This introductory course presents statistical concepts and methods used extensively in business and economics, including computer-based statistical analysis. Students study descriptive and inferential statistics using examples and observations, and perform statistical analysis using software applications. Emphasis is on problem solving, interpretation and results that underlie decision-making within markets and international institutions.

The course provides a foundation to prepare business economics and business administration majors for required upper division courses in quantitative methods and provides a foundation to prepare economics majors for the study of econometrics. Also listed as MGT 10; credit given in either area, not both. Math 253 is a prerequisite for this course and Econ 1 or 2 are strongly recommended.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Apply concepts and methods of statistical analysis and inference to business and economics problems.

2. Define, illustrate, and explain statistical analysis applied to a case study.

3. Use at least two statistical software packages for statistical analysis and inference.

4. Identify and select the appropriate statistical procedure to use based on the type of data for business and economics applications.

5. Explain how variability in data can affect decision-making and the accuracy of forecasts.

6. Develop a model based on assumptions to predict or forecast an economic variable or a business situation.

7. Compare two statistical software packages for ease of learning, quality of help resources, data entry and validation, data manipulation, data importing, graphics and cost.

8. Formulate, write and present conclusions based on statistical analysis to non-statistical readers or listeners.

9. Compute various statistics presented during the semester.

10. Describe and illustrate basic principles of statistical inference and probability theory that include hypotheses tests, variability, significance, and robustness.

11. Use time series data to perform trend line forecasting.

12. Formulate an hypothesis about a company, industry, or an economy and test using sample data.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

The textbook Basic Statistics for Business and Economics with Student CD-ROM, 5^th Edition, by Douglas A. Lind, William G. Marchal, and Samuel A. Wathen, 2006, ISBN 007312165 may be purchased at the Irvine Valley College bookstore. The Student CD-ROM contains MegaStat version 9.0 for Excel, Visual Statistics version 2.0, tutorials, video clips, practice problems, solved problems, quizzes, PowerPoint slides, Weblinks, optional chapters, and data sets for Excel, Minitab, and SPSS.

The Online Learning Center Student Edition at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072983965/student_view0/index.html supports the textbook with an array of resources that include data sets, tables, ALEKS 5^th Edition, Interactive Business Stats, Visual Statistics, Business Statistics Center, and Mobile Resources.

If you do not have a home computer with Internet access, you may use the computers in the college library. Your home computer will require MS Windows 98SE, 2000, ME or XP, MS Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher, and an active internet connection for use with the Student CD-ROM. Other applications included on the CD-ROM require MS Word, MS PowerPoint and Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf), Rich Text File (.rtf), and common image files such as JPEG and GIF.

Throughout the semester, you will be required to access the Internet and the Online Learning Center Student Edition outside class, complete calculations using a basic calculator, and will need several Scantron forms No. 882 for exams.

ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATION:

Each class will end with a lab component which complements the theory and techniques discussed in class. Labs are one hour per week and are the primary means for you to learn to use the software. The course requires that you demonstrate proficiency in two statistical software packages that include, but are not limited to, Excel and SPSS.

Weekly you will need to read each textbook chapter and complete the exercises throughout the chapter to reinforce the concepts. There are 15 assignments (about one per week) that will be presented in class by students. These assignments are the even numbered exercises that follow each section within a chapter. Mandatory attendance ensures that you gain valuable course material, earn points for homework assigned, and receive credit for class participation.

Throughout the semester, each student will be required to maintain a “Statistics Resource Journal” that will be submitted for grading to the instructor during the last week of instruction. This Journal will represent a portfolio or collection of your work during the semester. It must contain all homework assignments, specific homework assignments that must be replicated using a second software system, all completed quizzes, and a list of formulas learned during the semester with a description of how and when each formula is used with an appropriate problem or example.

QUIZZES:

You will be required to complete an online quiz for each chapter. Access and availability of the quizzes will be discussed during the first week of the semester. For each quiz on which you score at least 70%, you will earn the maximum points. If you earn less than 70% (69% or less), it will suggest that you did not complete the reading and assigned problems and you will earn zero points. Quizzes must be completed on a timely basis; no late quizzes will be given for any reason.

EXAMS:

The course is divided into three units and there is an exam on each unit with the final exam covering only the last unit of course. Each exam is application-oriented and in-depth using multiple choice, short-answer, essay, and analytical based on material covered and if assigned, outside readings.

Students must complete each exam on the date and during the time scheduled. The instructor does not give make-up exams. If you miss an exam, since no midterm score may be dropped for grade calculation, you must drop the course or earn an "F". If you know that you will not be able to take the exam at the scheduled time, with advance notice to the instructor, you may complete the exam early. No late exams will be given for any reason.

GRADING:

Your grade will be calculated on the basis of the points given for each assignment, participation, quiz and exam. Points will be totaled and a final grade assigned.

Points Possible Percent

Exam 1 100 16.67%

Exam 2 100 16.67%

Final exam 100 16.67%

Quizzes (highest 12 scores) 60 10.00%

Assignments/ Lab Participation 120 20.00%

Statistic Resource Journal 120 20.00%

Total 600 points = 100.00%

Your final grade will be determined on a percentage basis of the total 600 points. Students taking this class for Credit/No Credit must receive 70% or more of the total possible grade points to obtain credit for the class.

A (90% or higher)

B (80% but less than 90%)

C (70% but less than 80%)

D (60% but less than 70%)

F (Less than 60% or for cases of academic dishonesty)

You should read and understand this syllabus, the criteria for Academic Dishonesty discussed above, and the Student Code of Conduct in the class schedule.

The instructor retains graded materials for 90 days after grades have been posted. If you wish to review these materials used for grade determination, you must contact the instructor before this date.

CAUTION:

No late assignments, journals, exams or quizzes will be accepted for any reason. Missed assignments, labs, quizzes, exams, or journals may not be made up for any reason. If an assignment, quiz or exam is not completed by the time specified, a grade of zero will be assigned. There will be no exceptions. For the case of a missed exam, as previously stated, since no midterm score may be dropped for grade calculation, you must drop the course or earn an "F". You are expected to keep up with the materials as they are presented. In order to participate in the homework presentation and labs, you must keep up with the assignment schedule.

If you decide to drop the course, it is your responsibility to drop the course through Admissions and Records. Deadlines for dropping courses are shown in the class schedule. Any student who does not complete the course and does not drop the course will earn the grade of "F".

Strategies for Success:

To succeed in this course, you should complete the following each week:

1. Carefully read the assigned chapter, for an overview and then step by step to perform the Statistics in Action, the self reviews, the Web exercises, and the Dataset exercises.

2. Use the resources on the Student CD that include tutorials, PowerPoint slides, data sets, and exercises. Use MegaStat to enhance the power of Excel in statistical analysis. Visual Statistics provides interactive experimentation and visualization.

3. Go into the Online Learning Center Student Edition at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072983965/student_view0/index.html for online resources to review key terms, solved problems, chapter objectives and summary. Complete the practice quizzes as a self-test to indicate areas where you may need more study.

4. Weekly spend time to organize and compile required materials for your Statistics Resource Portfolio. Most importantly update your list of formulas with explanations and examples.

5. Be prepared to present even numbered exercises from the chapter if called upon.

6. Prepare for exams by emphasizing the review items given in class and complete the assessment at the schedule time.

7. Raise questions in class to clarify material that is unclear, to ask about statistical applications, or discuss problems encountered with text material or assignments. Software questions should be raised during the lab session.

8. Access the instructor’s web site at http://faculty.ivc.edu/mstuffler for readings, if assigned.

Emergencies

· If you have an emergency and need to reach me, please use the information listed above.

· If you can't connect to the Internet, call your Internet service provider.

· If your computer crashes, either call the computer manufacturer or the business from whom you bought it.

· If you have problems with your Student CD-ROM, go to http://www.mhhe.com/support for assistance.

· If you are unable to use your personal computer for any reason, use the computers in the Irvine Valley College library to complete your course requirements in a timely manner.

Technology Expectation

I expect that you have basic Internet skills. If you need to review any of the basics, please go to the Microsoft web site and brush up on these necessary skills.

Student Commitment

You should allocate adequate time each week for reading the textbook, performing practice exercises and self assessment quizzes, and completing all assignments. You will be responsible for keeping up to date with all chapters and assignments. You should also be respectful of your fellow students at all times. This course will require at least 10 hours per week of your time. There are four hours for lecture and lab, and you will need at least 6 hours in home study per week so please plan accordingly.

Instructor Commitment

As your instructor, I will follow the course outline as detailed in this syllabus. If any changes are required I will announce them well in advance to give you time to adjust. You can count on my availability during office hours, and you have the right to expect prompt responses to your questions, comments, and requests. I will grade your work in a timely manner and return it to you with constructive commentary. Please do not hesitate to call upon me for help during class or office hours.

Honesty and Integrity Statement

Honesty and integrity are very important in higher education. This standard pertains to what is created as well as what is spoken or written. To claim to have created something that is not entirely your own work is a violation of academic and personal integrity.

Cheating is the unauthorized giving or receiving of information in examinations, quizzes, assignments or other exercises. If someone else takes online tests or quizzes in your name, this is also considered cheating and will result in the student earning an F in the course and the instructor filing a report with the Dean of Students.

Remember, you are solely responsible for the preparation and presentation of your assignments. Each assignment, computer activity, journal, quiz and exam is your responsibility to complete in a responsible way and in a timely manner.

SEMESTER SCHEDULE*

Week 1: Chapter 1 What Is Statistics?

Week 2: Chapter 2 Describing Data: Frequency Distributions and Graphic Presentation

Week 3: Chapter 3 Describing Data: Numerical Measures

Week 4: Chapter 4 Describing Data: Displaying and Exploring Data

Week 5: Chapter 5 A Survey of Probability Concepts

Week 6: Exam 1 and Chapter 6 Discrete Probability Distributions

Week 7: Chapters 6 & 7 Continuous Probability Distributions

Week 8: Chapters 7 & 8 Sampling Methods and the Central Limit Theorem

Week 9: Chapters 8 and 9 Estimation and Confidence Intervals

Week 10: Chapters 9 and 10 One-Sample Tests of Hypothesis

Week 11: Chapters 10 and 11 Two-Sample Tests of Hypothesis

Week 12: Chapter 11 and Exam 2

Week 13: Chapter 12 Analysis of Variance

Week 14: Chapter 13 Linear Regression and Correlation

Week 15: Chapter 14 Multiple Regression and Correlation Analysis

Week 16: Chapter 15 Chi-Square Applications and CD Chapter Time Series and Forecasting, and Index Numbers

Final Exam

* Instructor reserves the right to modify or change any item on the course syllabus or this schedule to satisfy the class needs.