Eastwood's BA201 Course Page

SYLLABUS, BA 201, QUANTITATIVE METHODS

Fall Semester 2000 (Three Semester Hours)

Mr. J. D. Eastwood, Lecturer, Economics

College of Business Administration, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff

Class schedule:
BA 201 (19203)     Section 1                                MWF     8:00 – 8:50 a.m.                      CBA Room 205
BA 201 (19216)     Section 2                                MWF     9:10 – 10:00 a.m.                    CBA Room 205
BA 201 (19229)     Section 3                                MWF     10:20 – 11:10 a.m.                  CBA Room 205

Office address: College of Business Administration (70 McConnell Drive) Room 213,
NAU Box 15066, Flagstaff, AZ 86011; office phone, 523-7353.
E-mail: John.Eastwood@nau.edu
worldwide web -- http://www.franke.nau.edu/eastwood-j/

Office hours: Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. Also by appointment

Course prerequisites: Successful completion of MAT 110, College Algebra, and MAT 119, Finite Mathematics. Students who are not majoring in Business may take BA 200 instead of MAT 119. BA 200 is a one-hour, self-paced course covering descriptive statistics, graphs, basic probability, and certain discrete probability distributions. For more information, follow this link to a document describing BA200.

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.      Demonstrate familiarity with the measurement and analysis of data. Students will learn how to obtain, describe, and present business information from large data sets.

2.      Correctly employ the vocabulary of probability and statistics.

3.      Apply probability analysis in a management decision-making context.

4.      Solve problems related to probability and statistics. Students will perform these steps: identify the problem; select the correct procedure, then calculate and interpret its results.

5.      Interpret the results of statistical analysis, draw appropriate inferences and apply these to decision-making in a management context.

Required Text Package: Douglas A. Lind, Robert D. Mason, and William G. Marchal, Basic Statistics for Business and Economics, Irwin, Third Edition, 2000; ISBN 0-07-402701-8. A CD containing data and Excel macros is included. This package also contains the following supplement: Ronald Merchant, Renee C. Goffinet, and Virginia E. Koehler, Basic Statistics Using Excel for Office 97, Irwin, 1999. Although the text and its Excel supplement may be purchased separately, the package price should be lower. At the NAU bookstore the package is $83.85 (only new copies are available). The text (new, with CD) sells for $82.50 if purchased separately (ISBN 0-07-366062-0). A new copy of the Excel workbook costs $22.10; a used copy rings up at $16.60 (ISBN 0-07-228857-4).

Lecture Notes (recommended): Eastwood’s BA-201 Notes. These may be purchased from Support Services. They are located on the second floor (building 70) in room 111. As chapters become available, announcements will be made in class.

Optional Study Aid (not required): Walter H. Lange, Study Guide for use with Basic Statistics for Business and Economics, Irwin, Third Edition, 2000. It contains a thorough review of each chapter as well as many solved problems. You may order a copy from the bookstore (ISBN 0-07-233985-3).

Course Content: Basic statistics including the collection, tabulation, and analysis of business and economic data. Topics covered include descriptive measures, graphs, probability concepts, discrete probability distributions, continuous probability distributions, sampling, statistical inference, correlation, simple linear regression, analysis of variance, and multiple regression.

Course Requirements: Bring your book and your calculator to class. Plan to spend three hours studying for every hour in class. Graded work includes:

Reading Summaries: The first and most important assignment on each new topic is to carefully read the assigned pages from the text. You are responsible for all of the information in the assigned reading, and I will test your retention and comprehension. As you read the assigned pages, summarize the material, using up to one side of one full page (8.5" x 11"). Each student shall prepare their own reading summaries, in their own words. You may type or write. Photocopy your summary, and turn in the original on the due date. Use your copy to review the chapter several times, focusing on the concepts you still need to master. I will return your originals on the day of each exam for your use. No summaries will be accepted past the due date.

Homework and quizzes: Homework problems will be assigned during each lecture. Many of these problems will require hand calculations, and a few sentences explaining or interpreting your results. You may work together in small groups (of up to four students) for the homework assignments. Groups should submit a single copy of their assignment; the names of all students in the group must be typed on the assignment at the top of the page, followed by the date submitted and the assignment number (e.g., Sep 30, HW 1).  Bring one printed copy of the homework assignment to class for each group member to use while we review the questions in class. Make corrections on this copy. I may check to see that everyone is participating, and count it as in-class work. Some assignments will be collected, others will not; I may quiz you on the assignments, including the reading.

Collected assignments will be checked for completeness, accuracy, and quality of presentation, and then awarded from zero to ten points. To receive credit, you must first show your work with enough detail, order, and clarity so that I can easily understand what you have done. Second, your work must reflect a professional level of preparation and effort.

A calendar of assignments is available at the Web address mentioned above. Each student may submit, or rework, up to two assignments past the deadline. Subsequent late assignments will earn no credit.

Procedures concerning Excel assignments: In order to properly evaluate your work, I will require you to follow a rather strict protocol to submit these assignments, as follows: 

• You MUST work together in small groups (of three or four students) for the Excel assignments. I will score each assignment on a 10-point scale.

• The names of all students must be typed on the assignment (at the top of the first page of your spreadsheet). Attach your spreadsheet to an e-mail addressed to me at: John.Eastwood@nau.edu

• Each group members should get a cc of the e-mail. Submit only one copy of the group assignment to me.

• In the subject category of your e-mail you MUST type the following: 201XXXX Excel#; where XXXX are the first three letters of your last name followed by your first initial and # is the number of the assignment. For example, Clint Eastwood would use 201EasC Excel 1 as the subject line when submitting his first Excel assignment.

• If you correctly follow this protocol, you will receive an automated reply from me.  It usually only takes 10-15 seconds.  If you don’t get a reply, then it is most likely that I did not get the message as intended. The most common error is a typo the subject line.  Assignments that are received but that did not follow this protocol will receive a 2-point deduction.

• Excel assignments are due on the date indicated, no later than 7:45AM.  Any received after that, and before class will carry an automatic 3 point deduction.  No assignments submitted after the start of the lecture will be accepted.

Exams: Each exam will consist mostly of problems that you will be expected to solve. Some questions will also require written interpretation and graphical illustration. Learn the material thoroughly; students who earn passing grades will be proficient at basic statistics. The second and third exams will include some material from prior exams. The final exam will emphasize the last portion of the course. However, it will also require an understanding of most of the earlier material. It is your responsibility to notify me in advance if you cannot attend class for an exam. With my approval, you may makeup one exam. No individual student will be allowed to retake an exam.

Evaluation of Student Performance: Each of the above contributes to your final grade as shown below:

Grading Scale: We will use a conventional grading scale: A > 90% (rounded); B > 80%; C > 70%; D > 60%; F < 60%.

Safe Environment Policy: The first goal of this policy is to prevent discrimination. This policy also seeks to prevent sexual harassment, assault, or retaliation. If you have any concerns related to this policy you might contact any of the university offices listed on the attachment.

Policy for Students with Disabilities: If you have a temporary or permanent disability, please notify, in written form, both the NAU Counseling and Testing Center and me. The Center provides services (such as special testing procedures) for students with disabilities.

Institutional Review Board: This board reviews proposed research projects, such as surveys, that involve human subjects. None of your assignments for this class will require this review.

Academic Integrity: The NAU Student Handbook includes the following definition: 

Academic Dishonesty is a form of misconduct that is subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct and includes the following: cheating, fabrication, fraud, facilitating academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

1.                         Plagiarism: any attempt to pass off other’s work as your own

2.                         Cheating: any attempt to gain an unfair, hidden advantage over one’s fellow students

3.                         Fabrication: any attempt to present information that is not true

4.                         Fraud: any attempt to deceive an instructor or administrative officer of the university

The penalty for a violation of this policy depends on the nature of the infraction, its potential effect on the course grade, and the past record of the student. For this class, the minimum penalty is a zero grade on the assignment or examination; the maximum penalty is dismissal from school. 

The complete text of Northern Arizona University’s “Classroom Management Statement” and “Policy Statements” follows:

Classroom Management Statement

                Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all members to preserve an atmosphere conducive to a safe and positive learning environment.  Part of that obligation implies the responsibility of each member of the NAU community to maintain an environment in which the behavior of any individual is not disruptive.

                It is the responsibility of each student to behave in a manner that does not interrupt or disrupt the delivery of education by faculty members or receipt of education by students, within or outside the classroom.  The determination of whether such interruption or disruption has occurred has to be made by the faculty member at the time the behavior occurs.  It becomes the responsibility of the individual faculty member to maintain and enforce the standards of behavior acceptable to preserving an atmosphere for teaching and learning in accordance with University regulations and the course syllabus.

                At a minimum, students will be warned if their behavior is evaluated by the faculty member as disruptive.  Serious disruptions, as determined by the faculty member, may result in immediate removal of the student from the instructional environment.  Significant and/or continued violations may result in an administrative withdrawal from the class.  Additional responses by the faculty member to disruptive behavior may include a range of actions from discussing the disruptive behavior with the student to referral to the appropriate academic unit and/or the Office of Student Life for administrative review, with a view to implement corrective action up to and including suspension or expulsion.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY

NAU's Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault, or retaliation by anyone at this university. 

You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean's office. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, dean's office, the Office of Student Life (523-5181), the academic ombudsperson (523-9368), or NAU's Office of Affirmative Action (523-3312). 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you have a learning and/or physical disability, you are encouraged to make arrangements for class assignments/exams so your academic performance will not suffer because of the disability or handicap. If you have questions about special provisions for students with disabilities, contact the Counseling and Testing Center (523-2261). 

It is your responsibility to register with the Counseling and Testing Center. Application for services should be made at least eight weeks before the start of the semester. 

If the Counseling and Testing Center verifies your eligibility for special services, you should consult with your instructor during the first week in the semester so appropriate arrangements can be made. Concerns related to noncompliance with appropriate provisions should be directed to the Disability Support Services coordinator in the Counseling and Testing Center. 

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD

Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU-including a course project, report, or research paper-must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and research-related activities.

 The IRB meets once each month. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures.

 A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department's administrative office and each college dean's office. If you have questions, contact Carey Conover, Office of Grant and Contract Services, at 523-4889. 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community, NAU's administration, faculty, staff, and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the educational process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in an academically honest manner. 

Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU's Student Handbook. 

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