COURSE INFO (Winter 2012)

The course aims to develop broad guidelines for a comprehensive approach to the state of the art statistical consulting.  Topics include a guide to effective communication, issues of the ethical statistical practice and problem solving.  Data exploration, criteria for the model selection, and other advanced data analysis methods are discussed through case studies.  The use of SAS and R will be emphasized. 

SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

Statistical Consulting: A Guide to Effective Communication by Janice Derr, Duxbury Press

The Statistical Sleuth, A Course in Methods of Data Analysis by Ramsey and Schafer, Duxbury Press

Modern Applied Statistics with S by Venables, W.N. and Ripley, B.D, Springer

Problem Solving by Chatfields, Chapman & Hall/CRC.

COURSE OUTLINE

Part I: Communication Skills and Professional Issues for Statisticians 

Part II: Technical Issues for Statisticians:

a) Statistical Computing with R/SAS

• Programming

• Data Management, Data Exploration and Data Visualization

• Commonly Used Data Analysis Procedures

b) Design and Analysis

• Drawing Statistical Conclusion: Experimental Design versus Observational Study

• Doing a Survey

• Doing an Experimental Design

• Selected Topics with Case Studies (Sample Size Issues, Regression, Time Series Analysis and Categorical Analysis)

Assignment and Project:  There are weekly assignments, by-weekly projects, or presentations.

Final Project: A "real-world" project and an oral presentation.

Tentative Marking Scheme: 

Software:  You will be using the software packages: SAS and R.  So please ensure that these software packages are installed on your computer.  SAS 9.2 can be installed through the Acadia software program  (P:\Programs\SAS).  R can be downloaded from

http://www.r-project.org/

PREREQUISITES

• Two of Math 3233, 3253, 3263, 3273, 3283, 3293.

• Coreg:  3h course from above list

Note: If you are a student with a documented disability who anticipates needing accommodations in this course, please inform me after you meet Jill Davies or Kathy O’Rourke in Disability Access Services, Student Resource Centre, lower floor of the Old SUB ( Old Student Union Building). Their contact information is jill.davies@acadiau.ca  585-1127 or disability.access@acadiau.ca  585-1823

Page updated on Jan. 10, 2012.