Skip to Main Content

MATH 1401: Elementary Statistics (Minitab and Excel)

Module One Topics

Module One Introduction

You are probably asking yourself the question, “When and where will I use statistics?”  If you read any newspaper, watch television, or use the Internet, you will see statistical information.  There are statistics about crime, sports, education, politics, and real estate.   Typically, when you read a newspaper article or watch a television news program, you are given sample information.  With this information, you may make a decision about the correctness of a statement, claim, or “fact.”  Statistical methods can help you make the “best educated guess.” 

Since you will undoubtedly be given statistical information at some point in your life, you need to know some techniques for analyzing the information thoughtfully.   Think about buying a house or managing a budget.  Think about your chosen profession.  The fields of economics, business, psychology, education, biology, law, computer science, police science, and early childhood development require at least one course in statistics.

In this module, The Basics of Statistics, you will be introduced to the basic concepts and vocabulary of statistics.  Additionally, you will be shown how to organize qualitative data for use in statistical research.

Overview of Topics

  • Basics of Statistics Introduction and Statistics Vocabulary
  • Types of Data
  • Statistical Research Vocabulary
  • Sampling Techniques
  • Qualitative Data with Algebra Review

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The student will be able to:

  1. demonstrate fundamental concepts in exploratory data analysis
  2. classify research studies that contain data and identify common design flaws
  3. describe the concept of the sampling distributions of a statistic and characterize the behavior of the sample means
  4. communicate and present statistical ideas clearly in oral and written forms using appropriate technical terms and deliver data analysis results to non-statistical audience

MODULE ONE OBJECTIVES

The student will be able to:

  1. distinguish between different types of data
  2. explain examples of data set summaries, including common graphical tools (such as histograms, stem and leaf plots, and boxplots) and summary statistics (five number summary, mean and standard deviation)
  3. summarize the features that describe a data set or distribution
  4. use an appropriate software tool for data summary and exploratory data analysis
  5. distinguish between observational research studies and experimental research studies
  6. identify experimental units, treatments, factors, control group(s) for an experimental research study
  7. recognize common sampling techniques
  8. distinguish between a population and a sample
  9. recognize parameters and statistics 
©2021 Georgia Highlands College | ask@highlands.libanswers.com