Statistics and Computer Applications in Natural Sciences (ENV-200 and 200L)
Fall Semester, 2008
Instructor: Dr. Hongbing Sun
Periods: Lecture- Tuesday & Thursday, 9:45-11:15 in Rm STC 334.
Laboratory - Thursday, STC Rm 334 (2:20- 5:20)
Office Hours: Wed. 10:20-11:20 AM, 1:10-2:10 PM; Fri. 10:20-11:20AM.
Room 324,
Objectives: Student will learn variables, probability, central tendency, variability, graphical representation, scales, sampling procedures, hypothesis testing, and statistical interpretation of biological, environmental, marine, and geological data. This course will address the departmental assessment goals of enabling students to demonstrate knowledge of interpretation of spatial and temporal graphical data in the form of various graphs and maps to either support or reject scientific hypotheses.
Text: Biostatistical Analysis (4th edition) by J. H. Zar
Evaluations: Three lecture exams: 51% of the total, each exam:17%. Homework: 10%. Laboratory Exercises: 35%. In class exercises may be counted towards the total grade for up to 15 points. Total points will be 101 points. My grading policy is as follows: A range >90, B range 80-89, C range 70-79, D range 60-69, F range <60. "Borderline" cases will be judged individually, based on grade improvement, demonstrated effort and class participation, etc.
Attendance Is Required. Regular attendance makes a big difference in the final grade received. The material in this class is cumulative. If you miss a day, you may find that you are lost during the next lecture. Four unexcused absences will result in a drop of your final score by 4 points. Excessive absences will result in more deducted points from your total score (or you being dropped from the course). Excuses for absence will be granted for approved athletic participation, approved field trips, a certified serious illness, death in the immediate family and military examinations. Absence from class, no matter what the reason, does not grant the student a chance to make up the in-class exercises or a quiz. Instructor′s permission for withdrawal will be given only for exceptional circumstances. Make-up exams are generally not given and a grade of "F" is given for any regularly scheduled exam that is missed.
Note: In order to be excused for an absence, you must have documentation to validate your excuses. For example, if you are sick, you need a doctor′s note to show me. If your car broke down, you need a slip from the towing company or your mechanics. Also it is my experience that self-motivated students tend to do better in this course. If you usually leave things to the last minute, it may be difficult for you to keep your grades at an acceptable level. If your math skills are a bit rusty or you are a bit fearful of math in general, I suggest you pick up additional reference books such as Basic Statistics or Statistics for Dummies from the library or book stores.
Cheating: Academic integrity is highly valued at Rider. Students caught cheating during an examination will be removed from the class and given a "zero" for that test.
Class schedules are tentative, may change during the semester
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Dates |
Topics |
References Chapter |
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Sept |
4 |
Basic Data and Types of Graphs |
1.3-1.5 |
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9 |
Types of Graphs |
1.1- 1.2 |
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11 |
Scales of Geological/Biological Data |
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11 |
Lab - Graphical Representations of Data |
Chpt. 2 |
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16 |
Sampling Procedures & Information Loss |
3.1-3.5; |
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18 |
Population Estimators; Central Tendency |
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18 |
Lab - Ternary Diagrams |
4.1-4.6; 6.1-6.3 |
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23 |
Measures of Dispersion and Variation |
7.3-7.4; 7.8, 7.10 |
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25 |
Measures of Dispersion and Variation |
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25 |
Lab - Descriptive Statistics; Confidence Limits |
4.7 |
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30 |
Community Estimators/Diversity Indices |
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Oct |
2 |
Exam (Types of Graphs-Community Estimators) |
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2 |
Lab - t-Test; Pairing Design Test; Wilcoxon Test; Median Test |
6.4-6.5; 7.1-7.2 |
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7 |
Hypothesis Formation & Testing |
8.1, 8.9-8.11 |
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9 |
Tests for Central Tendency |
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9 |
Lab - Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test; Mann-Whitney U Test |
Chapter 9; 24.7 |
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14 |
Tests for Central Tendency |
24.1, 24.5-6 |
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* |
16 |
Poisson Distributions & Randomness |
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* |
16 |
Lab - Goodness of Fit Test; Runs Test; Binomial Test |
25.1, 25.6-7; 26.1-8 |
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21 |
Circular Distributions of Data |
27.1, 27.6, 27.18-19 |
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23 |
Tests of Orientational Data |
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23 |
Lab - Rose Diagrams & Tests of Orientational Data |
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28 |
Catch up |
Notes |
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30 |
Tests of Spatially Distributed Data |
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30 |
Lab - Nearest Neighbor Test & Variance/Mean Ratio Test |
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Nov |
4 |
Exam (Tests of Central Tendency to Spatially Distributed Data) |
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6 |
Sequential Events |
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6 |
Lab - Cluster Analysis |
8.5, 10. 6 |
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11 |
Homogeneity of Variance |
10.1,10.4-5;11.1 |
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13 |
Analysis of Variance (One way) |
12.1,12.4-5 |
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13 |
Analysis of Variance (Two way) |
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18 |
Bartlet's Test & F-Test |
19.1 |
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20 |
Correlation Tests |
19.9,19.5,19.1 |
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Lab - |
18.1-2 |
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27 |
NO CLASS- THANKSGIVING RECESS |
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27 |
NO LAB- THANKSGIVING RECESS |
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Dec |
2 |
Correlation Tests: Regression Analysis |
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4 |
Regression Analysis |
17.1-4. 17.6, 17.10 |
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4 |
Lab - Correlation Tests & Regression Analysis |
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Dec |
11 |
Monday, 9:30-11:30 FINAL EXAM (Homogeneity of variance to regression analysis). |
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* I am planning to attend the Geological Association of NJ meeting on 10/16-18. But the date still not set yet. There may not be a class on the 10/16.