Introduction
Introduction
“Introductory Statistics follows scope and sequence requirements of a one-semester introduction to statistics course and is geared toward students majoring in fields other than math or engineering. The text assumes some knowledge of intermediate algebra and focuses on statistics application over theory. Introductory Statistics includes innovative practical applications that make the text relevant and accessible, as well as collaborative exercises, technology integration problems, and statistics labs.”
Pedagogical foundation and features
- Examples are placed strategically throughout the text to show students the step-by-step process of interpreting and solving statistical problems. To keep the text relevant for students, the examples are drawn from a broad spectrum of practical topics, including examples about college life and learning, health and medicine, retail and business, and sports and entertainment.
- Try It practice problems immediately follow many examples and give students the opportunity to practice as they read the text. They are usually based on practical and familiar topics, like the Examples themselves.
- Collaborative Exercises provide an in-class scenario for students to work together to explore presented concepts.
- Using the TI-83, 83+, 84, 84+ Calculator shows students step-by-step instructions to input problems into their calculator.
- The Technology Icon indicates where the use of a TI calculator or computer software is recommended.
- Practice, Homework, and Bringing It Together problems give the students problems at various degrees of difficulty while also including real-world scenarios to engage students.
Coverage and scope
- Chapter 1 Sampling and Data
- Chapter 2 Descriptive Statistics
- Chapter 3 Probability Topics
- Chapter 4 Discrete Random Variables
- Chapter 5 Continuous Random Variables
- Chapter 6 The Normal Distribution and The Central Limit Theorem
- Chapter 7 Confidence Intervals
- Chapter 8 Hypothesis Testing with One Sample
- Chapter 9 Hypothesis Testing with Two Samples
- Chapter 10 Linear Regression and Correlation
- Chapter 11 The Chi-Square Distribution
Alternate sequencing
Introductory Statistics was written to fit a particular topical sequence, but it can be used flexibly to accommodate other course structures. One such potential structure, which fits reasonably well with the textbook content, is provided below. Please consider, however, that the chapters were not written to be completely independent, and that the proposed alternate sequence should be carefully considered for student preparation and textual consistency.
- Chapter 1 Sampling and Data
- Chapter 2 Descriptive Statistics
- Chapter 10 Linear Regression and Correlation
- Chapter 3 Probability Topics
- Chapter 4 Discrete Random Variables
- Chapter 5 Continuous Random Variables
- Chapter 6 The Normal Distribution and The Central Limit Theorem
- Chapter 7 Confidence Intervals
- Chapter 8 Hypothesis Testing with One Sample
- Chapter 9 Hypothesis Testing with Two Samples
- Chapter 11 The Chi-Square Distribution
This Introduction section was adapted from: “Preface.” Introductory Statistics, 2nd ed., OpenStax, https://openstax.org/books/introductory-statistics-2e/pages/preface. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.
About This Book
This textbook was created through Connecting the Pipeline: Libraries, OER, and Dual Enrollment from Secondary to Postsecondary, a $1.3 million project funded by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network and the Institute of Library and Museum Services. This project supports the extension of access to high-quality post-secondary opportunities to high school students across Louisiana and beyond by creating materials that can be adopted for dual enrollment environments. Dual enrollment is the opportunity for a student to be enrolled in high school and college at the same time.
The cohort-developed OER course materials are released under a license that permits their free use, reuse, modification and sharing with others. This includes a corresponding course available in Moodle and Canvas that can be imported to other platforms. For access/questions, contact Affordable Learning Louisiana.
If you are adopting this textbook, we would be glad to know of your use via this brief survey.
Cover Image
The cover image is “Color Coded” by Hopeless_Wonderer and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED).
