QM 2241 BUSINESS STATISTICS - the Sorrell College of Business at

QM6640: Quantitative Analysis for Managers 

Syllabus - Section TXWA 

Fall Semester, 2010 

SORRELL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS 

Mission Statement 

Through operations that span the State of Alabama, the United States, and the world, Sorrell College of Business 

equips our students with the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies to become organizational and community 

leaders who make a difference in the global village and global economy. Through this endeavor, we serve students, 

employers, faculty, and Troy University at large as well as the local and global communities. 

Vision Statement 

Sorrell College of Business will be the first choice for higher business education students in their quest to succeed in a 

dynamic and global economy. Sorrell College of Business will create the model for 21st century business education 

and community service. 

INSTRUCTOR: 

PREREQUISITE: 

Wendy C. Bailey, Ph.D. 

BUS 5505 or equivalent 

OFFICE HOURS: Mondays 1 - 4pm 

Tuesdays 1 - 3:30pm 

Thursdays 11am - 3:30pm 

OFFICE LOCATION: 

OFFICE 

TELEPHONE: 

EMAIL: 

WEB SITE: 

TIME & LOCATION: 

COURSE 

DESCRIPTION: 

COURSE 

OBJECTIVES: 

PURPOSE: 

202b McCartha Hall 

334-808-6327 

334-670-3143 Secretary 

wbailey25744@troy.edu 

http://troy.blackboard.com 

Mondays, 5:30 - 8:15pm GAB 303 (moved), Section TXWA 

This course provides an in-depth study of the fundamental theories, concepts, and principles of 

statistics. Coursework will include extensive use and application of statistical tools to analyzing 

business data using statistics software. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, probability 

distributions, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, ANOVA and regression analysis. 

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to: 

1. Compute descriptive statistics from business data. 

2. Describe common discrete and continuous probability distributions, and compute 

probabilities for the various distributions. 

3. Sample correctly and appropriately. 

4. Estimate statistical parameters correctly. 

5. Apply statistical hypothesis-testing procedures to business data. 

6. Apply simple- and multiple-regression and forecasting techniques to business data. 

7. Use statistical software to analyze business data. 

8. Interpret results of statistical analyses and apply them to business decision-making. 

To provide the statistical and computing tools necessary for managers’ analysis of business data 

and business decision-making. 

1

TEXTBOOK: 

OTHER 

MATERIALS: 

ENTRANCE 

COMPETENCIES: 

CLASS PROCEDURE 

AND 

REQUIREMENTS: 

GRADING 

METHODS & 

EXAMINATIONS: 

Doane, D. & Seward, L., Applied statistics in business and economics with student CD. McGraw- 

Hill. 2nd edition, 2009. ISBN: 9780077214845. 

Hawkes Learning Systems: BUSINESS STATISTICS (software access code) ISBN: 978-0- 

918091-33-8 (REQUIRED) 

iClicker. This device will be used to for daily quizzes and must be brought to class each time 

in order to take the quizzes. These will be handed out the first day of class. 

Microsoft Excel. This can be used in the computer labs on campus or through your own 

personal copy. You will need this to do some of the projects assigned. Instructions given will 

be for MS Excel, so alternatives such as Open Office cannot be used as it doesn't contain 

add-ins such as the Data Analysis Toolpack or VBA options. 

Various handouts will be posted in Blackboard. Students should check Blackboard frequently 

for new materials and print out what is required for class or assignments. 

1. This is a graduate course, so students are expected to perform at the graduate level for 

obvious reasons. This is not a "fifth year" undergraduate or a "get your feet wet" for 

graduate school course. Come to class prepared to work hard and learn a lot. 

2. You are expected to have taken at least one introductory course in statistics before taking 

this class and/or have taken the foundation class in quantitative methods. This should have 

been completed within the last eight years per the graduate catalog. 

3. Students should be able to use spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel for the 

purpose of doing analytical work. 

4. You are also expected to demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication. Grades 

assigned to all projects and examinations will be based on your use of correct grammar, 

punctuation, and spelling, as well as on the quality of the content. Assignments must be 

professional in appearance -- typed, organized, and proofread. 

5. If you have any question about whether your skills are current enough or adequate, please 

contact the professor. 

This course will be delivered in a lecture/discussion format. Primary delivery will through 

PowerPoint and overhead presentations. PowerPoint slides will be posted to the web site prior 

to class. Students should print the presentations and bring them to class to allow them to focus 

on the topic and to take more organized notes. Students must also bring their clickers to class 

each time so they can take the quizzes. 

Final grades will be calculated as a weighted average as follows: 

Daily Quizzes & Group Projects 

15% 

Homework (Hawkes Learning Systems) 

20% 

Midterm Exam 

25% 

Final Exam – comprehensive (all chapters) 40% 

The student's final grade will be determined using the traditional grading scale: 

A: 90-100, B: 80-89, C: 70-79, D: 60-69, F: Below 60. 

DAILY QUIZZES: 

Quizzes will be given during each class session. You will be using a remote by iClicker in 

order to answer the questions, which will be in multiple choice format. Clickers will be 

checked out to each student on the first day of class and must be returned on the last 

day you attend classes. More information will be provided in class. 

Students must bring their clickers to each class. If you forget your clicker, you will not be able 

to answer the quiz questions and will receive a zero for the quiz that day. Questions cannot 

be answered on paper and will not be graded that way. 

2

Questions will be given at random times throughout each class period. If you leave the class 

early or arrive late, you may miss some questions. Missed questions cannot be made up and 

will be scored as a zero. 

Your lowest three quiz scores will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, the missed quiz will be 

counted as one of your three drops. Missed quizzes cannot be made up. 

GROUP PROJECTS: 

There will be several short group projects done in Excel due which will be done in groups set 

up by the instructor. Due dates are firm; late assignments will receive a grade of zero and will 

not be graded. Details will be provided in Blackboard. Deadlines are posted on the last two 

pages of this syllabus. 

Students must actively participate in ALL group projects; low or zero scores due to not 

participating actively cannot be dropped. Grades will be based on the group performance 

overall in addition to the group surveys (see policy posted in Blackboard). 

In addition to the group assignment, which is turned in by a group leader in the Assignments 

section in Blackboard, students individually must turn in a survey form for each group 

member the same day the problem set is due. Students who do not turn in the survey form 

will have 5% deducted from their problem set grade. 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS (HLS): 

In addition to the two in-class exams, students will complete homework problems using 

the web-based software program, Hawkes Learning Systems [HLS]. Any late or missed 

assignments will be given a score of zero. See schedule at the end of the syllabus for due 

dates. Students must get CERTIFIED by the deadline in order for homework to count. See 

Blackboard for detailed instructions on how to use this homework management and 

tutorial system. 

EXAM RULES: 

Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions, short answer essays, and problems, 

subject to the following rules: 

Students will be allowed to bring in one 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper [front and 

back] with any desired HAND-WRITTEN notes. 

Formula sheets, statistical tables provided by the instructor, or any scratch paper 

used MUST be turned in with tests and they WILL NOT be returned. 

Each student should bring their own electronic calculator without text storage 

capability. Calculators may not be shared with other students during tests and 

telephones may not be used as a calculator. 

Translators or online translation websites may not be used during any examination. 

Tests may be paper-based or delivered partially on the computer. If a paper test is 

given, students must bring a blank Scantron form to the exam for the multiple choice 

sections. If the test is given on the computer (subject to lab availability), the multiple 

choice part will be delivered in Blackboard and the essay/problems section will be 

paper-based. 

The midterm exam will be reviewed in class, but students will not be permitted to print 

or keep a paper copy. Any exams (to include the final exam) can be reviewed further in 

the instructor's office during office hours. 

Cheating will be strictly dealt with! Any academic dishonesty will result in an F and 

referral for disciplinary action. 

See the Incomplete/Missed work section of the syllabus for the policy on missed tests. 

3

DROP/WITHDRAWAL/FA POLICY: 

A WP or DP grade can only be given to students who drop by the academic penalty deadline 

and who have a B or better in the class; all other students will be given a WF or DF if they 

withdraw or drop after the academic penalty deadline and have a C or less in the course at 

the time they withdraw or drop. 

An FA grade will be given to students who miss 35% or more classes in the term without an 

excuse AND/OR those who miss any test without an excuse. 

In no event may a student drop or withdraw from the course after the final examination is 

completed and final course grades are assigned. 

All grades will be earned -- NOT given. No tests will be dropped, no tests will be given less 

emphasis and no additional work will be given to boost final grades. Students needing a 

particular grade in this class to graduate, maintain a particular GPA level, keep a scholarship, etc., 

will need to score high enough to earn the grade. Students should plan for computer failure by 

completing graded problem sets ahead of schedule. 

ATTENDANCE & 

STUDENT 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Students are expected to: 

1. Punctually attend all scheduled classes. Students who miss quiz questions because they 

arrive late will receive a zero score on any questions not answered. 

2. Be responsible for all instructions and assignments given in class as well as for the 

supporting textbook content. If you miss a class, do not email your professor asking what 

you missed. Similarly, do not come to my office expecting a private tutorial session 

covering the missed material. Finding out what you missed and getting a classmate's notes 

is your responsibility. 

3. Read the textbook material before the lecture covering that material and attempt the 

suggested problems before the material is covered in class. 

4. Be an active participant in this class while being respectful of everyone else in the class. 

5. Stay for the entire class session. If you need to leave the class early, inform your instructor 

before the class begins. Understand that quiz questions may be given throughout the 

entire class, so if you leave early you may miss some questions and will get a zero score for 

any ones missed. 

6. Complete assignments by the deadlines given in this syllabus and attend all examinations. 

7. Cheating will be strictly dealt with. See the Honor Policy for details. 

Excused absences have the following characteristics: 

a. Instructor was informed prior to the absence. 

b. Instructor determines that the absence is excused. 

c. Absence is of one of the following types: 

i. Participation in a documented official University function that does not permit the 

student’s class attendance (e.g., athletic events, field trips, etc.). 

ii. Severe illness, a hospital stay, or a doctor's excuse saying that it is impossible for 

student to attend class(es). NOTE: This does not include scheduled medical or 

dental appointments or driving someone else to doctor. You should schedule 

appointments or personal errands outside of class time. 

iii. Death of immediate family member (parent, grandparent, sibling, or child, or 

spouse). 

iv. Appearance in court (if mandatory) 

v. Personal situations that are approved by the instructor in advance of the time the 

student is to be absent. 

d. Written documentation (on letterhead) must be provided at the first class session after 

the student’s return to classes. 

4

DAILY 

ASSIGNMENTS: 

INCOMPLETE/ 

MISSED WORK 

POLICY: 

See schedule below. 

If a student will miss any test, they must notify the instructor in advance and provide acceptable 

written documentation within one week of the missed test. If they are unable to notify the 

instructor in advance (e.g., they were in the hospital), they must notify the instructor as soon as 

they are able to return to class and provide acceptable written documentation on that day. 

If the absence is excused by the instructor, the percentage weight from the missed test will 

be added to the comprehensive final exam. No makeup exams will be given. 

If the absence is not excused by the instructor, the student will receive a zero for the missed 

test. 

Assignments not submitted in Blackboard by the deadline without a pre-approved excuse will be 

given a zero. "Computer problems" do not constitute an acceptable excuse. 

Students who request an incomplete must be passing the course (i.e., have a C or higher) to 

receive one. Incompletes must be requested before the last day of class and before the final 

examination is taken or course grade is assigned. 

GENERAL 

SUPPORT: 

CHEATING POLICY: 

AMERICANS WITH 

DISABILITIES ACT 

(ADA): 

CELLPHONES AND 

OTHER 

ELECTRONIC 

DEVICES: 

The computer labs in 119 & 207 McCartha are available for student use when other classes are 

not in session. 

It is expected that students will abide by the Honor Code, Academic Code, Technology Use 

Policy, and Standards of Conduct as outlined in the most current version of the Oracle, the 

student handbook. Any student not abiding by these codes/policies/standards will be subject to 

the penalties outlined in the Oracle. 

Troy University supports Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with 

Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal 

access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not 

discriminated against on the basis of disability. Eligible students, with appropriate 

documentation, will be provided equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and 

potential through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations. 

Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the link for Troy 

University’s Office of Human Resources at 

http://www.troy.edu/humanresources/ADAPolicy2003.htm 

Use of any electronic device by students in the instructional environment is prohibited unless 

explicitly approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of record or by the Office of 

Disability Services in collaboration with the instructor. Cellular phones, pagers, and other 

communication devices may be used for emergencies, however, but sending or receiving nonemergency 

messages is forbidden by the University. Particularly, use of a communication device 

to violate the Troy University “Standards of Conduct” will result in appropriate disciplinary action 

(See the Oracle.) 

In order to receive emergency messages from the University or family members, the call receipt 

indicator on devices must be in the vibration mode or other unobtrusive mode of indication. 

Students receiving calls that they believe to be emergency calls must answer quietly without 

disturbing the teaching environment. If the call is an emergency, they must move unobtrusively 

and quietly from the instructional area and notify the instructor as soon as reasonably possible. 

Students who are expecting an emergency call should inform the instructor before the start of 

the instructional period. 

5

COURSE OUTLINE 

AND DATES TO 

REMEMBER: 

The topics are listed in the approximate order in which they will be covered. 

Please note that this outline is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in lecture. 

If you miss a lecture, you are responsible for finding out what you missed, including any 

deadline or exam date changes. 

DATE LECTURE CHAPTERS ASSIGNMENTS DUE 

Lecture 1 

Mon. 8/16 

Lecture 2 

Mon. 8/23 

Lecture 3 

Mon. 8/30 

Mon. 9/6 

Lecture 4 

Mon. 9/13 

Lecture 5 

Mon. 9/20 

Course Introduction 

Ch. 1 Overview of Statistics 

Ch. 2 Data Collection 

Ch. 3 Describing Data Visually 

Ch. 4 Descriptive Statistics 

LABOR DAY - no class 

Ch. 5 Probability 

Ch. 6 Discrete Probability 

Distributions 

Complete HLS assignments below & get certified! 

DUE Sunday 8/29 at 11:55pm Central time (extended) 

1.2 Level of Measurement (Doane Ch. 2) 

1.3 The Process of a Statistical Study (Doane Ch. 2) 


DUE Sunday 8/29 at 11:55pm Central time 

2.1 Frequency Distributions (Doane Ch. 3) 

2.2a Graphical Displays of Data (Doane Ch. 3) 

2.2b Graphical Displays of Data (Doane Ch. 3) 

2.3 Analyzing Graphs (Doane Ch. 3) 



3.1 Measures of Center (Ch. 4 Doane) 

3.2a Measures of Dispersion (Ch. 4 Doane) 

3.2b Applying the Standard Deviation (Ch. 4 Doane) 

3.3 Constructing Samples (Ch. 4 Doane) 

3.4 Measures of Relative Position (Ch. 4 Doane) 



4.1 Classical Probability (Ch. 5 Doane) 

4.2 Probability Rules (Ch. 5 Doane) 

4.3 Counting Rules (Ch. 5 Doane) 

4.4 Additional Counting Techniques (Ch. 5 Doane) 

Do HLS assignments below & get certified! 

Sunday 9/26 at 11:55pm Central time 

5.1 Discrete Random Variables (Ch. 6 Doane) 

5.2 The Binomial Distribution (Ch. 6 Doane) 

5.3 The Poisson Distribution (Ch. 6 Doane) 

5.4 The Hypergeometric Distribution (Ch. 6 Doane) 

5.5 Games of Chance (Ch. 6 Doane) 

Mon., 9/27 MIDTERM EXAM covers Chapters 1-6 only 

Lecture 6 

Mon. 10/4 

Ch. 7 Continuous Probability 

Distributions 



6.1 Introduction to the Normal Curve (Ch. 7 Doane) 

6.2 Reading a Normal Curve Table (Ch. 7 Doane) 

6.3 The Normal Distribution (Ch. 7 Doane) 

6.4 Find the Value of z (Ch. 7 Doane) 

6.5 Find the Value of t (Ch. 7 Doane) 

6.6 Name that Distribution (Ch. 7 Doane) 

7.4 Approximating the Binomial Distribution (Ch. 7 Doane) 

6

DATE LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS DUE (HAWKES) 

Lecture 7 

Mon. 10/11 

Lecture 8 

Mon. 10/18 

Lecture 9 

Mon. 10/25 

Lecture 10 

Mon. 11/1 

Lecture 11 

Mon. 11/8 

Lecture 12 

Mon. 11/15 

Mon. 11/22 

Ch. 8 Sampling Distributions 

& Estimation 

Ch. 9 One-Sample Hypothesis 

Tests 

Ch. 11 Analysis of Variance 

Ch. 12 Bivariate Regression 

Ch. 13 Multiple Regression 

Ch. 15 Chi-Square Tests 

Review for Final Exam 

NO CLASS - Fall Break 



7.2 Sampling Distributions: Proportions (Ch. 8 Doane) 

7.3 Sampling Distributions: Means (Ch. 8 Doane) 

8.1 Estimating Proportions (Ch. 8 Doane) 

8.2 Intro to Estimating Population Means (Ch. 8 Doane) 

8.3 Estimating Means: Sigma Known (Ch. 8 Doane) 

8.4 Estimating Means: Sigma Unknown (Ch. 8 Doane) 

8.5 Estimating Population Variance (Ch. 8 Doane) 

A.1 Comparing Two Proportions (Ch. 8 Doane) 

A.2 Comparing Two Means (Ch. 8 Doane) 



9.1 Fundamentals of Hypothesis Testing (Ch. 9 Doane) 

9.2 Hypothesis Testing Proportions: P Value (Ch. 9 Doane) 

9.3 Hypothesis Testing Proportions: z Value (Ch. 9 Doane) 

9.4 Hypothesis Testing Means: P Value (Ch. 9 Doane) 

9.5 Hypothesis Testing Means: z Value (Ch. 9 Doane) 

9.6 Hypothesis Testing Means: t Value (Ch. 9 Doane) 

9.9 Hypothesis Testing: Population Var. (Ch. 9 Doane) 



12.1 ANOVA (Ch. 11 Doane) 



11.1 Scatter Plots and Correlation (Ch. 12 Doane) 

11.2 Fitting a Linear Model (Ch. 12 Doane) 

11.3 Regression Analysis I (Ch. 12 Doane) 



11.4 Multiple Regression (Ch. 13 Doane) 

11.5 ANOVA Regression (Ch. 13 Doane) 



9.10 Chi-Square Test for Association (Ch. 15 Doane) 

9.11 Chi-Square Test for Goodness of Fit (Ch. 15 Doane) 

Mon. 11/29 COMPREHENSIVE FINAL Covers all chapters 

7

Dates to Remember 

Wednesday, 8/11: Classes begin 

Monday, 8/16: Add deadline; drop/withdraw deadline without financial penalty 

Tuesday, 8/17: Census date 

Monday, 9/6: Labor Day Holiday (campus closed, no office hours) 

Friday, 10/15: Last day to drop/withdraw WITHOUT academic penalty * 

Thursday, 11/11: Veteran's Day Holiday (campus closed, no office hours) 

Monday, 11/22 - Sunday, 11/28: Fall Break (campus closed, no office hours) 

Tuesday, 11/30: Last day of classes 

Wednesday, 12/1: Dead Day; Drop/withdraw deadline WITH academic penalty** 

NOTES: 

* After this date, any student with a C or lower in this graduate course will be given a grade of DF or WF if they 

file for a drop or withdrawal. 

** Students may not drop or withdraw from the course after the final exam has been taken and final grades have 

been assigned, so this must be done BEFORE the last day of class. 

8

QM 2241 BUSINESS STATISTICS - the Sorrell College of Business at

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