Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to the respective Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and Empirical and Quantitative Skills. Specific competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

Explain the use of data collection and statistics as tools to reach reasonable conclusions by
1. defining statistics;
2. distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative variables;
3. distinguishing between discrete and continuous variables;
4. explaining the difference between an observational study and an experiment.
Recognize, examine, and interpret the basic principles of describing and presenting data by
1. constructing frequency and relative frequency distribution tables for a data set;
2. constructing representations of data graphically using bar graphs, histograms, pie charts, and/or other types of statistical graphs;
3. interpreting data presented in graphs.
Compute and interpret empirical and theoretical probabilities using the rules of probabilities and combinatorics by
1. computing the probability of an event;
2. computing probabilities using the complement rule;
3. computing probabilities using the addition and multiplication rules.
Explain the role of probability in statistics.
Examine, analyze, and compare various sampling distributions for both discrete and continuous random variables by
1. constructing a probability distribution;
2. finding the mean, variance, standard deviation, and expected value for a discrete random variable;
3. describing the properties of the normal distribution;
4. finding probabilities for a normally distributed random variable;
5. finding the z-scores that correspond to the probability of a normally distributed random variable.
Describe and compute confidence intervals by
1. constructing a confidence interval about a population parameter;
2. computing the required sample size for finding a confidence interval.
Solve linear regression and correlation problems by
1. determining the mean, median, and mode for a data set;
2. computing the range, variance, and standard deviation of a data set;
3. computing measures of position such as z-scores, quartiles, and/or percentiles for a data set;
4. computing the approximate mean, variance, and standard deviation for grouped data;
5. computing the linear correlation coefficient;
6. finding the least squares regression line.
Perform hypothesis testing using statistical methods by
1. determining the null and alternative hypotheses for a hypothesis test;
2. performing an appropriate hypothesis test;
3. stating the appropriate conclusion for a hypothesis test.
Critical Thinking Skills: Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, synthesize, and perform inquiry and analysis of information in mathematical problems by
1. identifying possible sources of bias in a statistical study and explaining how to reduce bias;
2. demonstrating understanding of inferential statistics by constructing confidence intervals and/or performing hypothesis testing.
Communication Skills: Demonstrate the ability to communicate orally, visually, and/or in writing using mathematical language and symbols by
1. constructing graphical representations of data;
2. translating real-world problems into mathematics problems that involve statistics and probability.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Manipulate and analyze numerical data or observable facts in making informed conclusions by
1. calculating measures of central tendency, variation, and position;
2. computing empirical and theoretical probabilities.

MATH 1342

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MATH 1342 - Elementary Statistical Methods