A written statement (1 page) presenting a strong argument for substituting a graduate level core course.

Djeto Assané University of Nevada, Las Vegas

BEH 506 Department of Economics

Tel: 895-3284 ECON 261, Principle of Statistics I, Section 1

TTH: 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Fall 2015

Office hours: (TTH: 11:30-1:00 PM)

by appointment

E-mail address: [email protected]

Tel: (702) 895-3284

Supplemental

Instruction: Zachary (Zach) Blankfeld will serve as a supplemental instruction (SI) graduate assistant for this course. [email protected] or [email protected] Office: BEH 507.

Econ 261 is a one-semester course in beginning statistics for economics, business and hotel majors. The topics cover descriptive statistics, probability and probability distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing, simple regression and correlation analysis. The prerequisite is MATH 124.

The course gives students an understanding of why statistics is important in everyday life and provides them with tools such that upon completion of the course (i) they can describe data sets through graphs and summary measures, (ii) they can understand the concept of probability which has root in the analysis of gambling game, (iii) they can understand the basic facts about random variables and probability distributions, (iv) they have a basic foundation and understanding of inferential statistics with applications in estimation and hypothesis testing, (v) they can read critically results of EXCEL simple regression output, and (vi) they can gain a competence with EXCEL sufficient for the analysis of moderately complex data sets and increase the marketability of EXCEL skills gained.

Text

Ken Black (2014). Business Statistics for Contemporary Decision Making. Wiley (8th Edition).

WebCampus: This course is a WebCampus course. I will post the course outline, reading assignments, other handouts, and so on at the WebCampus site. You can access this site 24/7, except for scheduled maintenance on the system and unexpected downtimes due to technical glitches.

Evaluation: There will be a total of four exams. I will also assign a term project that deals with data analysis. The homework will require the use of Microsoft statistical package. For this assignment you may cooperate with a group that should not exceed three students. Final grade will weight four exam grades by 20% each and the homework grade by 20%.

Exam 1 : 20%

Exam 2 : 20%

Exam 3 : 20%

Final Exam: 20%

Term project: 20%

Relevant University Policies:

Academic Misconduct—Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution.

An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at: http://studentconduct.unlv.edu/misconduct/policy.html.

Copyright—The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at: http://provost.unlv.edu/copyright/statements.html.

Disability Resource Center (DRC)—The UNLV Disability Resource Center (SSC-A 143, http://drc.unlv.edu/, 702-895-0866) provides resources for students with disabilities. If you feel that you have a disability, please make an appointment with a Disabilities Specialist at the DRC to discuss what options may be available to you.

If you are registered with the UNLV Disability Resource Center, bring your Academic Accommodation Plan from the DRC to me during office hours so that we may work together to develop strategies for implementing the accommodations to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. Any information you provide is private and will be treated as such. To maintain the confidentiality of your request, please do not approach me before or after class in front of others to discuss your accommodation needs.

Religious Holidays Policy—Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor no later than the end of the first two weeks of classes, September 4, 2015, of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. For additional information, please visit: http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=531.

Incomplete Grades—The grade of I—Incomplete—can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed three-fourths of course work for that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the student’s control, and acceptable to the instructor, cannot complete the last part of the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. The incomplete work must be made up before the end of the following regular semester for undergraduate courses. Graduate students receiving “I” grades in 500-, 600-, or 700- level courses have up to one calendar year to complete the work, at the discretion of the instructor. If course requirements are not completed within the time indicated, a grade of F will be recorded and the GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete do not register for the course but make individual arrangements with the instructor who assigned the I grade.

Tutoring—The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides tutoring and academic assistance for all UNLV students taking UNLV courses. Students are encouraged to stop by the ASC to learn more about subjects offered, tutoring times and other academic resources. The ASC is located across from the Student Services Complex (SSC). Students may learn more about tutoring services by calling (702) 895-3177 or visiting the tutoring web site at: http://academicsuccess.unlv.edu/tutoring/.

UNLV Writing Center—One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at the Writing Center, located in CDC-3-301. Although walk-in consultations are sometimes available, students with appointments will receive priority assistance. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 895-3908. The student’s Rebel ID Card, a copy of the assignment (if possible), and two copies of any writing to be reviewed are requested for the consultation. More information can be found at: http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/

Rebelmail—By policy, faculty and staff should e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts only. Rebelmail is UNLV’s official e-mail system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication such as information about deadlines, major campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after they have been admitted to the university. Students’ e-mail prefixes are listed on class rosters. The suffix is always @unlv.nevada.edu. Emailing within WebCampus is acceptable.

Final Examinations—The University requires that final exams given at the end of a course occur at the time and on the day specified in the final exam schedule. See the schedule at: http://www.unlv.edu/registrar/calendars.

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

1. 1. Measures of central tendency: Ungrouped Data

1. Median

2. Mode

3. Mean

2. Measures of Variability

1. Range

2. Variance and standard deviation

3. Coefficient of variation

4. Empirical rule and Cheybeshev’s theorem

1. Descriptive relationships

1. Scatter plots

2. Covariance and correlation coefficient

II. Probability (Chapter 4 )

1. Definition and rules of probability

2. Independent, dependent, and mutually exclusive events

3. Joint, conditional, and marginal probabilities

4. Probability tree

Exam 1: September 19

1. Discrete Random Variables and Probability Distributions (5.1-5.2)

1. Discrete random variables and probability distribution Table (Graph)

2. Expected value (mean) of a random variable

3. Variance and standard deviation of a discrete random variable

1. Binomial Distributions ( 5.3)

1. A discrete Probability distribution: The binomial distribution

2. Mean, variance, and standard deviation of a binomial random variable

3. Binomial distribution Tables

1. Normal Distribution (6.2)

1. Continuous random variable

2. Normal and standard normal distribution

3. Standard normal distribution Table

Exam 2: October 17

1. Sampling and Sampling Distributions (Chapter 7)

1. Sampling from a population

1. Random sampling and random numbers

2. Sampling with and without replacement

1. Sampling Distributions of the sample mean

1. Central limit theorem

2. Mean, variance, and standard deviation of the sample mean

3. Standard normal distribution Table

1. Estimation (Chapter 8)

1. Estimation: Describing a single population

1. Point and interval estimation

2. Sampling and non-sampling errors

3. Estimating the population mean when the variance is known

4. Estimating the population mean when the variance is unknown

5. Estimating the population proportion

6. Sample size determination

2. Estimation: Comparing two populations

1. Estimating the difference between two population means

2. Estimating the difference between two population proportions

Exam 3: November 07

1. Hypothesis Testing (Chapters 9-10)

1. Tests of statistical hypothesis

1. Concept of hypothesis testing

2. Decision making: steps and process

1. Test about populations

1. Test for a single population mean when the variance is known

2. P-value approach

3. Test about a population mean when the variance is unknown

4. Test about a population proportion

1. Test about two populations

1. Testing the difference between two population means

2. Testing the difference between two population proportions

VI Simple Regression and Correlation (Chapter 12)

1. Introduction to regression

2. Least squares method

3. Inferences about the slope coefficient

4. The coefficient of determination, R2

5. Interpreting Microsoft Excel output

Final Exam: Thursday, December 12; 10:10 Am-12:10 PM

NOTE: There is nothing random about exam dates. Plan accordingly, as no make-ups will be given except under extreme circumstances (accident, illness). I reserve the right to verify all evidences before a make-up exam is scheduled.

Important Dates

Exam 1: September 19

Exam 2: October 17

Drop Day: October 31

Exam 3: November 07

Final Exam: December 12

Other important Matters

Monday, September 7: Labor Day Recess

Friday, October 31: Nevada Day Recess

Drop Day: October 31

Wednesday, November 11: Veteran Day Recess

November 26-27, Thursday-Friday: Thanksgiving Day Recess

Saturday, December 5: Instructions Ends

Tuesday, December 15: Final grades are due

You are ultimately responsible for knowing and fulfilling all the requirements of your desired degree.  Please read and understand the relevant sections of The Undergraduate Catalog, and contact the Undergraduate Advising office (business.unlv.edu/advising) with any questions.  Also, you will need to review the prerequisites of all courses required for your degree and plan ahead to ensure that you will have satisfied the prerequisites in time to take the courses on schedule for your planned graduation date.  Prerequisites will not be waived to facilitate graduation timing issues.