STAT 216: Introduction to Statistics
Summer 2023 Syllabus
Instructor contact information
Your primary contact in STAT 216 is your instructor. If you have concerns that cannot be answered by your instructor, you may reach out to the Student Success Coordinator.
Course description
Stat 216 is designed to engage you in the statistical investigation process from developing a research question and data collection methods to analyzing and communicating results. This course introduces basic descriptive and inferential statistics using both traditional (normal and \(t\)-distribution) and simulation approaches including confidence intervals and hypothesis testing on means (one-sample, two-sample, paired), proportions (one-sample, two-sample), regression and correlation. You will be exposed to numerous examples of real-world applications of statistics that are designed to help you develop a conceptual understanding of statistics. After taking this course, you should be able to:
- Understand and appreciate how statistics affects your daily life and the fundamental role of statistics in all disciplines.
- Evaluate statistics and statistical studies you encounter in your other courses.
- Critically read news stories based on statistical studies as an informed consumer of data.
- Assess the role of randomness and variability in different contexts.
- Use basic methods to conduct and analyze statistical studies using statistical software.
- Evaluate and communicate answers to the four pillars of statistical inference: How strong is the evidence of an effect? What is the size of the effect? How broadly do the conclusions apply? Can we say what caused the observed difference?
MUS STAT 216 learning outcomes
- Understand how to describe the characteristics of a distribution.
- Understand how data can be collected, and how data collection dictates the choice of statistical method and appropriate statistical inference.
- Interpret and communicate the outcomes of estimation and hypothesis tests in the context of a problem.
- To understand the scope of inference for a given dataset.
CORE 2.0
This course fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning (Q) CORE 2.0 requirement because learning probability and statistics allows us to disentangle what’s really happening in nature from “noise” inherent in data collection. It allows us to evaluate claims from advertisements and results of polls and builds critical thinking skills which form the basis of statistical inference. Students completing a Core 2.0 Quantitative Reasoning (Q) course should demonstrate an ability to:
Interpret and draw inferences from mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, diagrams or tables. Represent mathematical information numerically, symbolically and visually. Employ quantitative methods in symbolic systems such as, arithmetic, algebra, or geometry to solve problems.
Prerequisites
Entrance to STAT 216 requires at least one of the following be met:
- Grade of C- or better in a 100-level math course (or equivalent)
- Grade of B or better in MATH 096
- Level 30 on the Math Placement Exam
or a combination of a good score on Math portion of SAT (540 or higher)
or ACT (23 or higher) and/or good high school GPA
- See the Math Prerequisite Flowchart for more details.
You should have familiarity with computers and technology (e.g., Internet browsing, word processing, opening/saving files, converting files to PDF format, sending and receiving e-mail, etc.).
Course materials and resources
Online textbook and coursepack
Two “textbooks” are required for this course:
- Montana State Introductory Statistics with R — our free, online textbook
- STAT 216 Coursepack — our PDF workbook with reading guides and activities. You can purchase the workbook for under $15 and have it shipped to you here. Students are expected to bring the coursepack to class each day and to complete the activities within the coursepack. Unit 1 of the coursepack is provided here in case it takes more than a week to receive your coursepack.
RStudio
We will be using the statistical software R through the IDE RStudio for data visualization and statistical analyses.
You will access this software through the MSU RStudio server: rstudio.math.montana.edu. Your username is your 7-character NetID (in the form x##x###, where x is a letter and # is a number), and your password is the password associated with your NetID. Your email address will not work to log in to the RStudio server.
- Please note: Your netID password expires every 6 months. It is HIGHLY recommended that you reset your netID password BEFORE attempting to login to the Rstudio server. You can reset your netID password in the MSU password portal.
See the Statistical Computing section in the Welcome chapter of our textbook for alternative options for accessing RStudio.
Learning management tools
D2L: Find your instructor and co-instructor/TA contact info, announcements, exploration information, instructor notes, exam review material, assignment and data files, discussion forums, gradebook.
- Important: Make sure you are receiving email notifications for any D2L activity. In D2L, click on your name, then Notifications. Check that D2L is using an email address that you regularly check; you have the option of registering a mobile number. Check the boxes to get notifications for announcements, content, discussions, and grades.
- If you have a question about the course materials, computing, or logistics, please post your question to your D2L discussion board instead of emailing your instructor. This ensures all students can benefit from the responses. Other students are encouraged to respond.
Gradescope: Submit and review quizzes and assignments, review exam grades.For more details, see our links in D2L under Content –> Primary Resources –> Gradescope Help
Math and Stat Center: Free drop-in tutoring for 100- and 200-level math and stat courses.
Course format and organization
Stat 216 will meet 3 times per week (Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 10:00am - 12:20pm. Each week, students will:
- read assigned sections of the online textbook and watch videos on that week’s content * prior to attending your assigned in-person class day, including concept check video quizzes embedded in the videos,
- meet with your fellow students in your assigned classroom three class periods per week for in-class group activities and discussion and in-class Rstudio labs,
- complete 2 assignments in Gradescope.
Course assessment
Your grade in STAT 216 will contain the following components.
Videos (10%)
You will be expected to complete the assigned textbook reading and D2L videos using the reading guides provided in the coursepack prior to attending the in-class activity for each week. Concept check quiz questions will be completed in Gradescope. (Note that you can rewind/review the video as much as you like, and may submit your Video Quiz in Gradescope as many times as you like up through the due date. You can also check your snwers in Gradescope after submitting (prior to the due date) by clicking on each question’s hyperlink. If a explanation appears, that means you answered the question correctly.)
- Video quizzes will typically be due each class day at 10 am MST.
Activities (10%)
Every class day, you will meet with your classmates and instructor to work through that day’s coursepack group activities. Attendance and completion of the activity counts towards this portion of your grade.
- Activities must be completed in the Stat 216 Coursepack. If you prefer to complete the activity on a pdf copy using a stylus-enabled device, please speak to your instructor, and she will provide you with a PDF copy of the coursepack.
- Activities will be checked for completion at the beginning of the following class period.
Labs (15%)
Most class days, you will meet with your classmates and instructor to work through that day’s coursepack Rstudio group lab. The lab will reinforce the ideas learned in the activities completed in that module but with the use of Rstudio for exploring and analyzing data.
- Each group will turn in selected questions from the lab to Gradescope. Labs are due Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm Mountain Time each week.
- Each student will also turn in each lab for completion at the beginning of the following class period.
Assignments (15%)
You will complete bi-weekly assignments in Gradescope. These should be completed individually (meaning all answers should be written in your own words), but you may use your classmates, tutors, or your instructor/co-instructor/TA for assistance.
- Weekly assignments will typically be due each Tuesday and Thursday at 8 pm MST
Midterm exams (30%)
There will be two midterm exams (worth 15% of the course grade each). Midterm exams will be taken in class during your normal in-class time. Each exam has an group (first hour of class) and individual (second hour of class) component. Further details, resources, and instructions for each exam will be posted the week prior to the exam in D2L.
Group portion:
- Group portions of the midterms are worth 20% of your midterm exam grade.
- Group midterm exams are open book, open notes.
- You will be allowed a calculator on the group midterm exams.
- You will be required to use Rstudio on the group midterm exams.
- If you miss more than 33% of class days within a unit without communicating with your section instructor and group-mates, you must complete the group exam individually.
- Please refer to the STAT 216 Summer I calendar for exam dates.
Individual portion:
- Individual portions of the midterms will be worth 80% of your midterm exam grade.
- Individual midterm exams are closed book, closed notes.
- A formula sheet will be provided to use during the exam.
- You will be allowed a calculator on the individual midterm exams.
- You will not be required to use Rstudio on the individual midterm exams.
- Please refer to the STAT 216 Summer I calendar for exam dates.
Final exam (20%)
The final exam is cumulative, but will be more heavily weighted towards Unit 3 material and is worth 20% of the course grade. The final exam will be taken in class during your normal in-class time. The final exam has a group (first hour of class) and individual (second hour of class) component. Further details, resources, and instructions for each exam will be posted the week prior to the exam in D2L.
Group portion:
- The group portion of the final exam will be worth 20% of your exam grade.
- The group final exams is open book, open notes.
- You will be allowed a calculator on the group final exam.
- You will be required to use Rstudio on the group final exam.
- If you miss more than 33% of class days in Unit 3 without communicating with your section instructor and group-mates, you must complete the group exam individually.
- Please refer to the STAT 216 Summer I calendar for exam dates.
Individual portion:
Individual final exam will be Thursday, June 22 from 12:00 - 1:50pm.
- The individual portion of the final exam will be worth 80% of your exam grade.
- The individual final exam is closed book.
- You will be allowed to create a one page note sheet for the exam. You will also be provided a one page formula sheet during the exam.
- You will be allowed a calculator on the individual final exam.
- You will not be required to use Rstudio on the individual final exams.
- Please refer to the STAT 216 Summer I calendar for exam dates.
Letter grades
Final course grades will be determined according to the following scale.
| Letter Grade | Weighted Score |
|---|---|
| A | 93-100% |
| A- | 90-92.99% |
| B+ | 87-89.99% |
| B | 83-86.99% |
| B- | 80-82.99% |
| C+ | 77-79.99% |
| C | 73-76.99% |
| C- | 70-72.99% |
| D | 60-69.99% |
| F | <59.99% |
The grade cutoffs may be shifted downward at the end of the semester based on student performance (never upward).
Late work policies
Videos: Videos are available in D2L at least one week prior to the due date, so extensions on these quizzes are not given unless extenuating circumstances that prevent the student from viewing the video for that entire period.
Activities and Labs: Attendance in this course is critical for success and is therefore required. The in-class activity and lab grades are a proxy for attendance and engagement. Students are expected to be in class during in-class activities and labs to provide support to each other and their teammates while working through the material. If you need to miss a class period due to illness, quarantine, or other extenuating circumstances, please email your section instructor a picture or scan of your completed activity due that day by 8pm Mountain Time, and we can give you credit for your completed activity. If the activity is not received by 8pm Mountain Time on the day it is due, you will not receive credit unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevented you from completing the activity for the entire week prior to the due date. If you need to miss a lab due to illness, quarantine, or other extenuating circumstances, please email your section instructor and group-mates letting them know prior to the lab meeting. You may participate in the lab via video conferencing if desired or you may complete the lab on your own. If the latter, your section instructor will determine an appropriate extension on the lab based on your individual circumstances.
Exams:
- Students that are in quarantine but healthy enough to take the exam should email Student Success Coordinator Jade Schmidt to arrange to take the exam at home while being proctored via Zoom.
- If you are ill to the point of not being able to take the exam, please email Student Success Coordinator Jade Schmidt to arrange a time to take the exam remotely via Zoom when you are feeling better within the week of the exam.
- Students who miss the exam without contacting the instructor prior to the exam will receive a zero on the exam.
- Work is not a legitimate reason for an exam absence.
Diversity and inclusivity
Respect for Diversity: It is our intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well-served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is our intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity: gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, religion, culture, perspective, and other background characteristics. Your suggestions about how to improve the value of diversity in this course are encouraged and appreciated. Please let us know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.
In addition, in scheduling exams, we have attempted to avoid conflicts with major religious holidays. If, however, we have inadvertently scheduled an exam or major deadline that creates a conflict with your religious observances, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can make other arrangements.
Support for Inclusivity: We support an inclusive learning environment where diversity and individual differences are understood, respected, appreciated, and recognized as a source of strength. We expect that students, faculty, administrators and staff at MSU will respect differences and demonstrate diligence in understanding how other peoples’ perspectives, behaviors, and worldviews may be different from their own.
Policy on academic misconduct
Students in an academic setting are responsible for approaching all assignments with rigor, integrity, and in compliance with the University Code of Student Conduct. This responsibility includes:
- consulting and analyzing sources that are relevant to the topic of inquiry;
- clearly acknowledging when they draw from the ideas or the phrasing of those sources in their own writing;
- learning and using appropriate citation conventions within the field in which they are studying; and
- asking their instructor for guidance when they are uncertain of how to acknowledge the contributions of others in their thinking and writing.
When students fail to adhere to these responsibilities, they may intentionally or unintentionally “use someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without properly acknowledging its source” http://www.wpacouncil.org. When the act is intentional, the student has engaged in plagiarism.
Plagiarism is an act of academic misconduct, which carries with it consequences including, but not limited to, receiving a course grade of “F” and a report to the Office of the Dean of Students. Unfortunately, it is not always clear if the misuse of sources is intentional or unintentional, which means that you may be accused of plagiarism even if you do not intentionally plagiarize. If you have any questions regarding use and citation of sources in your academic writing, you are responsible for consulting with your instructor before the assignment due date. In addition, you can work with an MSU Writing Center tutor at any point in your writing process, including when you are integrating or citing sources. You can make an appointment and find citation resources at www.montana.edu/writingcenter.
In STAT 216, students involved in plagiarism on assignments (all parties involved) will receive a zero grade on that assignment. The second offense will result in a zero on that assignment, and the incident will be reported to the Dean of Students. Academic misconduct on an exam will result in a zero on that exam and will be reported to the Dean of Students, without exception.
More information about Academic Misconduct from the Dean of Students
Policy on intellectual property
This syllabus, course lectures and presentations, and any course materials provided throughout this term are protected by U.S. copyright laws. Students enrolled in the course may use them for their own research and educational purposes. However, reproducing, selling or otherwise distributing these materials without written permission of the copyright owner is expressly prohibited, including providing materials to commercial platforms such as Chegg or CourseHero. Doing so may constitute a violation of U.S. copyright law as well as MSU’s Code of Student Conduct.
More information about Academic Misconduct from the Dean of Students