Dr. Robert K.

Smidt
Email: rsmidt@calpoly.edu
Webpage: http://statweb.calpoly.edu/rsmidt/

Stat 312/542
Office: 25-107C
Phone: 756-2001

Office Hours
M 1010-1200
TW 1110-1200
R 1410-1500

TEXTS
Levine, Ramsey & Smidt, Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, Prentice-Hall, 2001
Class Notes available at El Corral
OFFICE HOURS
Office hours are for your questions and problems. At various times, office hours become crowded and it is
difficult to give everyone the time that I would like. It is very helpful if you would bring a list of questions and
any attempts that you have made on the homework problems. Please read the pertinent sections in the text
before coming to office hours.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR & ATTENDANCE
The material in the class notes is not sufficient to learn the material. It is a supplement that will reduce
your need to scribble furiously, but does not replace your need to attend class.
Please shut off (not just place on vibrate) your cell phones.
I abhor cheating. Any instance will be dealt with harshly; you will receive a grade of F and your name
will be forwarded to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
HOMEWORK
Most students find homework to be a necessary component of learning statistics. However, homework is not
sufficient to understand the course materialhomework concentrates on mechanical details rather than
concepts. Questions about homework problems can be asked during my office hours and for a few minutes at
the start of class. Working together on homework can be beneficial
TESTS
There will be two midterm exams each worth 100 points. Each will be one hour, closed book--bring a
scantron, calculator, and one page of notes (both sides). (These notes may not have old exam questions on
them and there is to be no photo-reduction except for computer output.) There are no make-up midterm
exams. If you miss a midterm exam due to an approved Cal Poly function, a medical problem, or personal
emergency with appropriate documentation, your grade will be computed without that exam based on the
percents given below. The points on the final will be 150 plus the total from each midterm exam of (100
highest midterm score). Bring a scantron, calculator, and four pages of notes (both sides) to the final. There
are no make-up final exams. In case of a bomb threat or any other reason for the classroom becoming
unavailable during an exam, we will meet on the steps of FOE (Bldg. 25)
GRADING
Your grade will be based on homework (50 points), two midterms (100 points each), (for STAT 542 an
additional 50 project points), and a final exam (150+ points). The following scale will be used to figure final
grades.
A = 92% (414/368)
A = 90% (405/360) B+ = 88% (396/352)
B = 82% (369/328)
B = 80% (360/320)
C+ = 78% (351/312)
C = 70% (315/280)
C = 66% (297/264)
D+ = 62% (279/248)
D = 58% (261/232)
D = 54% (243/216) F = < 54%

PROJECT
There will be one STAT 542 project during the quarter, worth 50 points. It will be due one week after
completion of the section in the class notes covering that material. Place your name and section number on the
project. It will involve collecting data appropriate for the application of one or more of the techniques you
learn in this class. The sample size will vary depending on the situation. The basic rule is that you should
spend at least two hours per team member on collecting the data. Your grade will be partially based on the
originality or applicability of the data--you will lose points for banal data (a non-exhaustive list: GPA, gender,
major, time spent sleeping, watching TV, or studying, alcohol consumption, number of phone calls home, trips
home, pairs of shoes, units carried, times exercise, times eating out). You should collect data relevant to your
field or of personal concern, or data that you otherwise find interesting. In writing the report, any computer
output, calculations, or graphs are to be inserted on the page on which they are mentioned. If I flip back and
forth to find output you cite, you will lose points. Each project will be graded "holistically." I will read your
project once and give you a grade. It must be presented professionally, i.e. typed, well-written, grammatically
correct, etc. Indications that you attempted to do the minimum amount of work certainly would not be to your
advantage. Spelling errors, obvious grammatical mistakes, shoddy formatting, failing to follow instructions
will cost you points. Your project must contain the following information in numbered sections:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

An executive summary.
Where, how, and when you collected the data, including units of measurement.
Why this data is important or interesting to you.
The analysis.
Final conclusions/discussion.

You will turn in a paper copy of the report and email me a Word copy of your project named Your name
project #.doc and your data set in Minitab or Excel format named Your name data #.mpj, Your name data
#.mtw, or Your name data #.xls. Failure to submit any of these items will result in a lower grade. I use the
more interesting data sets and reports in classes and texts, indicate if you do not want your name mentioned.
Your project is to be selected from the following possibilities.
Project 1: Propose a probability model for a measureable variable, including guesses for the value(s) of the
distributions parameter(s). Collect data on that variable. Use graphical techniques to compare the
distribution of the sample to your proposed model. Use the data to estimate the parameters and
compare the distribution of the sample to the model using the estimated parameters. Discuss the
reasonableness of you model.
Project 2: Collect data appropriate for making an inference on . Perform a hypothesis test and create a
confidence interval for the parameter. Discuss both results and how they are related to each other.
Project 3: Design an experiment collecting data appropriate for making an inference on d, or 1 -2.
Analyze by running a test or computing a confidence interval (or both) and discussing the results.
Project 4: Design an experiment appropriate for comparing three or more treatment means. Perform
analysis and report results.
Project 5: Collect data on two or more numerical variables, perform regression analysis.