STSCI 2100: Introductory Statistics

Statistics is about understanding the world through data. We are surrounded by data, so there is a lot to understand. This course covers data exploration and display, data gathering methods, probability, and statistical inference methods through contingency tables and linear regression. The emphasis is on thinking scientifically, understanding what is commonly done with data (and doing some of it for yourself), and laying a foundation for further study. You will learn to use statistical software, and to use simulation tools to discover fundamental results. We will use computers regularly; the text includes both multimedia materials and a software package. This course does not focus on data from any particular discipline. Instead, we'll use real-world examples from a wide variety of disciplines and from current events.