• What: Examination on chapters 5-7 and topics covered in class
• When: 9:00-9:50/11:30-11:20 on Friday, November 21
• Where: Olin 320/Olin 317

Topics that may be covered include the following.

• Sampling distributions
  • The sampling distribution of a statistic: the concept
  • Sampling distributions for counts and proportions
    • Bernoulli trials, the binomial setting, the binomial distribution
    • Sample proportion
    • Mean, variance, and standard deviation of a count or proportion
    • Normal approximations of counts and proportions
  • The sampling distribution of a sample mean
    • The mean and standard deviation of the sample mean
    • The sampling distribution of the sample mean
    • The Central Limit Theorem
• Introduction to inference
  • Confidence intervals: concept and interpretation
  • Confidence interval for the mean of a normal population with known standard deviation
  • Tests of significance/statistical hypothesis testing: statistical hypothesis testing/tests of significance. (Caution: The .htm file changed alpha to "a," sigma to "s", and the inequality symbol to superscript 1.)
  • The connection between two-sided tests and confidence intervals
  • Use and abuse of tests
  • (Section 6.4 [power, decision theory] was not explicitly covered.)
• Inference for distributions
  • Inference for the mean of a population when the standard deviation is unknown: t procedures
    • One-sample procedures
    • Matched pairs: reduction to a one-sample procedure
    • The sign test--a distribution-free procedure
  • Comparing two means
    • Known standard deviations: the z statistic
    • Unknown standard deviations: t procedures
    • Robustness of t procedures: guidelines
    • (The pooled two-sample procedure won't be on the exam.)
  • (Section 7.3 [F test] was not explicitly covered.)

Suggested study and preparation:

• Review the summaries at end of each section of the text. Make sure that you know and understand the terminology of probability and statistics.
• Review homework problems and problems worked in class.
• Be prepared to demonstrate statistical and probabilistic thinking in context.
• Be able to distinguish parameters, statistics, variables, values, etc., and denote them appropriately.
• Be ready to state under what conditions the formulas and procedures we have learned may be applied.
• Be able to use Table A (standard normal probabilities), Table B (random digits), Table C (binomial probabilities), and Table D (critical t values) or do the equivalent on your calculator.
• Be prepared to calculate and interpret confidence intervals for parameters.
• Be prepared to demonstrate your mastery of the procedure for statistical hypothesis testing/tests of significance. (Caution: The .htm file changed alpha to "a," sigma to "s", and the inequality symbol to superscript 1.)

Last updated 11/20/03 10:51 a.m.