INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS STATISTICS

GBUS 217
Instructor: Doug Nelson
Office: 213L
E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: 533-8902/466-3185
Office Hours: 1230 1500
or by appt.

Text: Statistical Techniques in Business and Economics. Lind, Marchal, and Mason
Course Overview:
The study of statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, presenting, analyzing, and
interpreting data (a collection of numerical information) to assist someone in making a more
effective decision.
College-Wide Abilities:
SCC faculty has identified four ability areas that we believe all students need to succeed beyond
their formal education: responsibility; problem solving, global awareness; and, communications.
The course objectives indicate which abilities are being taught specifically in this class. A
listing of department transfer equivalencies is attached.
4-year Transfer Equivalency:
GBUS 217 is a transfer course a course that will be accepted by any 4-year university/college
on the quarter system. Normally, GBUS 217 is taken during the sophomore year; consequently,
I will teach Stats at a sophomore in college level. In addition, I have constructed GBUS 217 to
prepare you for a smooth transfer to the upper division (300 and 400 level or intermediate level)
courses at your four-year school. A listing of Washington universities accepting SCCs GBUS
217 attached.
Course Objectives:

To understand the importance of statistics and their role in effective decision making.
(Responsibility and Problem Solving)
To develop the ability to analyze and interpret numerical data. (Responsibility,
Communication, and Problem Solving)
To develop the ability to generate and interpret measures of central tendency. (Problem
Solving)
To achieve an understanding of probability and its role in forecasting and decision making.
(Responsibility and Problem Solving)
To achieve an understanding of the role of sampling in statistical analysis. (Responsibility
and Problem Solving)
To learn to apply the tools of statistical analysis to real business issues and problems.
(Responsibility, Communication, Global Awareness, and Problem Solving)
To become aware of political, ethical, and philosophical issues related to statistical problems
and analysis. (Responsibility, Communication, Global Awareness, and Problem Solving)
To prepare transfer students for the intermediate level of business, economics, and statistics
courses they will need to complete their Bachelors degree.

Course Notes:
Here are a few points to consider as you take on the challenge of statistics.
STATISTICS IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT!!!!!!!
To be successful in statistics, YOU must practice statistics by YOU working statistical
problems just watching me work problems will only result in frustration and
disappointment. Statistical questions and problems are very application oriented you will be
required to apply the principle involved as opposed to merely defining/regurgitating a concept
presented. As a result, most successful students have found that working practice problems, -either the problem sets I provide or problems from the book or study guide -- have made the
difference between an A and some other result. To assist you in this process, a portion of
every class period will be a devoted to reviewing and working selected problems and examples,
associated with that days discussion. The primary source of statistical information for this
course is the material presented in class the book, however, is still a very important study
aid and resource to understanding the material presented and discussed in class. In past
courses, my students have found the lectures crucial in preparing for The Test in addition to
reading the book. If you must miss class for whatever reason, I highly encourage you to get the
lecture notes from a colleague. History continues to prove that 90% of students who miss more
than 5-7 classes have not successfully completed the course i.e., they flunked. Finally, a
peculiarity of mine is to allow you to practice responsible decision making (do the benefits
outweigh the costs and can you live with the consequences of your choice) by not requiring
you to attend class ... if you can get your A by just showing up for the tests.... thats fine with
me. One last thought ... I am not a fan of cell phones. In fact, I am neanderthal enough to not
even own one!! While a potentially useful device, I find their actual use rude and boorish.
Consequently, if your opinion differs from mine ...and it probably does ... put that thing on
vibrate for the duration of class -- and, if you happen to find yourself shaking during class, leave
the room before answering it.
Course Evaluation:
I will determine your grade by assessing your performance on the following:
Test I
Test II
Test III
Test IV
Final Exam

18%
18%
18%
18%
28%

Each test will be made up of two parts: 1. A closed book portion consisting of definitions and
problems very similar to those worked in class and found in the book. The closed book portion
of the test will be worth 60%. During the test, you will also be allowed to use a formula sheet
that we will develop as a class and the statistical tables found in the books appendix; and, 2. a
problem set. The problem set portion of the test will be open note-open book-open friend in
fact, I encourage you to form study groups in answering the problem set questions. The problem
set will be handed out several days prior to the closed book section and will be due the day of
the closed book section. Failure to turn in the problem set will earn you a zero for 40% of
that test. Because the problem set is passed out several days in advance, skipping the test

or getting sick on test day does not change the due date of the problem set it will still
be due when the multiple choice test is handed out!!! In addition, once the class has
reviewed a test, that test may not be made up without prior approval. Once again, if you
know a particular due date will pose a problem or conflict I NEED TO KNOW THIS
BEFORE THE DUE DATE NOT AFTER!!! If you are truly sick, send me the problem set
by fax, runner, or even carrier pigeon if necessary to get it in on time whatever you do dont
leave me in the dark as to your intentions in completing the assignment. An additional
practice of mine in all the courses I have ever taught is to make the weight of the Final Exam -which will be comprehensive -- negotiable. Why? Because, statistics is a building block
course.... and, since some folks are a little slower than others in laying their foundation, I like to
provide an opportunity to repent (or recover) if it all comes together at the end of the quarter.
Therefore, if you earn an A (defined as 90% or higher) on the final exam, you will receive an
A (3.5-4.0) for the course. If the final is less than an A, then the final will be worth the
advertised 28 %.
Grade Cuts and Percentages
To pass this course, (.7 or higher), you must obtain a cumulative score of 60% or higher. To
earn university transfer credit you must obtain a cumulative score of 70% or higher. For
scores between 70%-100% and 60%-69%, I will assign grades using a modified curve system
based on course percentage and course ranking. The curve will not exceed 10 points. Cumulative
scores between 70%-100% will earn grades between 2.0 and 4.0 while cumulative scores
between 60%-69% will earn grades between .7 and 1.9.
Grade Cuts (After Curve):
A
%
99-100
97-98
95-96
93-94
91-92
90

B
Grade
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5

%
89
88
87
86
84-85
83
82
81
80

C
Grade
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6

%
78-79
77
76
74-75
72-73
71-70
69
68
67

D
Grade
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7

%
66
65
64
63
62
61
60

Grade
1.5
1.3
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7

One final thought on grades in the real world, especially the real business/financial world,
there are no mulligans, time-outs, do-overs, or extra credit. So it is with GBUS 217 with one
exception: the Final. The final is your main line of defense to make up for any and all earlier
indiscretions once again, an A on the final will automatically earn you an A in the course. My
philosophy towards Z grades parallels my attitude towards extra credit I do not believe
in them. Granted, emergencies do arise and if one comes up, I am very willing to work out a
way to finish the course after life has calmed down. However, if you tried to coast to the
minimum or forgot to drop the course by 19 Feb welcome to the real world of choices and
consequences.

Syllabus:
Ive divided the course up into subject blocks. We will not move on to the next block until the
class as a whole has a working familiarity with the current block. As a consequence, the timing
of the course will be extremely flexible. You will always have at least one class notice to adjust
to any changes.

Approx.
Date

Topic

Pages in
the text

1/6

Class Admin and intro

Syllabus

1/7

Definition of Statistics

Chap 1

1/8-9

Describing Data:
Frequency Distributions
Graphical Presentations

Chap 2

1/10

Measures of Central Tendency

Chap 3

1/13-15

Statistical Descriptive Measures

Chap 4

1-16

Test 1

Chap 1-4

1-17

Test 1 Review

1/21-27

Probability Theory

Chap 5

1/28-31

Discrete Probability Distributions

Chap 6

2-3

Test 2

Chap 5-6

2-4

Test 2 Review

2/5-10

The Normal Distribution

Chap 7

2/11-13

Sampling Methods and the

Chap 8

2/14-20

Estimation and Confidence Intervals

Chap 9

2-21

Test 3

Chap 8-9

2-24

Test 3 Review

2/25-3/3

One-Sample Tests of Hypothesis

Chap 10

3/4-6

Two-Sample Tests of Hypothesis

Chap 11

3-7

Test 4

3-10

Review Test 4

3/11-12

Indexation

3-13

Subland Problem Set

3-14

Review for Final

3-18

Final Exam

Chap 10-11

Chap 18

Chap 1-13