The first six chapters are meant to be used over the first 8 weeks of class, culminating in a mid-term project, exam, or other assessment.
The last six weeks of class are meant to drill into topic specific applications of the material covered in the first eight weeks. To help with the integration, we’ve added an appendix of different topics and lessons that can be used to run the last six weeks of class. It’s anticipated that new statistical concepts or new applications of statistical concepts will be continued to be introduced in the final weeks, but the focus is really authentic application that reinforces the first eight weeks.
Possible Schedule
Week One
Readings assigned, Syllabus, Jump activities.
Pretest given. Initial activities around QL.
Week Two
Chapter 1 due first session.
Topics: Why we compare, Fair Comparison checklist, Compared to what?, Accounting for differences, Measures of Central Tendency, Subpopulations.
Week Three
Chapter 2 due first session.
Topics: Using Percentages, Longitudinal vs. Cross-sectional approaches, Thinking Hypothetically About Numbers, Defining Variables
Week Four
Chapter 3 due first session.
Topics: Base Rates, Accounting for Randomness, Weighted Means, Standardization, Controlling for Change with Percentages
Week Five
Chapter 4 due first session.
Topics: Pie Charts/Bar Charts/Line Graphs, Controlling for Standard Variables, Relative vs. Absolute Increase, Stock vs. Flow
Week Six
Chapter 5 due first session.
Topics: Graphing Longitudinal Relationships, Quintiles, Guesstimating, Prediction and Percentages
Week Seven
Chapter 6 due first session.
Topics: Margin of Error, Cut-Points, Percent vs. Percentiles, Choosing the Right Denominator
Week Eight
Review and Mid-term Exam or Project
Weeks Nine through Fourteen
Weeks Nine through Fourteen are customized to the needs of the particular course, using a combination of original materials and materials from the appendix. In general the language and concepts introduced in the first eight weeks should be carried through where possible.