Dr. Darwin Dennison

      HEA 355 Statistics and Measurement

Course Description

HEA 355 provides an innovative, technology-based online course that prepares community health education students to evaluate the statistical underpinnings of community health education research and intervention-based research. The class focuses upon the active involvement of the students in statistical methodology concepts and skills. Students will review the research literature in community health education and related areas, and become fluent in describing the statistical related issues and methodology. Principles of measurement and evaluation including instruments, and an examination of concepts and strategies involved with measurement and evaluation.

Academic Expectations

In choosing UNCW, you have become part of a community of scholars. I recognize that the learning experience is challenging and requires hard work. It also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work. I expect you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge. Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future. Our faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.

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Course Policies and Agreement

During the first two days of class you must respond via Blackboard e-mail to attest that you have read the Course Policies and Agreement. You must send an e-mail in Blackboard, with a simple ‘OK’ that you agree to the following six mandatory conditions of this class:
1. HARDWARE AND SKILLS. You must have daily access to a PC-based computer, Pentium 3 or higher with DSL or cable Internet connections. When you first lo gon to Blackboard, determine if your browser is ready for online use. If it is not ready, you must make it ready by completing the checklist on your screen. If you have difficulty please consult with tac@uncw.edu.  You must allow pop-ups on your browser to successfully complete the course. You should also have JAVA installed on your computer... go to www.sun.com to download the free version... you must use version 6 or higher. If you have questions regarding hardware and skills go to http://www.uncw.edu/online/techreq.html .  If you have difficulties during the course contact tac@uncw.edu, phone 962-HELP (962-4357). Please indicate to the TAC consultant that you are taking a Blackboard course... provide the consultant with the course number and instructor.
2. TESTS. You understand that there will be multiple online tests... plus quizzes. All tests are timed, that is, you must complete the test in a designated number of minutes from the time you logon. Each test is scheduled on one day usually on Wednesdays, no exceptions. You can take the test any time within the scheduled period usually 1 to 4 hours. The tests are electronic and tests that are past due cannot be made up. In general, tests include data from the text, the labs, outside readings and assignments. Tests must be taken as an individual effort. Electronic surveillance methods are used to identify cheating and plagiarism through computer IP addresses, file resource numbers and specialized software.
3. ASSIGNMENTS.  All assignment files in the correct file format must be electronically uploaded into Blackboard for full credit. Assignments sent via e-mail in Blackboard or campus e-mail do not receive credit. Late assignments do not receive credit. You understand that it is your responsibility to learn to download your assignments to your desktop, complete the assignment and then upload your completed assignments into Blackboard, on time and complete, for full credit. There are no exceptions. Posting assignments correctly with complete and accurate information on time is a determinant of your grade. All assignments are due as posted usually on Wednesdays. New assignments are posted Thursday or Friday. When the time period is closed... it is done. If you wait until the last day to complete your assignments, over time you will have crashes, the site will be down, and/or other issues may cause you to submit your assignments late and you will not receive credit or lose points. Submitting early is to your advantage.
4. SERVER DOWN/DRIVE CRASHED. You understand that there are information technology issues that you must personally deal with and resolve to successfully complete the course including but not limited to server being down, or viruses / crashes destroying your work before it is uploaded into Blackboard. It is your responsibility to resolve any computer related issues so that your assignments and tests are submitted on time. You are advised to save your data and not wait until the deadline to submit your assignments, quizzes, or tests. If you wish to be safe from a technology standpoint, use UNCW microcomputer lab computers. Although Dr. Dennison is knowledgeable in technology, please keep in mind that his expertise is nutrition and that you must use UNCW information technology support (TAC) to answer navigation, browser, file management, and server related issues.
5. PARTICIPATION. You understand that the course professor can view your participation statistics, that is, how much time you spent online. You understand that if you have an issue that prevents you from being online for more than 3-days, you must provide rationale or risk being dropped from the class. Each week there are assignments due and/or tests. These tasks must be electronically submitted on or before the due date for credit. Electronic assignments that are past due cannot be made up.
6. E-MAIL. The assignments and procedures in this online class are designed to be clear and precise.  If you need to ask a question, you must use the Blackboard e-mail system. In Blackboard, go to Mail, Create Message, and then Browse for Recipients, select Darwin Dennison, enter message and select Send.
Please Note: All e-mails must use complete sentences, correct grammar, and spelling or the e-mails will not be answered. You understand that replies may come at any time within 24-48 hours. Please read all related course material before sending your e-mail. If the answer to your question is stated anywhere in the course material, you will be advised to re-read these references. Please contact TAC@uncw.edu or 962-4357 if your question is regarding file management or navigating Blackboard.

Agreement

If you agree with these conditions, simply send me an e-mail in Blackboard with an "OK" within 48 hours of the beginning date of the class OR within 48 hours of registering for the class. You will be dropped from the class if I do not receive your Blackboard e-mail. And, I reserve the right to drop you from the class if you do not agree with or do not follow any of these conditions.

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Course Outline

1. Descriptive versus inferential statistics
2. Scales of measurement
3. Frequencies, percentages and proportions
4. Introduction to frequency distributions
5. Frequency distribution of grouped data
6. Cumulative frequencies, cumulative percentages and percentile ranks
7. Histograms
8. Frequency Polygons
Test 1

9. Shapes of distributions
10. Mean: an average
11. Mean, median and mode
12. Variability: the range and interquartile range
13. Variability: introduction to the standard deviation
14. More on standard deviation
15. And even more on standard deviation
16. Standard scores
17. Transformed standard scores
18. Standard scores and the normal curve
19. Conceptual introduction to correlation
20. Scattergrams
21. Introduction to the Pearson r
22. Computation of the Pearson r
23. Coefficient of determination
24. Multiple correlations
Test 2

25. Introduction to linear regression
26. Computations for linear regression
27. Introduction to sampling
28. More on sampling
29. Introduction to probability
30. Probability and the normal curve
31. Standard error of the mean
32. Confidence intervals for the mean
33. Introduction to the null hypothesis
34. Decisions about the null hypothesis
35. z test for one sample
36. One-tailed versus two-taled tests
37. Introduction to the t test
38. Computation of t for independent data
39. Reporting of the t test
40. Computation of t for dependent data
41. Introduction to analysis of variance ANOV
42. Computations for one-way, two-way ANOV
Test 3

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Performance Indicators

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Define language of statistical terms and conditions;
2. List the major statistical / mathematical operations;
3. State and define the use of descriptive statistics;
4. Describe scales of measurement;
5. List qualitative types of frequency distributions;
6. Identify measures of central tendency;
7. Name methods of variability and standard deviation;
8. List and explain types of correlation;
9. Describe the use of inferential statistics;
10. Evaluate and critique sampling and normal curve;
11. Review hypotheses testing and statistical representations;
12. Describe how statistical methodology can be implemented to improve the practice of health education;
13. Describe the characteristics of qualitative research;
14. Participate in class activities and technology assignments.

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Required Text

Success at Statistics (Check bookstore for latest edition): A work-text with humor, Pyrczak, Fred; Pyrczak Publishing Company, Los Angeles, 2009;

Basic Calculator (including square root key)

Basis for Grading

1. Worksheets assignments are due each Wednesday. Content (correct answers are available each Thursday)
2. Points are taken off for incomplete, inaccurate Worksheets (late Worksheet receive no points)
3. Accumulated Worksheet points count as one test (25% of grade) 
4. Scores on 3 tests count 75% of grade. Each test is 25% of grade
5. Final grade is total points on 3 tests plus assignment points divided by 4.

Students with Disabilities

If you have a diagnosed disability (physical, learning or psychological) which will make it difficult for you to carry out the course work as outlined, please advise me during the first two weeks of the course so we may review possible arrangements for reasonable accommodations. You must also contact and register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (ext. 3746) and obtain an Accommodation Letter.

UNCW Honor Code

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