Help for Students in PA551, Analytic Methods 1

Also, look for other possible helpful links and files on my web site. Look on the "Resources for Students" page at the links under "Data, Statistics, Statistical Computing". Finally, join the PA551 listserv.

Major Course Resources
• Computer assignments: To find computer assignment number x, look for the "CompAssnx_PA551.doc" file in the PA551 directory.

• Problem set for PA551 (These are what we work on for most of the second half of the term.)

• List of symbols, descriptive and inferential statistics

• Formula sheet, descriptive and inferential statistics

  
  Other Course Resources, Information

• PA551 lecture notes (partial, up through sampling distributions only)

• "Clearly-labeled" tables for computer assignments

• What type of calculator should you have for PA551/PA552?

• StatPrimer - An Excellent Reference on a Variety of Statistical Topics

• Free version of MYSTAT, an excellent statistics program

  
  Measurement, Types of Data

• Levels of Measurement:
  • Help file 1 for understanding LOM
  • Help file 2 for understanding LOM
  • Help file 3 for understanding LOM

• Types of data, summary of useful distinctions

  
  Descriptive Statistics

• Frequency Distribution Exercise 1

• Frequency Distribution Exercise 2

• Descriptive Statistics Exercise

• Boxplots (graphical display of frequency distribution)

• Statistical Graphics, summary of good practice

• PowerPoint - How it is misused, or "PowerPoint is Evil"

• Example of an innovative use of statistical graphics in a performance audit

• "Alternatives to Population-Based Crime Rates"

• "Government Expenditure Levels: Alternative Procedures for Computing Measures"

  
  Sampling

• Sampling Methods: simple procedures you can use

• Required Sample Size to Estimate a Proportion/Percent from a Finite Population

• Random Number Table: Word version, HTML (web) version

  
  Statistical Tables and Probability

• Table for the standard normal distribution (This is a nicely-formatted version of the standard normal distribution table, and I recommend that you use it. Download--right click, then save as-- the NormalTable.doc file, open the file in Word, and print it.)

• Help on using the table for the standard normal distribution

• How to work simple problems using the normal distribution

• Quality control charts:
  • Basic idea of a quality control chart
  • Further information about quality control charts

• Table for the t-distribution

• Statistical Tables, interactive versions, for normal distribution, t-distribution, binomial distribution

  
  Inferential Statistics

• Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean

• Sampling Distribution of the Sample Proportion

• When to use the normal distribution and when to use the t-distribution

• Steps in statistical hypothesis testing

• T-Test for Difference in Means: How to Do in SPSS and How to Interpret the Output

• Example view of spreadsheet layout for computer assignment to create a confidence interval for a proportion

• Excel spreadsheets you can conveniently use to 1) Test the Difference in Two Percents, and 2) Test the Difference in Two Means.

• "Statistically Significant" - example of misuse of the term in government

  
  Computing, Miscellaneous

• Computer Use in Agencies - Historical Overview

• Example showing different content of spreadsheet cells

• Getting results from an SDA web site analysis into an Excel chart

• Help on downloading GSS (and other) data from an SDA web site and getting the data into SPSS

• How to Use an SPSS File With Student SPSS when the File Exceeds the Student SPSS Cases/Variables Limits

  
  Examinations: Topics and Preparation

• Midterm exam topics

• Final exam topics

• Midterm exam flash cards prepared by David Dyk

• Problem set problems 1a, 1b, solutions