Computing in Statistics, 22S:166Fall 20081 General InformationInstructor: Kate Cowles, 374 SH, [email protected] hours: T 1:30 - 2:20 p.m.W 12:30 - 1:20 p.m.Th 1:30 - 2:20 p.m.Please feel free to make appointments to see me outside of office hours,and to send me questions by e-mail.Department: Statistics and Actuarial Science, 241 SHDEO: Luke Tierney, 241 SH, [email protected]: M, W, F 74 SH 2:30 - 3:20Lab: some Fridays (instead of lecture) 41 SH or 346 SHWeb page: http://www.stat.uiowa.edu/∼kcowles/s1662008Handouts, homework assignments, datasets, etc.will be posted on the web page for you to download.Homework submission and posting of solutionswill be on ICO N course web page.Required readings: See “Web Resources” section of course web pageMathematical Sciences Library, Givens and Hoeting, Computational Statistics125 MLH:2 Course goals and objectivesThrough hands-on experience with real problems, students will learn computing skills essen-tial in applied statistics and in research in methodological and theoretical statistics. Topicsinclude the Linux op erating system; R and SAS (statistical computing environments); LATEX(mathematical document preparation language); reprod ucible research; database m anage-ment; simulation methods (Monte Carlo studies, bootstrap, MCMC); statistical computingalgorithms (Newton’s method) ; interfacing to cyberinfrastructure resources.3 Evaluation of students3.1 HomeworkIn general, homework will be assigned each Fri. and will be due in class the following Fri.Exceptions to this schedule will be announced in class.1Show your work w hen solving written homework problems. Code and output for computerproblems should be submitted electronically through the ICON submission tools for thiscourse (icon.uiowa.edu).You are encouraged to study with others. However, if you do work with others on home-work assignments, please: a) write up your own assignment and make sure you completelyunderstand all solutions that you submit, and b) write the names of the others in yourstudy group on your assignment.Late homework is accepted only as required by u niversity policy, i.e. due to “illness, manda-tory religious obligations, or other unavoidable circumstances or University activities.”3.2 ExamsThere will be two 2-hour hand s -on computing midterm exams and one comprehensive final.The midterms will be scheduled in the computer lab outside of the regular class periodand will replace the lab session for that week. The final will be given du ring the scheduledfinal-exam period. The computing exams are open book and open notes. Students maybring one 8-1/2 x 11 in. sheet of paper with notes to the final exam.Midterm 1 week of 9/29, 41 SH(replaces lab on 10/3)Midterm 2 week of 11/3, 41 SH(replaces lab on 10/31)Final exam 9:45 A.M., Mon, Dec 15 2008Missed exams may be made up only with documentation of reasons required by universitypolicy (see “Late Homework” above).3.3 ProjectsStudents will work in groups of three to carry out projects involving ap plication of thestatistical computing methods covered in the course to problems of their own choosing. Iwill be happy to work with you at each stage of your project. E xamples of p ossib le typesof projects are:• Design and carry out a simulation study to compare the properties of two or morestatistical procedures• Learn to use two or more R packages that we have n ot studied as a class. Apply themto perform u seful analyses of a real dataset.• Choose a research question and find data to address it. Use SAS to ”clean” andprepare the data and to carry out an analysis.Projects will be carried out in three phases. Please meet with me at least once while youare working on each ph ase.2• Proj ect proposal (due 11/03) This is a detailed description of what you plan to do,including question(s) to be addressed, software to be us ed , methods to be applied.• Proj ect interim report (due 11/19) This inform al report will indicate that your projectis “on track.” All computing should be completed at this point. The interim reportwill includ e results obtained thus far and a brief summary (hand-written is O.K.)of what they mean and what remains to be done. In addition, each member of theproject team will list which tasks they have performed for the group.• Proj ect presentation (must be posted or submitted by 12/08)The final form of the project must be prepared in LATEX˙This can be either– a paper to be posted on the course web page (send PDF file to me for posting)– slides to accompany an oral presentation to the class (use computer and projectorin the classroom)Presentations will be given in class during the week of 12/08.3.4 GradingThe course components will be weighted as follows:Homework 10%Midterms 35% (17.5% each)Project 20%Final 35%Grading will be on a curve, with +/− grades used. A grade of A+ represents exceptionalwork and rarely is awarded.4 Extra HelpThe Statistics Tutorial Lab, located in 202 CC, gives free tutorial assistance to students in22S:2, 8, 25, and 39. In addition, several graduate students have volunteered to indepen -dently tutor students in various 22S: courses at mutually- arranged times and fees. Pleasecheck the web site www.stat.uiowa.edu/courses/tutoring.html for tutoring details.5 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Policies and Proce-dures5.1 Administrative Home of the CourseThe administrative home of this course is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whichgoverns academic matters relating to the course such as the add /d rop deadlines, the second-3grade-only option, issues concerning academic fraud or academic probation, and how creditsare applied for various graduation requir ements. Different colleges might have different poli-cies. If you have questions about these or other CLAS policies, visit your academic advisoror 120 Schaeffer Hall and speak with the staff. The CLAS Academic Handbook also containsimportant CLAS academic policies: www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/index.shtml5.2 Academic FraudPlagiarism and any other activities that result in a student presenting work that is nothis or her own are academic fraud. Academic fraud is reported to the departmental DEOand then to the Associate Dean for Academic Pr ograms and Services in the College ofLiberal Arts and Sciences who deals with academic fraud according to these guidelines:www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/ix.shtml5.3 Making a
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