62:172 INTRODUCTION to STATISTICAL INFERENCE

Course Outline slot 3 (MWF) BB1-52 Winter 2017

Instructor: PAOLA DI MURO (Room 1-75 Brodie) Phone: 727-7373
e-mail: dimuro@Brandonu.ca; website: http://people.brandonu.ca/dimuro/

Instructional Associate : JOHN CHEN (Room 1-81 Brodie) Phone: 727-7410. Chenj@brandonu.ca

Recommended Text: Elementary Statistics: A step by step approach, by Bluman- Mayer, 2nd Canadian ed.,
McGraw Hill, Ryerson (5th or 6th ed. or Canadian ed. are also suitable).

Prerequisite: 62:171

Course Material: Paired Data : t-tests, linear regression and correlation.

 2 distribution : confidence intervals and tests for variance; categorical data,
tests for independence and for goodness of fit.
F-distribution : testing to compare two variances, analysis of Variance (Anova)
Non Parametric Statistics: sign test, Wilcoxon signed rank Test, Mann Whitney U
test, runs test, Spearman’s rank Correlation coefficient, Kruskal Wallis test.
Probability : Bayes’ Theorem, Poisson distribution, Tchebscheff’s theorem.

It is a course requirement that everyone attends the weekly laboratory sessions, on Thursdays 3:40-5:30pm
(Theater B) starting from Thursday, January 12. We will write lab assignments, test and midterms during the
lab periods, and use the time to deepen the understanding of the course material and discuss more examples.

For the Lab assignments, people may work in groups and may ask the lab instructors for help. Tests and the
Final Examination will be closed-book, i.e. course notes and textbooks are not permitted. However, students
will be permitted and expected to bring a single legal size sheet of formulas (writing on both sides of the paper)
to all tests and to the Final Examination.

Senate approved regulations (4.2.5 point 8 in the Calendar) specifies that the possession of books, notes,
diagrams, communication equipment or other aids is prohibited during tests or examinations. Therefore, cell
phones and electronic devices are NOT allowed in the room during tests and exams.

MARKING SCHEME
Tests &

Test 1 Thursday, Jan 26 10%

Times

Midterm Thursday, Feb 16 20%

Test 2 Thursday, Mar 23 10%
Lab assignments Thursday Jan 19, Feb 9, Mar 9, Mar 16, Mar 30 10%
Final Exam* Fri, Apr 21, 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon 50%
Group practice Thursday Jan 12, Feb 2, Mar 2, Apr 6
*A final exam mark of under 45% is an automatic failure for the course.*
Please note that the last day for voluntary withdrawal without academic penalty is Friday 17 March.

Resources: Check Moodle for answer keys of homeworks, assignments, tests, as well as for checking your
marks, find practice questions, notes and video tutorials of course material and prerequisite topics.
The homework handouts represent only a focus paper and are not due for marks. Make sure you expose yourself
to more practice questions from the textbook and from Moodle. Everyone attending the course should own a
calculator with statistical mode. Graphing (and programmable) calculators will not be allowed for tests,
midterms and exams.
Academic dishonesty: the minimum penalty for any form of cheating on a test will be a zero on that test.
Academic disciplinary procedures may also be initiated, resulting in a record being placed within your academic
file. Harsher penalties for academic dishonesty include assignment of a grade of “F – AD” for the course and
suspension from the faculty.

Course goals: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- use basic statistical inference tools to address specific inferential problems;
- recognize that much can be learned from appropriate graphs of the data, when they are interpreted with a critical eye;
- recognize paired data problems and be able to use the appropriate inferential techniques;
- compute and interpret the correlation coefficient, and use appropriate regression techniques to make predictions;
- use the chi-square distribution in order to test distributions for goodness of fit, and proportions for homogeneity, or
variables for independence;
- use and interpret analysis of variance techniques;
- acquire familiarity with non – parametric methods.

Where to get help: - from John in room 1-81 during his office hours;
- from the lab assistant, during our lab periods on Thurs, 3:40 – 5:30 pm (Th.B)
- from the Math Peer Tutors in room 102 in the McKenzie Bldg. The Peer tutors will be on walk-in duty during
hours that will be posted online, outside room 102, and on the door of john’s office.
- from me, during my office hours, Mon and Wed from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Fri from 9:30 to 10:30 am, in room
1-75 Brodie; call or email me if you need an appointment at a different time or book an individual session at
the Math Skills Centre. I will be glad to help.

Expectations: Attend class and lab regularly. Aim at understanding the material, rather than memorizing it.
Plan ahead, ask questions, and study methodically and constantly. Make sure you understand the notation and are
capable of interpreting formulas.
Respect tests, midterms, and lab assignment dates. Make sure to contact me if there are problems. It is not
possible to write on different days. The standard accommodation for missed tests is to transfer the marks to
the following midterm, for missed midterms the marks are transferred to the final exam. Reasons for missing
need to be provided timely.

Study habits: Study daily, a total of 6 to 9 hours each week is usually needed. Start from studying your notes
and reading the textbook. Make sure you reorganize the material and learn its application in practice problems.
Make sure you focus on understanding what the problem is asking and relate it to how to achieve the answer.
Make sure you pause to interpret the result and check its reasonability.

MARK (%) LETTER GRADE

50 and below F
50 – 55.99 D
56 – 58.99 C-
59 – 63.99 C
64 – 68.49 C+
68.5 – 71.99 B-
72-74.99 B
75 – 79.99 B+
80 – 84.99 A-
85 – 89.99 A
90 and up A+

Statement on Accessibility and Accommodation

Brandon University values diversity and inclusion, recognizing disability as an aspect of diversity. Our shared
goal is to create learning environments that are accessible, equitable, and inclusive for all students.
 62:172 INTRODUCTION to STATISTICAL INFERENCE
Course Outline slot 3 (MWF) BB1-52 Winter 2017
The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office works with students who have permanent, chronic, or
temporary disabilities. SAS will provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations. If you have, or think you
may have, a disability (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, medical, or
temporary), you are invited to contact Student Accessibility Services to arrange a confidential discussion at
(204) 727-9759 or email magnussonm@brandonu.ca. If you are registered with SAS and have a letter
requesting accommodations, you are encouraged to contact the instructor early in the term to discuss the
accommodations outline in your letter. Additional information is available at the Student Accessibility Services
website.

Academic Integrity
See section 4.2.2 of the General Calendar (Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct).
Violations of this policy will not be tolerated. Plagiarism, cheating, falsification of records or research
misconduct will result in disciplinary action. A student who is determined to be responsible for academic
dishonesty or misconduct may be subject to the imposition of one or more of the following:
a. Requirement to repeat the assignment or examination, with or without grade reduction
b. Assignment of a grade of zero in the assignment, test or exam
c. Assignment of "F-AD" in the course in which the offence is committed
d. Suspension from some or all courses in which a final grade has not been entered and the assignment of
"F-AD" in all such courses
e. Suspension from all Brandon University teams, clubs or like organizations for a period of 1 to 5 years
f. Suspension from the faculty for a period of 1 to 5 years
g. Expulsion from the faculty
h. Suspension from the University for a period of 1 to 5 years
i. Expulsion from the University
j. Cancellation or revocation of degree.