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
