Course Description: Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing and interpreting data. In science, society and everyday life, people use data to help them understand the world and choose how to act, and statistical methods help to separate sense from nonsense.

In this course, we learn about some of the most important techniques used in statistical work. The emphasis of this course is on concepts and techniques and will be useful to students who seek to gain an understanding of the use of statistics in their own field. Our ultimate goal is to gain understanding from data, going from data collection to analysis to conclusions.

Content, emphasis, etc. of the course is defined by means of the lecture material - not only the textbook. It is important to attend all lectures, as there is normally no simple way to make up for missed lectures (perhaps obtain another student’s notes). There will also be many lecture examples using statistical software, which students will be using.

Important announcements, problem sets, additional examples, and other course info will be posted on Quercus. Check it regularly.

Requirements for online learning activities

This is an online course. For learning activities in this course, students must have the following:

•  A reliable laptop/desktop with a working microphone

•  A reliable internet connection

•  A reliable camera or scanner that is able to upload clear images of student work.

Instructor:

LEC01, LEC02: Mahinda Samarakoon

E-mail:

[email protected]

Note 1: When sending e-mail to instructor or head TA, please use your U of T e-mail address, and put ”STAB22” in the subject line of your email.

Note 2: Depending on e-mail volume, I might not be able to reply to every email received. Dr Ken Butler has prepared an FAQ page which gives answers to some of the most frequent questions that we have received from students.

You can find this FAQ page on the course Quercus site (or just click https://a11834-5587349.cluster75.canvas-user-content.com/courses/11834˜137994/files/11834˜5587349/course%20files/stab22FAQw20.htm?download=1& inline=1&sf_verifier=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoiMTE4MzQwMDAwMDAwMDExNTM4Iiwicm9vdF9hY2NvdW50X2lkIjoiMTE4MzQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAxIiwib2F1dGhfaG9zdCI6InEudXRvcm9udG8uY2EiLCJyZXR1cm5fdXJsIjpudWxsLCJmYWxsYmFja191cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3EudXRvcm9udG8uY2EvY291cnNlcy8xMzc5OTQvZmlsZXMvNTU4NzM0OS9kb3dubG9hZD9mYWxsYmFja190cz0xNjEwMzA0OTk4IiwiZXhwIjoxNjEwMzA1Mjk4fQ.
GVX2BukxK9H6-lMrpNYx1bxTo7pbnTLPmwqoTYALS0IVhjhBQPbpI8OmjX75Zd1vtT8T44USX56WZ0VRgzQvOA).  Before sending us emails, please check if the answer to your question is on this FAQ page.

Offifice: IC442

Offifice hours: Mon 12:00-13:00, Wed 12:00-13:00, Fri 15:00-17:00 (online, Bb Collaborate on Quercus)

Lectures:

LEC01: MO 9:00-10:00, WE 10:00-11:00, FR 10:00-11:00 (online, Bb Collaborate on Quercus)

LEC02: MO 11:00-12:00, WE 11:00-12:00, FR 14:00-15:00 (online, Bb Collaborate on Quercus)

Webpage: Course information will be posted on Quercus course page.

Textbook and Software

•  The text

– Custom Edition for STAB22 of Stats: Data and Models. DeVeaux, Velleman, Bock, Vukov, Wong Third Canadian edition, publ. Pearson Canada

– The bookstore will have this “custom edition” with only the chapters we need. The custom edition is cheaper than buying the full 3rd edition.

– Textbook (custom edition) comes with student solutions manual and the software MyStatLab and StatCrunch

•  Software

– We use the statististical package R (StatCrunch software (on web) is good as well).

– StatCrunch Requires access code (comes with text or can buy separately).

– Both R and StatCrunch are Easy to learn.

– I will show you what to do.

– You are expected to be able to interpret software outputs on worksheets, tests, and exams.

Assessment

Item	Percentage of grade
Worksheets during tutorials	20%
Midterm Test	30%
Final Exam	50%

Usually 20%-25% of the students in this course get A’s. Less than 5% of all students who complete the course work fail.

Worksheets

•  There will be weekly tutorials starting from Monday Jan 18. Enroll in a tutorial asap if not already done.

•  There will be a worksheet in each tutorial, starting from Monday Jan 18.

•  Intended to be straightforward if you are keeping up with material.

•  When working on worksheets, you can refer to your notes and/or the textbook.

•  I drop your worst worksheet when calculating your tutorial grade.

•  You must write worksheets in the tutorial you are registered in.

•  Your tutorial grades should appear on Quercus within one week of writing the worksheet (i.e. before the next worksheet). Please check Quercus every week and if your worksheet grade doesn’t appear, you should check with your TA.

Test and Exam

•  The midterm test and the final exam are based on multiple choice questions.

•  You need a calculator for test, exam and worksheets.

Calculators

Hand calculators are cheap and useful. Any cheap one with a square root and one memory button will do. Mean, standard deviation, sum, and sum of squares keys may save you a bit of time on occasion, but we do not recommend the purchase of expensive calculators to get keys with special statistical calculations. Tests and exams will be designed so that those calculators give no advantage. We emphasize the use of statistical software (R or StatCrunch) for long or complex calculations. However, it is important to have a calculator during tutorials/test/exam.

Missed Tests and Worksheets

There are no make up tests or worksheets in this course. If the test is missed for a valid reason, you must submit appropriate documentation to the course instructor within one week of the test. Print on it your name, student number, course number, and date. If documentation is not received in time, your test mark will be zero. If a test is missed for a valid reason, its weight will be shifted to the final exam.

If a worksheet is missed due to a valid reason and if the supporting documents are provided on time, you will be excused from that worksheet and your tutorial grade will be calculated from the remaining worksheets only. If you are excused from a worksheet, we will indicate that by the code “-1” in place of your grade for that worksheet on Quercus.

Computing

Students will be using R ( or StatCrunch) for computing. No previous computing experience is assumed. With this software, you will analyze the data sets posted on Quercus or on the publisher’s web site.

Facilitated Study Groups

•  These weekly study sessions are open to everyone in the class.

•  Attendance is voluntary, but students who attend regularly often earn higher grades.

•  Please be sure to fill out the survey in the first week of class to help ensure the study groups are scheduled at optimal times.

•  If you have any questions, please ask your facilitator, visit the FSG website at https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/ctl/facilitated-study-groups-fsg

Frequently asked questions

Currently living at:

4https://a11834-5587349.cluster75.canvas-user-content.com/courses/11834˜137994/files/11834˜5587349/course%20files/stab22FAQw20.htm?download=1&inline=1&sf_verifier=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoiMTE4MzQwMDAwMDAwMDExNTM4Iiwicm9vdF9hY2NvdW50X2lkIjoiMTE4MzQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAxIiwib2F1dGhfaG9zdCI6InEudXRvcm9udG8uY2EiLCJyZXR1cm5fdXJsIjpudWxsLCJmYWxsYmFja191cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3EudXRvcm9udG8uY2EvY291cnNlcy8xMzc5OTQvZmlsZXMvNTU4NzM0OS9kb3dubG9hZD9mYWxsYmFja190cz0xNjEwMzA0OTk4XHUwMDI2ZmFsbGJhY2tfdHM9MTYxMDMwNTg2MiIsImV4cCI6MTYxMDMwNjE2Mn0.WgTn46WxG1L4_oyD8ZNfqBRDQ8y4UkNpLeeI1vDYEzscNHjOAg9hYiwKJtve3W-3zim5YWEcwc30ShtWeAE6zA Check before you ask your instructor.

Quercus

•  Course announcements, worksheet marks etc. will be on Quercus.

•  You are responsible for keeping up with announcements posted on Quercus by course instructors, course coordinator, etc.

•  Any problems with recording of marks should be brought to the attention of your TA (worksheets) or course instructor (test, exam). Contact head TA (or your instructor) if you cannot resolve problems with your TA.

ACCESSABILITY STATEMENT

Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to approach me and/or the AccessAbility Services Office as soon as possible. I will work with you and AccessAbility Services to ensure you can achieve your learning goals in this course. Enquiries are confidential. The UTSC AccessAbility Services staff (located in AA142) are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and arrange appropriate accommodations (416) 287-7560 or [email protected].

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT

Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to ensuring that a degree from the University of Toronto is a strong signal of each student’s individual academic achievement. As a result, the University treats cases of cheating and plagiarism very seriously. The University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac. htm) outlines the behaviours that constitute academic dishonesty and the processes for addressing academic offences. Potential offences include, but are not limited to:

IN PAPERS AND ASSIGNMENTS: Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement. Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the instructor. Making up sources or facts. Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment. 

ON TESTS AND EXAMS: Using or possessing unauthorized aids. Looking at someone else’s answers during an exam or test. Misrepresenting your identity.

IN ACADEMIC WORK: Falsifying institutional documents or grades. Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including (but not limited to) doctor’s notes. All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods, you are expected to seek out additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from other institutional resources (see http://academicintegrity.utoronto.ca/).

STAB22 - TENTATIVE LECTURE GUIDE

We cover chapters 1-20 of the textbook. A tentative schedule is given below:

Week 1:

1. Stats Starts Here

2. Displaying and Describing Categorical: One Categorical Variable, Two Categorical Variables, Three Categorical Variables

Week 2:

3. Displaying and Summarizing Quantitative Data: Displaying Quantitative Variables and Describing the Distribution, Describing Quantitative Variables with Numbers

4. Understanding and Comparing Distributions

Week 3:

5. The Standard Deviation as a Ruler and the Normal Model: Standardizing, Density Curve and the Normal Model, Normal Quantile Plots, The 68-95-99.7 rule

Week 4:

6. Scatterplots, Association, and Correlation

7. Linear Regression - Finding the Best Line

Week 5:

8. Regression Wisdom: Patterns on Residual Plots, Outliers, Leverage, and Influence, Cautions

Week 6:

9. Sample surveys: Three keys of sampling, Sample Survey vs Census, Populations and Parameters, Samples and Statistics, Sampling Methods

Week 7:

10. Experiments and Observational Studies: Observational Studies, Experiments

Week 8:

11. From Randomness to Probability

12. Probability Rules

Week 9:

13. Random Variables

Week 10:

14. Sampling Distribution Models

15. Confidence Intervals for Proportions

16. Testing Hypotheses about Proportions

Weeks 11 and 12:

17. More about Tests

18. Tests and Confidence Intervals for the Population Mean

19. Comparing Two Means of Independent Samples

20. Comparing Two Means of Paired Samples