STATISTICAL ANALYSIS FOR BUSINESS DECISIONS
BA 216
Summer

Bob Escudero
AC 201D
Office hours: By appointment
Telephone: 310-506-4378


COURSE DESCRIPTION

A study of statistical techniques for business decisions, including descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include tabulation and presentation of data, probability distributions, sampling distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, the impact of sample size, analysis of variance, linear regression, and correlation.

TEXT

Kohler, Heinz. Statistics for Business and Economics, South-Western Publishers. (REQUIRED)

GRADING SYSTEM

The final course grade is based on 400 total points, and the distribution is as follows:

PERCENTAGES POINTS GRADES
92.5-100.0 370-400 A
89.5-92.4 358-369 A-
86.5-89.4 346-357 B+
82.5-86.4 330-345 B
79.5-82.4 318-329 B-
76.5-79.4 306-317 C+
72.5-76.4 290-305 C
69.5-72.4 278-289 C-
66.5-69.4 266-277 D+
62.5-66.4 250-265 D
59.5-62.4 238-249 D-
below 59.5 below 238 F

OFFICE HOURS

My office is located in Appleby Center (AC) 201D. If you need to meet with me, please call ext. 4378 to set up an appointment.

EXAMS

There will be 2 unit exams (each worth 200 points) in this course. I do not give Make-up Exams or "Incompletes."

ATTENDANCE POLICY

If you have more than 2 unexcused absences, your course grade will be lowered by one letter grade. If you have more than 4 unexcused absences, you will be given a failing grade in the course. 3 tardies to class will result in 1 unexcused absence. Special needs must be discussed with me in advance of the absence. If you participate in official University activities (athletics, debate, etc.), you need to provide a schedule of events that will require you to miss class. When you miss class, you are responsible for obtaining all class notes, information, etc. from another class member.

MAKE-UP POLICY

Late Assignments: If it isn’t here when it’s due, it’s late. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class. Trouble with computers is not a valid reason for turning an assignment in late. A 50% reduction in points is assessed if an assignment is turned in late during class, later that day, or the next day. An additional 10% is assessed for each subsequent day. For example, a Tuesday assignment turned in on Thursday loses 60%.

Missed Exams: If you miss an exam, you will receive a zero on the exam. There are no make-up exams unless arrangements have been made prior to the exam and only as a result of severe illness (documented by the Student Health Center) or other significant reason documented and approved by me in advance.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE COURSE

• Read the material prior to the day that it will be covered.
• Don’t fall behind; every day is like a week in a normal semester. You won’t have enough time to catch up.
• Come to class prepared to discuss and/or assist with board work.
• Don’t hesitate to ask questions; there is no such thing as a stupid question!
• Bring your text, notebook, and calculator every day.

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

I. Introduction to the Course
A. Chapter 1 - The Nature of Statistics
B. Chapter 4 - Generating New Data: Census Taking and Sampling

II. Descriptive Statistics
A. Chapter 6 - The Presentation of Data: Tables and Graphs
B. Chapter 7 - The Presentation of Data: Summary Measures

III. Probability Concepts: The Foundations of Inference
A. Chapter 8 - The Theory of Probability
B. Chapter 9 - Discrete Probability Distributions
C. Chapter 10 - Continuous Probability Distributions

IV. Analytical Statistics: Basic Inference
A. Chapter 11 - Sampling Distributions
B. Chapter 12 - Estimation
C. Chapter 13 - Hypothesis Testing: Classical Techniques

V. Analytical Statistics: Advanced Inference
A. Chapter 15 - Analysis of Variance
B. Chapter 16 - Simple Regression and Correlation
C. Chapter 17 - Multiple Regression and Correlation