Applied Statistics

DA/MATH 220 Spring 2024

M-W-F 9:30am – 10:20am Olin 221
Th 9:00am – 9:50am

Course Goals
At the end of the course,
students should be able to:

• Describe randomness with

random variables and different
discrete and continuous
distributions

• Apply statistical tests to examine

the significance of observed
phenomena and justify their
validity

Course Description • Compute fundamental statistical

quantities by hand and with
Statistics is the science of reasoning from data. computer software
This course will introduce the fundamental
concepts and methods of statistics, including • Predict future trends from
historical data
calculus-based probability. Topics include
experimental design, data collection, and the • Communicate findings to a
scopes of conclusion, a robust study of diverse, non-technical audience

probability models and their application to • Interpret statistics with a critical

statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and eye to how they can be
regression analysis. manipulated

Instructor
Anthony Bonifonte
“It is the mark of a truly intelligent
Email: [email protected]
person to be moved by statistics.”
Office: Burton Morgan 412
Office Hours: Google Calendar link on Canvas -George Bernard Shaw
TA: Jacob Eppley, [email protected]
 Expectations
Course Logistics Academic Honesty: Academic honesty, the
Prerequisites: MATH 123 and DA 101 cornerstone of teaching and learning, lays the
or MATH 124 foundation for lifelong integrity. Academic
dishonesty is intellectual theft. It includes, but is
Textbook: Introductory Statistics: A not limited to, providing or receiving assistance
Problem-Solving Approach, 3rd edition in a manner not authorized by the instructor in
the creation of work to be submitted for
https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/ evaluation. This standard applies to all work
product/Introductory-Statistics-A-Problem-
Solving-Approach-3rd-edition/p/1319049621 ranging from homework assignments to major
exams. I will assume that you are familiar with
the Code of Academic Integrity. To learn more
about it, please go to
“Processed data is information.
https://denison.edu/campus/about/integrity.
Processed information is knowledge.
Processed knowledge is wisdom.” Class communication: All electronic communication
will be through announcements using
- Ankala V. Subbarao Canvas and delivered to your Denison
email. You are responsible for checking these
messages periodically to stay informed of
important dates and potential changes to the
syllabus.
Software: All projects in this course will be analyzed
using R, an open source data analysis I am pleased to reply to questions via email at
language and environment. R is a powerful [email protected]. Please include ‘DA -
free statistics program that you will use 220’ in the subject line. I check my email
throughout the major and your career. A frequently, but I reserve the right to a 48-hour
small time investment to learn R will greatly response period. This means questions
benefit you in the future. No previous immediately before an assignment due date
experience with R, statistical software may not receive a timely response. Please send
packages, or computer programming all emails through your Denison account so it
is assumed. does not get blocked by spam filters.

Disability Accomodations: Any student who feels he

or she may need an accommodation based on
the impact of a disability should contact me
privately as soon as possible to discuss his or
her specific needs. I rely on the Academic
Resource Center (ARC) in 020 Higley to verify
the need for reasonable accommodations
based on the documentation on file in that
office.
 Assignments and Grading

Final Course Grade:

A+: 98% A: 92% A-: 90%

B+: 88% B: 82% B-: 80%

C+: 78% C: 72% C-: 70%

D+: 68% D: 62% D-: 60%

Homework 25%
Homework problem sets will be assigned on a weekly basis. You are allowed to work in groups, however,
every student needs to submit individually and write up the solution in their own words. Problem sets will
involve mathematical theory, computation and calculation, and interpreting statistical outputs. Solutions
will be posted online in a timely manner.

Pods : Thursdays throughout the semester will be for practicing concepts from class. You will be paired
with 2-3 other students to work on practice problems due at the end of the class. I will rotate between pods
to offer assistance and answer questions. These will be graded on a check, check plus, check minus system
and collectively count as one homework grade.

Pods will rotate three times during the semester, after exams.

Quizzes 10%
Short quizzes will take place during the first 5 minutes of class on various class days. They will contain
open response questions that ensure you are keeping up with the readings and class content. Each quiz
will be announced at least one class period ahead of time.

“The greatest moments are those when you see the result pop up in a graph or in your
statistics analysis – that moment you realise you know something no one else does and you
get the pleasure of thinking about how to tell them.”

-Emily Oster
 Exams (3, 15% each)
Exams: Three exams will take place during the semester on 2/16, 3/22, and 4/19. Exams will contain both a
timed, closed notes portion and a take-home, open-notes computer –use section. The timed portion will
contain open response questions and pencil-and-paper calculations, and the take-home computer-use section
will involve computation and the use of software.

• No resources of any sort may be shared during exams.

• On the take-home portions of the exam, you may use resources such as the textbook, class notes, R scripts
you have prepared ahead of time, Google searches, and any websites you find. You may not collaborate
with others, have others complete the exam on your behalf, or ask exam related questions on peer websites
such as stack overflow. Any uncertainties on this policy should be directed to the instructor.

Individual make up exams: Individual make-up exams will only be offered if a student has valid reasons,
such as documented illness, severe illness or death in the family, accidents, or court appearances. You must
provide documentation prior to the make up.

Final Project 20%

Students will work in groups of 2-3 on a final project that utilizes concepts and methods from the class.
Topics are of student choosing and must be approved by the instructor.

Of the project grade, 40% will derive from the written report, 40% from the presentation during last week of
class, and 20% from feedback given to fellow student’s presentations on standard feedback forms.
 Course Schedule
Each course topic will prepare you to answer the quoted question.

Dates Topics Textbook Sections Exam

1/15 – 1/19 Probability – State Spaces and Counting 4.1
“How do we quantify and measure randomness?”
1/24 – 1/26 Probability – Properties and Calculations 4.2, 4.3
“How do we calculate randomness?”
1/29 – 2/02 Randomization tests – Hypothesis Testing and Confidence Intervals 9.1, 9.2,
– Nonparametric Supplemental
“How do we test the difference between populations with few
assumptions but abundant computational power?”
2/05 – 2/09 Discrete Distributions 5.1 - 5.5
“How do we model randomness of discrete quantities?”
2/12 – 2/16 Normal Distributions 6.1 – 6.3 2/16
“Can we describe the distribution of the sample mean from a large
sample, regardless of the underlying distribution?”
2/19 – 2/23 Hypothesis Testing and Confidence Intervals – Parametric 9.3, 9.4, 9.5
“How do we test the difference between populations with limited
computational power but strong assumptions?”
2/26 – 3/01 Categorical data: Chi-square test and Fisher’s Test 13.1, 13.2
“How do we test for significant differences in categorical data?”
3/04 – 3/08 Simple Linear Regression 12.1 – 12.4
“How do we explain the relationship between one predictor and
one continuous response variable?”
3/11 – 3/15 Spring Break
3/18 – 3/22 Multiple Linear Regression 12.5 3/22
“How do we explain the relationship between multiple predictors
and one continuous response variable?”
3/25 – 3/29 Multiple Linear Regression: Interactions and Transformations Supplemental
“What do we do if there isn’t a linear relationship between
predictor and response?
4/01 – 4/05 Multiple Regression : Model Selection Supplemental
“How do we decide which subset of variables gives the best
predictions?”
4/08 – 4/12 Logistic Regression Supplemental
“How do we explain the relationship between one or more
predictors and one binary response variable?”
4/15 – 4/19 Other topics of interest Supplemental 4/19
4/22 – 4/26 Student Project Presentations
4/29 Review & Wrap-Up

“A certain elementary training in statistical method is becoming as necessary for everyone

living in this world of today as reading and writing.”

-H.G. Wells