MASTER SYLLABUS

Course number & title:   BUS/MATH 341 Intermediate Applied Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences

Department(s):     Accounting/MIS—Mathematics/Computer Science

Credit hours:        3

Prerequisites:     Statistics 208

Fees and charges:     None

Effective catalog date for this master syllabus: 2006-2007

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Catalog description:

  The student will learn to execute three major steps in the data analysis process: (a) identify the appropriate statistical technique for a given research problem; (b) conduct analyses using the SPSS for Windows computer software (one-sample, dependent-samples and independent-samples t tests, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, correlation, simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and factor analysis); and (c) interpret the statistical values generated by these various analytical tools. BUS/MATH credit.

2. Course content:

  In this course students will learn specific statistical techniques as applied to various research problems found in a variety of fields of study. The topics contained in the course include the following:

  1.   Introduction to the SPSS for Windows software

  2.   Hypothesis testing [one sample case]

  1.   steps used to construct and test a set of hypotheses designed to determine whether the population mean has changed
  2.   use of SPSS to conduct a one-sample t test and the interpretation of the results
  3.   types of errors encountered in hypothesis testing
  4.   power analysis and sample size determination for a one-sample t test
  5.   practical significance versus statistical significance
  6.   calculation and classification of an effect size

3.   Two types of t tests used to test the difference between two means

  1.   use of SPSS to conduct a paired-samples t test and the interpretation of the results
  2.   use of SPSS to conduct an independent t test and the interpretation of the results

4.   One-Way ANOVA

  1.   use of SPSS to conduct a one-way ANOVA and the interpretation of the ANOVA table
  2.   reason for conducting multiple comparisons tests
  3.   use of SPSS to conduct various types of multiple comparisons tests and the interpretation of those tests

5. Two-way ANOVA and interaction effects

  1.   use of SPSS to conduct a two-way ANOVA and the interpretation of the ANOVA table
  2.   using SPSS to plot the interaction effect and identify whether it is ordinal or disordinal
  3.   construction of an SPSS syntax file to conduct simple effects tests
6. Bivariate correlation analysis with SPSS including the scattergram 7. Construction of simple linear regression model, analysis of the models with SPSS, and the interpretation of the results 8. Construction of multiple linear regression models, analysis of the models with SPSS, and the interpretation of the results
  1.   the use of continuous independent variables
  2.   the use of dummy independent variables
  3.   the use of a series of dummy independent variables
  4.   the construction and analysis of models that contain two-way interaction effects
9.  Chi-Square test [two group case] 10. The use of SPSS to analyze logistic regression models [two group case] and the interpretation of the results
  1.   evaluating the statistical significance of the independent variable coefficients
  2.   assessing the model's prediction accuracy
  3.   the calculation and interpretation of Delta-p values
11. The use of SPSS to conduct factor analysis and the identification of the factors

3. Student learning objectives:

The student will learn to execute three major steps in the data analysis process: (a) identify the appropriate statistical technique for a given research problem; (b) conduct analyses using the SPSS for Windows computer software (one-sample, dependent-samples and independent-samples t tests, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, correlation, simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and factor analysis); and (c) interpret the statistical values generated by these various analytical tools.

4. Student assessment criteria:


The degree of student mastery of the material presented in this course will be evaluated through two methods: (a) three tests, and (b) a paper that addresses the statistical analyses presented in a research article selected by the student.

The concepts included on each of the three tests are contained on the objectives sheets contained in the course syllabus.  The tests will contain only the material presented in the objectives.

  The analysis of research article is organized under the following headings: 
                   1.  Introduction -- A brief discussion of the purpose of the article
                   2.  Selection of Statistical Technique -- A discussion of the reasons why the statistical       technique used in the study was chosen
                   3.  Hypotheses -- A presentation of the hypotheses being tested
                   4.  Interpretation – A detailed discussion and interpretation of the statistical test results
                   5.  Summary -- A discussion of the results.

5. Additional information (optional):


T he textbook used in this course is Using SPSS to Solve Statistical Problems: A Self-Instruction Guide , by David M. Shannon and Mark A. Davenport, published by Merrill Prentice-Hall. Additional information will be disseminated through handouts, lectures, and computer programs. The SPSS for Windows computer software, which is available on the university's computer network system will be extensively used in this course. The textbook also includes a student version of SPSS, which the students can load on their own computers.

Note: Additional items for the student syllabus would be the instructor's name, office phone, e-mail address, office number, etc.; more specific assessment criteria; resource materials/required text(s); attendance policy; class preparation and participation; academic responsibility/integrity statement; accommodation statement for students with disabilities; day-to-day schedule of assignments, tests, major projects, final exam, etc.

Back to Master Syllabi