• Update from your Professor
• Lesson Preparation
• Lesson
  • Basic Definitions
  • Scales of Measurement
  • Statistical Notation
• Datasets
• Review

Update from
Your Professor

Welcome to EDFN 7304 -Basic Statistics!

Feel free to make yourself at home and explore all of the links in the header above.  Here are the links and their descriptions:

Syllabus
Schedule
Current Lesson
Grade Book
Resources
Home (this will take you back to the main page)
Staff (This is the one link that is not above and is my personal page)

I, Dr. Carolyn Pearson, am your Professor and I want you to be aware of the course website, so please explore every link in the header at the top. Even though I developed this course content, I cannot resolve technical issues, those must be taken care of by calling the computer services helpdesk described below. To put faces to our names and learn more about us go to the Staff page.

Each week I will post the Lesson for the next week (what you are reading right now), which will provide a complete overview and description of what you will be learning. Each week's first page provides an Update from Your Professor (your instructor - me) and Lesson Preparation (the notes you need to print). Each week's second page provides the Lesson and Data Sets. Each week's third page provides Review materials and reminders.

• What you'll do this week:
  • You'll go over the course syllabus
  • Grading
  • Homework
  • Instructor assistance
• You'll examine some definitions:
  • Statistics
  • Data
  • Variable
  • Population
  • Sample
• You'll review the 4 scales of measurement:
  • Nominal
  • Ordinal
  • Interval
  • Ratio
• You'll investigate statistical notation:
  • The difference between parameter & statistic and the appropriate notation
  • Summation sign
  • Variable notation
• You'll take an exit test to see what you retained.

Each week this section will provide you with any necessary material that will be essential for you in completing assignments. This week most of your tasks will center around getting to know one another in the course and making sure all technical aspects of the course are in order.

Download the notes, have them read, and be prepared to ask questions:

• Introduction Notes (Word file)
• Scales of Measurement and Statistical Notation handout (Word file)

It is important that you activate your UALR email account and  understand what your username and password are.  You may choose not to use the email account UALR provides but it will be necessary for you to use your username and password during various parts of the course; therefore, figure it out NOW!  To assist you there is a UALR Computer Services webpage available for your use. The guide will explain your username and password as well as other things you may need throughout the semester so download it (click the link above) and keep it handy.

It is important that I am always able to get in touch with you when necessary. In most cases I will do this by email using the class listserv; therefore, I would like for you to check your email every day. Everyone should be using their UALR email account unless you prefer to have your mail forwarded to another address. Email forwarding must be done from your UALR account. Login to your email account from the UALR homepage and at the top right beside your account name is the Options icon. From this icon go to "mail settings,"" forwarding and POP/IMAP," then select "add a forwarding address," and put in the address you want your university mail to come to. Go to the bottom of the page and save any changes you made.

One communication strategy for many on-line courses is through a class listserv. A listserv is a distributed mailing service enabling you to send mail to one email address which then sends the mail to everyone subscribed on the list. All communication in this course is via the class listserv, which will be created by Computer Services the first week of classes. If you have any problems with the class listserv or other technical difficulties, call the help desk in computer services at 916-3011.

You need to get the SPSS program ordered and installed on your computer right away. We will be using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for running tasks that I will provide you with on the course website. I have listed websites that you can purchase SPSS from on the syllabus.

Continue to the Lesson for This Week