ECO 138: Syllabus

Economics 138 - Economic Reasoning Using Statistics
Spring 2006, Monday and Wednesday
12:00 – 1:15, CVA 151

Dr. Karie Barbour                                                                             Office Hours:
STV 423D                                                                                         M: 1:30 – 3:00
438-3005                                                                                         W: 1:30 – 3:00
kbarbou@ilstu.edu                                                                             or byappointment

Required Text: Intro Stats, 2^nd Edition, by Richard D. DeVeaux, Paul F. Velleman and David E. Bock, Pearson Education, Inc.

Course Description & Objectives:

Economics 138 is a three credit introductory statistics course that is the equivalent of GEO/POS/PSY 138 and satisfies the University’s middle core quantitative reasoning requirement. In this course, we will focus on methods for exploring and understanding data, basic probability theory, and inferential statistics. After completing this course you should have a critical understanding of statistics as well as enough experience applying statistical methods to real world issues and data to benefit you throughout your career. Specifically, at the end of this course you should be able to understand and apply appropriate statistical techniques to address a variety of real world questions, analyze data using statistical software, and correctly interpret and effectively communicate your findings.

Grading:

Exams (100 points each)................................................................................. 300 pts

Quizzes (20 points each)................................................................................. 100 pts

Data analysis assignments (20 points each) ........................................................ 60 pts

Total points possible...................................................................................... 460 pts

Grading Scale: You must earn at least 414 pts (90%) to achieve an A in the course, 368pts (80%) for a B, 332 pts (70%) for a C, and 276 pts (60%) for a D.

Exams: You will be required to take three in-class examinations. Roughly 75 percent of each exam will consist of multiple-choice questions while the remaining 25 percent will be short answer problems. NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. Students who must miss an exam should contact the professor to seek approval to take the exam prior to the scheduled exam date. An optional cumulative final exam is scheduled for Thursday, May 11^th at 1:00 pm. This exam will consist entirely of multiple choice questions. You may replace your lowest exam score with the grade earned on the final (assuming you took all three regular semester exams). If you miss a regular semester exam, you will be required to take the comprehensive final.

Quizzes: I will give a total of six quizzes throughout the semester consisting entirely of multiple-choice questions. NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES WILL BE GIVEN for any reason. You will receive a zero for any quiz that you miss; however, at the end of the semester I will drop your lowest quiz score. Thus, your final grade will consist in part of 6 quizzes valued at 20 points each.

Data Analysis Assignments: The objective of these assignments is to give you first-hand experience using a statistical software package (we will be using SPSS) to analysis data. Throughout the semester, lectures will include demonstrations on how to use specific statistical techniques in SPSS to investigate real world questions. You will then be given the opportunity to practice these skills by completing three separate assignments. For each of these assignments, I will provide you with a data set, SPSS instructions and a list of questions to be explored. A complete assignment will include the results that you have generated from SPSS as well as your own in-depth analysis and conclusions based on those results. Late assignments will be assigned a penalty of two points per day. Additional details regarding the individual assignments as well as open lab hours for the STV 438 and STV 440 computer labs and scheduled SPSS tutorials will be made available in the coming weeks.

Additional Course Policies:

The use of cell phones, laptops, PDAs, or any other electronic device will not be tolerated in class. Please turn these devices off before entering the room.
Class begins promptly at 12:00 and does not end until 1:15. Please be in your seats ready to go at 12:00 and plan to stay for the duration. Unapproved late arrivals and early departures are rude, disruptive, and disrespectful of the professor and your fellow students.
Calculators will be required for all quizzes and exams. Cell phones and PDAs may not serve as substitutes for calculators.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability, please contact Disability Concerns at 350 Fell Hall, (309) 438-5853 or (309) 438-8620 (TTY).

Warning!!!: Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student found to be guilty of such a crime will receive an F in the course and may face dismissal from the university.

Important Dates:

January 30th – Last day to withdraw without a withdrawal grade of WX assigned.

March 10th– Last day to withdraw from a course with a withdrawal grade (WX)

assigned. (Instructor’s signature required).