ResEcon212 Fall 2014 1

Resource Economics 212 Fall 2014: Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences
Integrated Learning Center S120


Instructor: Dr. Wayne-Roy Gayle
Office Hours: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00pm
Thursdays 4:00pm 5:30pm
Office Location: Stockbridge Hall 217A
Email: resecon212-wayneroy@courses.umass.edu


Teaching Assistants


Zach Berman Tyler Besse Devin Cooper
Justin Cowan Sam Dauphinais Tare Doubeni
Kelly Hellman Miller Catherine Howard Eric Koegler
Delbar Mamedzade Brendan Moore Alyssa Pillinger

Your TAs are your academic life-line; please get to know them! And,
PLEASE, treat them with respect in person and in emails.

Supportive Working Environment


Day Hours Location TAs on Duty
Sundays 6pm 9pm Stockbridge Hall 306 Tare Doubeni & Eric Koegler
Mondays 9am 11am Stockbridge Hall 306 Tyler Besse
Mondays 6pm 9pm Stockbridge Hall 306 Zach Berman & Sam Dauphinais
Tuesdays 6pm 9pm Stockbridge Hall 306 Devin Cooper & Eric Koegler
Wednesdays 9am 11am Stockbridge Hall 306 Tyler Besse
Wednesdays 6pm 9pm Stockbridge Hall 215 Zach Berman & Catherine/Kelly
Fridays 9am 11am Stockbridge Hall 215 Sam Dauphinais & Alyssa Pillinger



Email Policy



All material-related questions (ie- related to homework, in-class problems or clarification on
statistical concepts) should be posted on the public Moodle forums.


All administrative issues (grades, absences, etc.) should be sent to:
resecon212-wayneroy@courses.umass.edu
Inquires sent to this address are only seen by the instructor and TAs.

Please allow 48 hours for replies from the instructor and TAs.

ResEcon212 Fall 2014 2

Course Description

This is a blended class. Lectures will be posted online. Students will complete online homework and will then
attend a team based learning (TBL) section once a week where they will work in teams on exercises that reinforce
and apply the concepts from the online lectures and homework exercises. The online lectures and homework will
be completed before attending the TBL section.


Course Objective

Statistics is a field of study, or science, in which we make inferences about populations based on a sample of
data. There are two major fields in statistics: mathematical statistics deals with the theoretical underpinnings of
the subject and focuses on developing new statistical methods; applied statistics deals with the application of
statistical methods to solve problems in other fields of study. This course will focus on the application of
statistical methods to Social Sciences and Business. When you complete this course you will have a working
knowledge of the methods and skills needed to organize data, conduct meaningful analysis, and draw
inferences from sample about a population. Knowledge of statistics learned in this course allows you to
experience the world in a different light. The skills you will learn can be used in your everyday decision-making
and communication.

Our broad goal is that you become an active consumer of statistics and a practitioner of statistical analysis. To
accomplish this very broad goal, you will need to learn:

The meaning and appropriate uses of the two broad statistical methodologies: descriptive and inferential.
The meaning of statistics commonly found in the popular press and to appreciate the value that those
statistics provide to articles you read.
When statistics are used in a misleading manner and what statistic or statistics would be appropriate.
The construct of different data sets, the types of data included, and which data are appropriate to answer
research questions or support policy statements.
The development and use of appropriate descriptive statistics for both qualitative and quantitative data
analysis.
The proper interpretations for qualitative and quantitative data displays (graphs, charts, etc.).
The proper applications and interpretations of numeric summary statistics.
How to appropriately use sample data and statistics to make inferences about the properties or
characteristics of a population.
ResEcon212 Fall 2014 3




Required Materials

TEXTBOOK



- Edition 4 of Applied Statistics in Business & Economics
- Volume 1
- By Doane & Seward
- Publisher McGraw-Hill

Warning! Do not open your textbook seal until
you are certain you will take this class!




MOODLE

The following with be posted on Moodle on a weekly basis:
- Pre-TBL videos and content - Project components
- TBL class activities - Question/Answer forum
- Post-TBL analysis - Grades

All in-class work and some out-of-class assignments will be submitted on Moodle.

CONNECT

Connect is required for this course and used to complete weekly homework and quizzes. You will need to
register for Connect using a code that comes with the textbook you purchased or you can purchase one online
along with an online version of the textbook. If you are not sure you will stay in this class, Connect has an
option for a Courtesy Trial that you can register for free until add/drop. Please see the instructions for
registering for Connect posted on Moodle.

Some important information regarding Connect usage:
- You will need to register for and login to Connect using the link provided on the Moodle website.
- Use Connect on a Mac or PC. Do NOT use Connect with a tablet homework questions may not
appear as they are supposed to if you use a tablet.
- When using Connect you will need to allow pop-ups.
- If you have any issues with Connect you can diagnose the problem by clicking on Troubleshoot at
the very bottom right of the Connect website. If you cannot resolve the issue please contact McGraw-
Hill tech support using the information provided below:

Website at: http://mpss.mhhe.com/contact.php or call 800-331-5094. When you contact McGraw-Hill with
a question, please write down the case number they give you. If you have any questions you will be
responsible for following up with them to make sure that you complete the required homework
assignment on time.



ResEcon212 Fall 2014 4
STATISTICAL SOFTWARE

While our textbook uses both Excel and MINITAB, we use Microsoft Excel predominantly in this course.
For Mac users: Both Excel and MINITAB run on a Windows platform. It is possible to dual boot a Mac in order to
run such software. If you do not wish to do so, both the Excel and Minitab software packages are available at
any UMass PC lab.

CALCULATOR

For exams you must use a calculator, not a Cell Phone, a Palm, or a Pocket PC. You cannot bring any "text-
storing" devices to an exam; that includes cell phones. Most graphing calculators allow some text storage,
including the TIs, so you should buy the TI-30, or an equivalent one, for use at exams. Please note that you
cannot share calculators during exams.


Grading Policy


Out-of-class Work 30%
Connect HW 10%
Connect IRAT 10%
Post TBL Analysis 10%

In-Class Work 30%
GRAT 10%
Competency Activity 10%
Project Development 10%

Final Project 25%

Final Exam 15%


Minimum Grade Guarantee:

We abide by the following minimum grade cutoff points based on a percentage of the total points available:

A = 95, A- = 90, B+ = 85, B = 80, B- = 75, C+ = 70, C = 65, C- = 60, D+ = 55, D = 50, and F<50


Description of Grading Components

Out-of-Class Work:

Weekly homework assignments are on Moodle & Connect and are based on online material posted and TBL
session content. Your combined score from these weekly homework assignments will account for 30% of your
course grade. Late homework is not accepted without an acceptable University excused absence.*
ResEcon212 Fall 2014 5

Connect Homework
Weekly homework assignments are completed and submitted on Connect. These are based on the textbook and
designed to help you practice the material. You are welcome to work with your peers and consult your TAs and
instructor when working on the homework problems. Homework assignments must be completed 1 hour before
your weekly TBL session. You have unlimited number of tries, but only the highest grade will count towards each
homework grade. You may not see the same question on each trial or have the same questions as your peers.
Your combined homework score accounts for 10 percentage points of the 30 percentage points allocated to out-
of-class work. The 2 lowest homework grades are dropped.

BEGIN HOMEWORK EARLY! YOU WILL NOT BE EXCUSED FOR A TECHINCAL ISSUE.

Connect Individual Readiness Assessment Tests (IRAT)
Weekly IRATs are completed and submitted on Connect. THESE ARE TO BE COMPLETED ON YOUR OWN - YOU
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK WITH OTHER STUDENTS. The IRATs contain a number of questions based on the
videos and textbook to test your preparation for the weekly TBL session. IRATs must be completed 1 hour
before your weekly TBL session. You have two tries, but only the highest grade will count towards each IRAT
grade. You may not see the same question on each trial. Your combined IRAT score accounts for 10 percentage
points of the 30 percentage points allocated to out-of-class work. The 2 lowest IRAT grades are dropped.

BEGIN QUIZZES EARLY! YOU WILL NOT BE EXCUSED FOR A TECHINCAL ISSUE.

Post-TBL Analysis
Weekly post-TBL analyses are completed and submitted on Moodle. The post-TBL require you to think deeper
about the work completed in your TBL session. You are welcome to discuss the questions with your peers;
however EVERYONE MUST HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL ANSWER WRITTEN IN THEIR OWN WORDS. Post-TBL analyses
must be completed by 12am two days after your weekly TBL session. Your combined post-TBL analysis score
accounts for 10 percentage points of the 30 percentage points allocated to out-of-class work.

In-Class Work:

There are three graded activities completed during your TBL session. Your combined score from these weekly
in-class assignments accounts for 30% of your course grade. These activities are graded using the following
scale:












*Please visit the following visit for specifics on accepted University excused absences:
http://www.umass.edu/registrar/students/policies-and-practices/class-absence-policy

Grade Percentage Points
0 0%
- 60%

80%
+ 100%
ResEcon212 Fall 2014 6
For all team assignments, everyone on the team receives an individual grade which is the same as the grade
given to the teams submission. All in-class assignments are submitted at the end of the TBL session. If you
are absent, you receive an individual grade of 0 no matter what grade your team received. Makeups are not
given without an acceptable University excused absence.*

Group Readiness Assessment Test (GRAT)
You will spend approximately 15 minutes at the beginning of each TBL session solving a problem related to the
weeks topic with your team of 9 at your table. This activity gets the team up to speed on the topic for the
week and is a check to ensure all team members have adequately prepared before class. Your combined GRAT
score accounts for 10 percentage points of the 30 percentage points allocated to in-class work.

Competency Activity
After your GRAT your table will break into three teams of size three. You will spend approximately 20 minutes
working on a skill-building activity on the relevant weekly topic. Your combined competency activity score
accounts for 10 percentage points of the 30 percentage points allocated to in-class work.

Project Development
At the end of class you will spend approximately 35 minutes with your team of 9 working on components for
your final project that will be turned in at the end of the semester. Please see the description of the final
project below. The work completed on your project in-class accounts for 10 percentage points of the 30
percentage points allocated to in-class work.

Final Project:

The object of this course is to become consumers and practitioners of statistics. To help achieve this goal,
you will complete a final project in the form of a statistical report with your team of 9. Your team will
explore a research question that you all come up with using real world data. You have time in each TBL
session to work on your project with your teams, but your teams may need to meet outside of class as well.
At the end of the semester each table submits a report containing the following sections:

SECTION CONTENTS
1) Introduction Background
Research question
2) Methodology Data collection
Descriptive methods
Inferential methods
3) Data Describe data visually
Describe data numerically
Contingency table
Probability distribution
4) Results Confidence intervals
Hypothesis testing
5) Conclusions


ResEcon212 Fall 2014 7
Your project will be turned in by your team in a series of drafts. The final project accounts for 25% of your
final grade, with each draft accounting for 5 percentage points of the 25. The deadlines and grading
breakdown for the project are as follows:

SECTIONS DUE DUE DATE PERCENTAGE POINTS
Introduction & Methodology TBL session 5 in class 5%
Intro, Methods & Data TBL session 10 in class 5%
Intro, Methods, Data & Results TBL session 12 in class 5%
Intro, Methods, Data, Results & Conclusions After finals week 10%

Final Exam:

A comprehensive final exam will be given during the final examination period, but unfortunately we never
know the exact date until later in the semester, so don't book your holiday flights yet! Your final exam
accounts for 15% of your final grade.


Additional Course Policies


Academic Dishonesty Policy

Cheating will not be tolerated in any shape or form. If you're caught cheating I will follow the University's
established procedures to pursue the matter to the fullest extent possible (see your "Undergraduate Rights and
Responsibilities" handbook). DO NOT COPY & PASTE FROM THE INTERNET. THIS IS PLAGARISM, AND PLAGARISM
WILL NOT BE TOLERATED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Additionally, writing anyones name who was not present
in class on any in-class activity is cheating.

Learning Accommodations

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out
assigned course work, I would urge you to contact UMass Disability Services at
http://www.umass.edu/disability/current.html. They will review your concerns and determine, with you, what
accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.


Attendance & Class Preparation:

Completing and ensuring that you understand the out-of-class work is extremely important. Please take advantage
of the numerous supportive work environment hours that are offered throughout the week.
Additionally, attending TBL sessions (ON TIME) is expected and critical to success in this course. Students who do
not attend class cannot expect individual tutoring from teaching assistants or the instructor. If you miss a TBL session
without an acceptable University excused, you are still responsible for the material covered in and outside of class.