Welcome to the PLB 360 Biostatistics Webpage
Spring 2009
Elevation survey in the marsh at Grand Bay, Mississippi
Email Dr. Battaglia to receive the password and class ID for submission of your paper.
Click here to download course syllabus
Time: MWF 9:00 - 9:50 am
Classroom: LS2, 450
Professor: Dr. Loretta Battaglia TA: Mr. Bin Xu
Office: 411 Life Sciences II Office: Life Sciences II Rm. 408
Office Hours: M 10-12; W 10-12, 2-4 Office Hours: 1-3 MWF
Other times are AVAILABLE BY email: xubin@siu.edu
appointment only.
Phone: 453-3216
email: lbattaglia@plant.siu.edu
Required Textbook: Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences, by Triola & Triola.
You will also need a scientific calculator, which you should bring to all lectures and exams.
Check the class website regularly for announcements and also to download handouts.
Main aims of PLB 360
to introduce undergraduate students in biology and related fields to basic statistical terms, concepts, and mechanics
to acquaint students with the hand calculator and computer-generated output as tools for conducting and interpreting statistical analyses
to emphasize hypothesis testing, selection and use of the correct statistical techniques, and correct interpretation of results from such tests
to give students hands-on experience utilizing these concepts and techniques
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all lectures in this course. We will be covering a wide variety of material throughout the semester, and I will be working through example problems in class. Missing class and failing to work through problems in class and for homework are the quickest ways to fall behind. Past experience demonstrates that attendance and participation in class are positively associated with high scores on homework assignments and exams.
Students
should make every effort to take exams. There are NO make-ups for exams
missed.
Conduct
All students have the right to attend class in an environment that is conductive to learning. It is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain that environment in the classroom.
Talking during lectures and disruptive behavior are not acceptable.
Please turn off cell phones and pagers BEFORE entering the classroom.
Students are expected to adhere to the SIU code of conduct.
Exam Dates
Exams 1-3: (TBA - these will be announced in class a minimum of one week in advance.)
Final Exam: Wednesday, May 6, 8:00-9:50 am
Assessment
1) Exams: There will be four exams in this course, each of which is worth 100 points. Exams will test the student's understanding of definitions, concepts, and their ability to work through problems and interpret results.
2) Project & Presentation: Students will work in pairs, and each pair will design a small project where they collect data, analyze the data appropriately, and interpret the results. They will then write up a short paper (minimum of 5 pages) that presents the study objectives, methodology used, results, and a short discussion of their findings. The paper will follow the format of a scientific manuscript (see paper guidelines for additional information). Each pair will also develop a short (10 minutes) Power Point presentation and present it orally to the class.
3) Homework: Homework problem sets will be given out in class. Students are expected to work individually and turn in their own work.
Emergency Procedures
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the SIUC Emergency Response Plan and Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) program.
Emergency response information is available on posters in buildings on campus, available on BERT's website at www.bert.siu.edu, Department of Safety's website www.dps.siu.edu (disaster drop down) and in Emergency Response Guideline pamphlet. Know how to respond to each type of emergency.
Instructors will provide guidance and direction to students in the classroom in the event of an emergency affecting your location. It is important that you follow these instructions and stay with your instructor during an evacuation or sheltering emergency. The Building Emergency Response Team will provide assistance to your instructor in evacuating the building or sheltering within the facility.
Allocation of Points Grading Scale (No Extra Credit)
|
Item |
Points |
|
A |
89.5-100% |
|
Exam 1 |
100 |
|
B |
79.5-89.4% |
|
Exam 2 |
100 |
|
C |
69.5-79.4% |
|
Exam 3 |
100 |
|
D |
59.5-69.4% |
|
Exam 4 |
100 |
|
F |
< 59.5% |
|
Project Report |
50 |
|
|
|
|
Presentation |
50 |
|
|
|
|
Homework Problem Sets |
100 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
600 |
|
|
|
Course Outline
|
Topic |
Chapter |
|
Introduction |
1 |
|
Describing, Exploring, and Comparing Data |
2 |
|
Probability |
3 |
|
Discrete Probability Distributions |
4 |
|
Normal Probability Distributions |
5 |
|
Estimates and Sample Sizes with One Sample |
6 |
|
Hypothesis Testing with One Sample |
7 |
|
Inferences from Two Samples |
8 |
|
Analysis of Variance |
11 |
|
Regression and Correlation |
9 |
|
Multinomial Experiments and Contingency Tables |
10 |
If time permits, we may cover some sections on nonparametric statistics in Chapter 12.