11 |
Chapters 1 & 2 Test | |