Course Syllabus

Statistical Modeling (DATA 350-01)

Spring 2021 - Online Instruction Only

The general linear model is a powerful framework for modeling relationships in data analysis. This course establishes the theory and application of regression models from simple and multiple regression through ANOVA and logit models. In addition to building models, we will also learn to diagnose model fit and handle a wide range of possible complications. We will use the statistical language R for analysis and R Markdown for the presentation of statistical analysis.

As learning outcomes for this course, students will be able to

  • understand the purposes and limitations of statistical models,
  • build and interpret regression models using both numerical and categorical predictors,
  • perform one-way, two-way, and higher-way ANOVA and ANCOVA,
  • diagnose models, considering outliers, leverage, influence, non-normality, heteroskedasticity, non-linearity, and collinearity.
  • perform logit regression for categorical response variables,
  • use technology appropriately,
  • communicate reasoning effectively both orally and in writing.

Prerequisite

DATA 220

Online Teaching Time

Monday, Wednesday 12:00–1:50.

Online Office Hours

Tuesday, Thursday 5-6, and by appointments. 

Instructor

Jingsai Liang (please call me Jingsai).

Zoom

Zoom Meeting for regular classes and office hours: 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83408911806?pwd=ZWQ2VFdHdDIvQWdSYWJhM0I4WXhOZz09 (Links to an external site.)

Password: 732755

Slack

Slack for discussing and Q&A: https://join.slack.com/t/statisticalmo-48y6609/shared_invite/zt-ksayg0md-_ffO6PQ6Aa7twN8hcFN3Dw

(Email me if this invitation link is expired.)

Slack is an instant messaging platform. By using slack, we can discuss questions and communicate with each other more efficiently. You can use it in a web browser or there are apps for most platforms (including mobile phones). Each topic/assignment will have a channel. All questions and answers are displayed and kept so you can see what other people have asked and the answers.

Email

All email correspondence for the course should be conducted through JLiang@westminstercollege.edu

Also note that math questions are very difficult to answer over e-mail. Please restrict those types of questions to class time and office hours. I would also ask that you check this syllabus and other resources on the Canvas site before emailing me; most of the common questions are addressed here.

Assignments cannot be turned in via email.

Text

Cannon et al., Stat2:  Modeling with Regression and ANOVA. Second Edition.

Topics Covered

We will cover most of chapters 0–7 and 9.

Methodology

This class is a participatory experience. As we discuss the material, I will ask many questions so that you, the student, will be involved in an active classroom discussion. Sometimes the participation will be voluntary. Other times I will call on specific individuals to contribute. You will not be able to listen and take notes passively. I firmly believe that the more you are engaged in the dialogue, the better your chances of success are in the course. It is critical that you become an active participant in the classroom. I will guide the direction of the course and play a steady supporting role, but the real work will—out of necessity—be in your capable hands.

Attendance/Participation

You are required to be in class every day. If you know you are going to be gone or if there is an illness or other emergency, please send me an email. (You can tell me in person if you'd like, but you will not receive an excused absence in the gradebook until it's officially documented in an email to me.)

If you are not present when attendance is taken, you will be marked absent. Therefore, if you come in late and wish to be marked present, you must let me know in class or send me an email. 

You will also be asked to provide a self-assessment of your engagement and participation in the course throughout the semester.

Assignments

The homework will consist of R notebooks that ask you to complete certain questions relating to the topics covered in the course.

Your lowest R assignment score will be dropped.

Exams

You will have one or two take-home midterm exams that will be completed in an R notebook. There is no final exam. They will both be open-book and taken-home in R Markdown. You will have one or two weeks to complete the exams. 

Modeling project

Your final project will be a modeling project for which you will choose a suitable data set, establish hypotheses about relationships among the variables, and then fit models using tools learned in the course.  More information about this project is posted in the assignment instructions.

Grading

The grade distribution is as follows:

Assignments 30%
Exams 30%
Modeling Project 30%
Attendance/Participation 10%

Your letter grade will be based on the following scale:

A 93%–100%
A- 90%–93%
B+ 88%–90%
B  83%–88%
B- 80%–83%
C+ 78%–80%
C 73%–78%
C- 70%–73%
D+  65%–70%
D 60%–65%
D- 55%–60%
F 0%–55%

 

Academic Honesty

All work shall comply with the Westminster College academic honesty policy. (See the relevant section in the Academic Catalog.) Cheating will not be tolerated. This includes—but is not limited to—copying assignments, using unauthorized materials in a test, looking at someone else's paper during a test, collaborating with another person during a test, plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and other similar activities. You are all adults and you know what constitutes cheating; therefore, I will never accept an excuse of "I didn't know." If there's any question as to what constitutes cheating, please ask before it becomes a problem. I reserve the right to assess a penalty for cheating as the severity demands. The minimum penalty will be a zero on that particular test or assignment. More likely, though, is that you will receive an "F" in the class. You will also be reported to the dean for any violation. Having said that, I encourage you to work together on the assignments (this is not the same thing as copying another's completed assignment) and study together for tests.

Your rights under federal laws

Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973/ADA.  Westminster college is committed to provide equal access in higher education. If you need disability-related accommodations in this class, have emergency medical information you wish to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform me immediately. Please see me privately after class or in my office. Disability Services authorizes disability-related academic accommodations in cooperation with the students themselves and their instructors. Students who need academic accommodations or have questions about their eligibility should contact Jody Katz, Director of Disability Services & Testing Center, in the basement of Giovale Library (801-832-2272) or email disabilityservices@westminstercollege.edu.   

Title IX.  Westminster College is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students that is free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment.  This includes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.  If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know you are not alone.  Westminster College has staff members trained to support you in navigating campus life, accessing health and counseling service, providing academic and housing accommodations, and more.

Please be aware all Westminster College faculty members are “mandatory” which means if you tell me about a situation involving sexual harassment or gender discrimination, I must report that information with the Title IX Coordinator.  Our goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources you need.

If you wish to speak to someone, you can contact any of the following on-campus resources:

If you wish to make a report directly to the Title IX Office, please complete the online reporting form located on www.westminstercollege.edu/titleix or contact Mary Royal at 801-832-2496 or mroyal@westminstercollege.edu. The Title IX website contains more information about resources, rights, policy and procedures, and updated information regarding our Title IX program at Westminster College.

Equal Opportunity.  Westminster’s Equal Opportunity policy prohibits discrimination or harassment based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, military status, national origin, race, religion, pregnancy and related conditions, childbirth, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation in any of its programs or activities. Westminster is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all members of the College community, including those whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. Harassment and discrimination based on gender identity or expression is prohibited by the college and will not be tolerated. This includes refusal to address an individual by the gender they identify with. If you experience or witness prohibited conduct, or any form of discrimination or harassment, you should contact an Equal Opportunity Representative listed below.

Mary Royal  (801-832-2262 or mroyal@westminstercollege.edu)

Julie Freestone (801-832-2573 or jfreestone@westminstercollege.edu)

The equal opportunity policy and procedures can be accessed from the Student Life webpage.  As an instructor, just as with Title IX, I am required to report any information I obtain regarding discrimination or harassment to an Equal Opportunity Representative for further review.

Changes to the syllabus

I reserve the right to change the syllabus as circumstances necessitate, but no new policy will be enforceable until after you have been notified in class.