EMP 874   Y. Dobyns   3 credits
Survey of Statistical Methods and Reasoning  

Description

This course is intended to give the student a basic grounding in both the theory and practice of a wide variety of statistical methods. Introductory material will be available for students who have had no experience at all with probability and statistics, but the course as a whole will proceed from the assumption that students are familiar with at least some basic concepts of the field. The students are expected to gain at least basic familiarity with a wide toolkit of standard statistical tests and the types of data for which they are appropriate. In addition to basic analysis tools students will be introduced to the topics of Bayesian statistical inference, meta-analysis, statistical power analysis, and basic concepts of experimental design.

Students will be expected to install the R software package for statistical analysis and graphics.

Objectives

• The meaning of standard statistical terminology such as Z and T statistics, chi-squared values, F statistics, mean, median, effect size, confidence intervals.
• How to construct an appropriate statistical test given a particular hypothesis to be examined and a type of data collected for it.
• The distinction between a p-value and a Bayesian odds ratio or posterior probability, and what each of them implies.
• How to compute statistical power and estimate whether an experiment is adequate to test a particular hypothesis.
• How to make statistical inferences across multiple experiments
• How to use standard, widely available general-purpose statistical analysis software (e.g. Excel statistics built-in functions). Students will be expected to install the R software package for statistical analysis and graphics.

Texts

• DeVore, Jay L., Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences, Enhanced Review Edition [2009 ed.]
• Rosenthal, Robert, Meta-Analytic Procedures for Social Research (Applied Social Research Methods) [1991 ed.]

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