Elementary Biostatistics

BIOL 2300

Spring, 2003

MWF  9:00 – 9:50

Life Sciences Building, Room 124

 

 

Instructor: Dr. James P. Grover

Office Room #: 468   Box: 19498

Office Hours: MWF 10-12; or by appointment

Office Phone & e-mail: 2405, grover@uta.edu

Required Text:

Sokal, R.R. and F.J. Rohlf. 1987. Introduction to Biostatistics, 2^nd ed. W.H. Freeman & Co., N.Y.

Course lecture notes will also be available through the electronic reserves system at the library.

 

Course Objectives: To become competent in techniques of statistical analysis appropriate for biological sciences. To become familiar with interpreting data and drawing conclusions based on statistical analysis.

 

Course Description: Introduction to the collection, description, and analysis of data with statistical methods appropriate for biological sciences.

 

Course Prerequisites: BIOL 1441 and 1442, or permission of the instructor.

 

Grading Policy: Grades are based on exams, homework assignments, and pop quizzes according to the following breakdown. There is no extra credit.

 

 

Attendance Policy: Attendance is required. Pop quizzes will be unannounced and may occur during any class during the semester.

 

Late Work: Homework assignments are due in class on the assigned date. Homework that is up to one week late will be penalized 10% (of the total score possible). Credit will not be given to homework that is more than one week late.

 

Make-up Exams: There will be no make-up exams unless an unanticipated and severe problem prevents attendance on the scheduled date, or unless the student is representing the University in an officially recognized activity for which University policy allows an excusable absence (e.g. intercollegiate athletics). Written documentation of circumstances will be required for make-up exams.

 

Drop policy: Withdrawal will be permitted for students making progress in the course who encounter unexpected difficulties. Students should be aware of University regulations regarding withdrawal and deadline dates.

 

Other issues: This is a large class, so please be considerate of other students and arrive on time. Turn off cell phones and pagers.

 

Schedule of Lecture Topics

 

Timing of topics is tentative, but the time of the Midterm is firm.

 

Date	Topic	Reading
Jan. 13-15	Introduction: Statistics and their use in biology	chapter 1
Jan. 17	Data and frequency distributions	chapter 2
Jan. 20	Martin Luther King Day, no classes
Jan. 22	Data and frequency distributions, cont.	chapter 2
Jan. 24-29	Descriptive statistics	chapter 3
Jan. 31	Clinic I
Feb. 3-7	Probability and the binomial distribution	chapter 4
Feb. 10-12	The Poisson distribution, Introduction to the normal distribution	chapters 4,5
Feb. 14	Clinic II
Feb. 17-19	The normal distribution	chapter 5
Feb. 21 – Mar. 3	Estimation and testing	chapter 6
Mar. 5	Clinic III
Mar. 7	Midterm Exam
Mar. 10-14	Introduction to Analysis of Variance	chapter 7
Mar. 17-21	Spring Break
Mar. 24-31	One-way Analysis of Variance	chapter 8
Apr. 2	Clinic IV	chapter 8
Apr. 4-7	Assumptions of the Analysis of Variance
Apr. 9	Analysis and interpretation of frequency data	chapter 13
Apr. 11	*Science Fair, no class
Apr. 14-18	Analysis and interpretation of frequency data, cont.	chapter 13
Apr. 21	Clinic V
Apr. 23-28	Linear regression	chapter 11
Apr. 30	Correlation analysis	chapter 12
May 2	Clinic VI

 

*UTA is hosting the 2003 Texas State Science and Engineering Fair. All classes in the College of Science are cancelled. Volunteers to help run the Fair will be needed. 

 

Final Examination

 

Wednesday May 7, 8:00-10:30 AM, room 124 Life Sciences.

Note that the Final Exam begins one hour earlier than normal class time!

The final exam will be comprehensive.

 

 

Schedule of Homework Assignments

 

 

Important University policies:

 

Americans with Disabilities Act

If you are a student who requires accommodations in compliance with the ADA, please consult with me at the beginning of the semester. As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide “reasonable accommodation” to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Your responsibility is to inform me of the disability at the beginning of the semester and provide me with documentation authorizing the specific accommodation. Student services at UTA include the Office for Students with Disabilities (located in the lower level of the University Center) which is responsible for verifying and implementing accommodations to ensure equal opportunity in all programs and activities.

 

Student Support Services

The University supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success.  They include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs.  Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.

 

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form at The University of Texas at Arlington. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.

 

“Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.” (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2., Subdivision 3.22).

 

Bomb Threats

If anyone is tempted to call in a bomb threat, be aware that UTA will attempt to trace the phone call and prosecute all responsible parties. Every effort will be made to avoid cancellation of presentations/tests caused by bomb threats. Unannounced alternate sites will be available for these classes. Your instructor will make you aware of alternate class sites in the event that your classroom is not available.

 

Drop for non-payment of tuition

If you are dropped form this class for non-payment of tuition, you may secure an enrollment loan through the Bursar’s office. You may not continue to attend class until your Enrollment Loan has been applied to outstanding tuition fees.

 

Previous Grade Replacements

Students enrolling in a course with the intention of replacing a previous grade earned in the same course must declare their intention at the registrar’s office by the Census Date of the semester in which they enrolled.

 

Final Review Week

A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week