10804150Science Based Statistics
Course Information
Description
This is an introductory course with examples and applications chosen from quantitative x-ray analysis, image analysis, metrology and selected biomedical problems. Covers techniques for the collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of experimental results and develops procedures to deal with uncertainty in inferences and decisions when data are subject to random error. Topics covered include descriptive statistics; basic probability; the hypergeometric, binomial, normal, Students t, chi-square and F distributions; sampling distributions; the Central Limit Theorem; one-way analysis of variance and linear regression.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
-
Perform basic mathematical operationsAssessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou convert fractions or decimals into percentages and vice versayou compute expressions that involve addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation or combinations of these according to the standard order of operation rulesyou evaluate algebraic formulas involving signed numbers or measurements using the standard order of operation rulesyou use technology to compute expressions that involve addition according to the standard order of operation rulesyou use technology to compute expressions that involve subtraction according to the standard order of operation rulesyou use technology to compute expressions that involve multiplication according to the standard order of operation rulesyou use technology to compute expressions that involve division according to the standard order of operation rulesyou use technology to compute expressions that involve exponentiation according to the standard order of operation rulesyou use technology to compute expressions that involve combinations of these according to the standard order of operation rules
-
Construct graphsAssessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou calculate the slope, y and x intercepts of a line and graphs the line given a linear equation in x and yyou interpret information from graphical representations of datayou extract information from graphical representations of datayou generate a graphical representation of data from a table or relationship given by an algebraic formulayou interpret a graphical representation of data from a table or relationship given by an algebraic formula
-
Evaluate expressions that use summation notationAssessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou interpret expressions that use summation notationyou evaluate expressions that use summation notationyou use algebraic identities to evaluate or simplify expressions that use summation notationyou use technology to compute expressions that use summation notation
-
Generate frequency distributions.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou generate frequency distributions from a given data set or groups the scores into classesyou calculate the frequency of each classyou calculate the relative frequency of each classyou calculate the cumulative frequency of each classyou calculate the width and midpoint of each classyou interpret the frequency of each classyou interpret the relative frequency of each classyou interpret the cumulative frequency of each classyou interpret the width and midpoint of each classyou calculate the mean of a frequency distributionyou calculate the mode of a frequency distributionyou calculate the median of a frequency distributionyou interpret the mean of a frequency distributionyou interpret the mode of a frequency distributionyou interpret the median of a frequency distributionyou calculate the quartiles of a frequency distributionyou calculate the percentile scores of a frequency distributionyou calculate inter-quartile range of a frequency distributionyou interpret the quartiles of a frequency distributionyou interpret the percentile range of a frequency distributionyou interpret the inter-quartile range of a frequency distributionyou calculate the range of a frequency distributionyou calculate the variance of a frequency distributionyou calculate the standard deviation of a frequency distributionyou interpret the range of a frequency distributionyou interpret the variance of a frequency distributionyou interpret the standard deviation of a frequency distributionyou demonstrate the relationship between the variance and standard deviationyou distinguish the population standard deviation from the sample standard deviationyou use the properties of the mean and standard deviationyou calculate z scores for a frequency distributionyou interpret z scores for a frequency distributionyou use the properties of z scoresyou demonstrate the connections between z scores and the properties of the meanyou demonstrate the connections between z scores and the properties of standard deviationyou use both Tchebyshev's inequality and the percentage points for a normal distribution to estimate the fraction of scores beyond a given z scoreyou use technology to generate a frequency distributionyou use technology to calculate a frequency distribution as to its descriptive statistics
-
Generate graphs of frequency distributions.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou generate histograms of frequency distributionsyou interpret histograms of frequency distributionsyou generate a box plot from a frequency distributionyou interpret a box plot from a frequency distributionyou use a histogram or box plot to estimate measures of central tendency and dispersionyou demonstrate the connections between information found in a histogram or a box plot and calculated descriptive statistics
-
Use the definitions and axioms of probability.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou distinguish theoretical probabilities from empirical probabilitiesyou generate a representation of a sample space of an experiment by listing all outcomes, drawing Venn diagrams, making tree diagrams, or constructing tablesyou use a representation of the sample space of an experiment and the fair experiment or equi-probability model to compute probabilitiesyou use the fundamental rule of counting, the number of permutations, the number of combinations, and binomial coefficients to compute the number of outcomes in a given eventyou recognize computations which count the number of outcomes corresponding to a given eventyou formulate computations which count the number of outcomes corresponding to a given eventyou evaluate computations which count the number of outcomes corresponding to a given eventyou use these results to compute event probabilitiesyou appropriately use set theory rules to calculate the probability of unions, intersections, and complements of eventsyou distinguish mutually exclusive events from events with non-null intersectionyou recognize conditional probabilitiesyou formulate conditional probabilitiesyou evaluate conditional probabilitiesyou determine if two events are independentyou compare and contrast the intuitive notion of event independence from the formal definitionyou distinguish between mutually exclusive and independent eventsyou recognize events that are neither independent or mutually exclusiveyou use a tree diagram to distinguish the probabilities of a false positive and a false negative testyou use a tree diagram to compute the probabilities of a false positive and a false negative testyou recognize computations which calculate the reliability of systems consisting of components arranged in series or parallelyou formulate computations which calculate the reliability of systems consisting of components arranged in series or parallelyou evaluate computations which calculate the reliability of systems consisting of components arranged in series or parallel
-
Use probability distributions of a random variable.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou generate the probability distribution of a discrete random variableyou graph the probability distribution of a discrete random variableyou generate histograms for the probability distribution of a discrete random variableyou interpret histograms for the probability distribution of a discrete random variableyou compute the mean of a discrete random variableyou compute the variance of a discrete random variableyou compute the standard deviation of a discrete random variableyou demonstrate the connections between the formulas for the mean, variance and standard deviation of a random variableyou demonstrate the connections between these formulas and those used in descriptive statisticsyou distinguish a drawing without replacement from a drawing with replacement and formulate and compute probabilities of events associated with the drawingyou distinguish a drawing without replacement from a drawing with replacementyou recognize when the hypergeometric distribution applies to a drawing without replacementyou formulate and compute probabilities of events associated with the hypergeometric distributionyou recognize when an experiment is a succession of simple Bernoulli trialsyou formulate event probabilities for an experiment consisting of simple Bernoulli trials using the binomial distributionyou compute event probabilities for an experiment consisting of simple Bernoulli trials using the binomial distributionyou calculate the mean of a hypergeometric or binomial random variableyou calculate the variance of a hypergeometric or binomial random variableyou calculate the standard deviation of a hypergeometric or binomial random variableyou interpret the mean of a hypergeometric or binomial random variableyou interpret the variance of hypergeometric or binomial random variableyou interpret the standard deviation of a hypergeometric or binomial random variableyou demonstrate the connections between the formulas for the mean, variance and standard deviation of hypergeometric and binomial random variables and the corresponding formulas for a generic random variableyou demonstrate the connections between the formulas for the mean, variance and standard deviation of both hypergeometric and binomial distributionsyou use the binomial distribution to approximate the hypergeometric distribution for large populations and justify when such an approximation is validyou justify the validity of the binomial distribution to approximate the hypergeometric distribution for large populationsyou use the Poisson distribution to approximate the binomial distribution for large sample sizes and fixed mean number of successesyou justify why and when the Poisson distribution approximate is valid for the binomial distribution for large sample sizes and fixed mean number of successes
-
Solve applications using probability distributions.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou use the fair experiment to model simple experiments such as coin or die tossesyou compare the theoretical and empirical probability distributions for a random variable associated with the coin or die tosses experimentyou recognize verbally stated applications which require using the hypergeometric, binomial and/or Poisson distributionsyou formulate verbally stated applications which require using the hypergeometric, binomial and Poisson distributionsyou solve verbally stated applications which require using the hypergeometric, binomial and/or Poisson distributionsyou use probability distributions to analyze processes such as games of chance, insurance rates, instrument reliability and medical tests
-
Apply the properties of a continuous probability distribution.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou distinguish between a continuous and a discrete random variableyou recognize the connection between the area under a probability density curve and the probability of an eventyou formulate the connection between the area under a probability density curve and the probability of an eventyou estimate the mean of a continuous probability distribution from the graph of its probability density curveyou estimate the standard deviation of a continuous probability distribution from the graph of its probability density curve
-
Apply the normal distribution.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou use the normal distribution to approximate the binomial distribution for large sample sizes and a fixed probability of successyou justify why and when the normal distribution approximation is valid for the binomial distribution for large sample sizes and a fixed probability of successyou compute the area between two scores in a normal distribution by transforming to z scores and using the standard normal distributionyou determine critical z scores of a standard normal distribution from a stated probabilityyou recognize verbally stated applications which involve using the normal distributionyou formulate verbally stated applications which involve using the normal distributionyou solve verbally stated applications which involve using the normal distribution
-
Apply the chi-squared distribution.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou recognize when empirical and theoretical probability distributions are in agreement based on their graphsyou determine critical scores of a chi-squared distribution from a stated probabilityyou compute the mean of a chi-squared distribution from the degrees of freedomyou compute the standard deviation of a chi-squared distribution from the degrees of freedomyou use the chi-squared distribution at a given level of significance to test whether the disagreement between theoretical and empirical probabilities is not randomyou provide valid justification for the use of a chi-squared distribution in testing whether the disagreement between theoretical and empirical probabilities is not random
-
Apply the Central Limit Theorem.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou identify the sampling distribution of meansyou represent the sampling distribution of meansyou distinguish the mean and standard deviation of the parent population from the mean and standard deviation of the sampling distribution of meansyou calculate the mean of the sampling distribution of means from the mean and standard deviation of the parent populationyou calculate the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of means from the mean and standard deviation of the parent populationyou verify the content of the Central Limit Theorem by computational simulationyou use the Central Limit Theorem to compute probabilities for a range of values of a sample meanyou calculate at a given level of significance a confidence interval for a sample mean in terms of parent population parameters
-
Calculate confidence intervals for population parameters based on sample data.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou recognize confidence intervals for population means in terms of sample means and sample standard deviationsyou formulate confidence intervals for population means in terms of sample means and sample standard deviationsyou calculate confidence intervals for population means in terms of sample means and sample standard deviationsyou demonstrate the connection between the Central Limit Theorem and confidence intervals for the population mean based on large sample sizesyou demonstrate the connections between confidence intervals for a population mean and a population proportionyou demonstrate the similarities between confidence intervals for a population mean and a population proportionyou demonstrate the differences between confidence intervals for a population mean and a population proportionyou use the degrees of freedom of a Student's tyou provide justification for the use of a t distributionyou demonstrate the connections between the standard normal distribution and a t distributionyou demonstrate the similarities between the standard normal distribution and a t distributionyou demonstrate the differences between the standard normal distribution and a t distributionyou use the sampling distribution of differences of meansyou recognize the pooled estimate of the variance of two populations of equal variance based on the sample variancesyou formulate the pooled estimate of the variance of two populations of equal variance based on the sample variancesyou compute the pooled estimate of the variance of two populations of equal variance based on the sample variancesyou recognize confidence intervals for the difference of two population means in terms of the sample means and sample standard deviations for both large and small independent samplesyou formulate confidence intervals for the difference of two population means in terms of the sample means and sample standard deviations for both large and small independent samplesyou calculate confidence intervals for the difference of two population means in terms of the sample means and sample standard deviations for both large and small independent samplesyou calculate a confidence interval on a difference of two population means using a matched pair experimental designyou calculate a confidence interval on a difference of two population means using a matched pair experimental design
-
Test hypotheses about population parameters based on sample data.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou recognize alternative and null hypotheses from a written statement of a question to be decidedyou translate alternative and null hypotheses from a written statement of a question to be decidedyou formulate alternative and null hypotheses from a written statement of a question to be decidedyou recognize Type I and Type II errorsyou recognize the connection between Type I errors and the level of significanceyou recognize one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population meansyou recognize one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population proportionsyou recognize one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about differences of two population meansyou distinguish between one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population meansyou distinguish between one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population proportionsyou distinguish between one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about differences of two population meansyou formulate one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population meansyou formulate one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population proportionsyou formulate one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about differences of two population meansyou test one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population meansyou test one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about population proportionsyou test one tail and two tail hypotheses tests about differences of two population meansyou calculate significance probabilities (p-values) for hypotheses tests using the standard normal distributionyou interpret significance probabilities (p-values) for hypotheses tests using the standard normal distributionyou estimate significance probabilities for hypotheses tests that use the Student's t or chi-squared distributionsyou interpret significance probabilities for hypotheses tests that use the Student's t or chi-squared distributionsyou explain the relationship between the stated level of significance and the calculated significance probabilityyou perform a hypothesis test on a difference of two population means using a matched pair experimental designyou test whether two categorical variables are dependent by performing a contingency table analysis using a chi-squared distributionyou recognize the underlying assumptions involved in testing a given hypothesisyou recognize the underlying limitations involved in testing a given hypothesis
-
Interpret a one way analysis of variance.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou recognize a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether there are differences in performance due to a single factor varied at more than two levelsyou formulate a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether there are differences in performance due to a single factor varied at more than two levelsyou perform a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether there are differences in performance due to a single factor varied at more than two levelsyou interpret the treatment sum of squares and the error sum of squaresyou interpret the null hypothesis for a one-way ANOVAyou explain the null hypothesis for a one-way ANOVAyou relate the null hypothesis to the interpretation of the mean square due to treatment and the mean square due to erroryou use the F distribution in a one-way ANOVAyou recognize the underlying assumptions of a one-way ANOVAyou recognize the underlying limitations of a one-way ANOVA
-
Determine which levels of a single factor make a significant difference in performance.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou test for which treatment means are different by performing multiple pair comparison testsyou interpret the value of the level of significance used in the multiple pair comparisonsyou explain the value of the level of significance used in the multiple pair comparisonsyou explain the connections between the conclusions of the one-way ANOVA test and the multiple pair comparisons
-
Set up and calculate a linear regression fit of bivariate data.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou paraphrase the method of least squares and its connection to the linear regression equationsyou generate the scatter diagramyou generate the regression slope and the regression intercept on a scatter diagramyou plot the regression line for a set of paired xy data on the scatter diagram
-
Perform statistical inference on a linear regression fit of bivariate data.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou recognize the underlying assumptions of a linear regression analysisyou recognize the underlying limitations of a linear regression analysisyou perform statistical inference (calculation of a confidence interval or performance of a hypothesis test) on the population slope and population interceptyou calculate confidence intervals for an average y measurementyou interpret confidence intervals for an average y measurementyou calculate confidence intervals for a single y measurement for a given x valueyou interpret confidence intervals for a single y measurement for a given x valueyou calculate the coefficient of determination and the correlation coefficient for a set of paired xy datayou interpret the coefficient of determination and the correlation coefficient for a set of paired xy datayou demonstrate the connections between the regression slope and the correlation coefficientyou compute the degrees of freedom associated with the error variation and the explained variationyou demonstrate the connections between the explained variation, the error variation, ANOVA and the coefficient of determinationyou interpret the results of ANOVA applied to the regression fityou plot graphs of the residualsyou inspect graphs of the residuals for deterministic deviations from a linear model
-
Apply statistical methods to a real experiment.Assessment Strategiesin the solution to a problem on a quiz, homework, project or examCriteriayou acquire real data from an experimentyou apply statistical processes and reasoning to questions posed by acquired datayou communicate the hypotheses testedyou communicate the procedure for data acquisitionyou communicate the statistical methods usedyou communicate the conclusions reachedyou communicate any underlying assumptions made about the nature of the data, and the self consistency or reasonableness of such assumptions