The goal of this course is to introduce statistical techniques for collecting and 
analyzing data with an emphasis on statistical thinking and how statistics is used 
in everyday situations. Students will learn how to read data summaries critically, 
how to produce data, how to use sound and appropriate methods for drawing 
trustworthy conclusions, how to make defensible descriptions and inferences about 
samples and populations, how to design experimental studies, how to distinguish 
between observational and experimental studies, and how to communicate the 
appropriate conclusions of statistical studies (both orally and written). Students 
will develop a basic understanding of  the practical application of statistics by 
preparing presentations and reports that feature statistical methods and results, 
often working in groups on these projects. Use of technology is integrated into the 
course using statistical software, statistical calculators, web based applets, and 
presentation and word processing software. Current case studies and media items are 
discussed and analyzed in the course.

Course topics include summarizing and exploring data for both univariate 
(histograms, stem and leaf plots, boxplots, dotplots, timeplots, measures of 
location, measures of dispersion, z-scores, Empirical Rule)  and bivariate analysis 
(scatterplots, correlation, regression, contingency tables, conditional 
proportions); study design, including sampling techniques for surveys, and the 
design of experimental and observational studies; probability and probability 
distributions, including the binomial and normal; sampling distributions; 
confidence intervals for means and proportions; significance testing for means and 
proportions; Type I and II errors; power of a test; and Chi-Square analysis.