ECON-UA 18 - Statistics - Spring 2017

Homeworks

• There will be 6 homeworks throughout the semester, due in class one week after being assigned.
• Late homeworks can be dropped off at your TA's office before noon on the day the homework is due, at a penalty of 25% per day of delay.
• Solutions to the homework questions will not be provided, but can be obtained by attending the lab sessions. I recommend making a copy of your homework before handing it in, so you can make notes or corrections during the lab sessions.
• Homeworks cannot be emailed, unless specifically asked beforehand and for a valid reason. In that case, it should be compiled into a single pdf-file.
• Please check that you don't forget to write your name on your homework, and make sure it is properly stapled.
• You can pick up your graded homeworks from the box outside the TA's office.
• Grades will be made available on NYU Classes.

Exams

There will be two exams:

• Midterm: Thursday, March 9th, 9.30 AM - 10.45 AM, in class.
• Final on Thursday May 11th, 8.00 AM - 9.50 AM, in class.

Grading

• Your total grade will be given by the larger of these two numbers:
  1. Score 1 = Homeworks (20%) + Midterm (30%) + Final (50%)
  2. Score 2 = Homeworks (20%) + Midterm (40%) + Final (40%)
• In other words, if you have a bad midterm but a better final, then your final will receive a larger weight (50%) in your total grade. However, if you did worse in your final than in your midterm, then your midterm and final will receive equal weight (40%).
• Total grades will be scaled in order to be (approximately) consistent with the following distribution: A (29%) - B (40%) - C (22%) - D (5%) - F (4%).

Software and calculators

• Some of the homework questions will require statistical software. You can use whichever package you prefer (e.g. Excel, OpenOffice Calc, R, Stata, SPSS, EViews, ...). Excel is probably the simplest to use, but OpenOffice looks very similar and is free to download here.
• Unless a homework question explicitly asks you to provide some computer output, you could use a graphing calculator (or this online calculator) if it allows you to enter some data, calculate summary statistics, run various statistical tests, run simple regressions, and so on. However, those questions will be simple enough so you can also find the answer manually, using the formulas we will see and the statistical distribution tables (see also "Useful resources" below).
• During exams, you can use only a basic calculator (i.e. no graphing/programmable calculators or phones). Everything you need (distribution tables and a formula sheet) will be provided.

Exceptions and special arrangements

• If you require additional accommodations as determined by the Center for Students with Disabilities, please let your instructor know as soon as possible.
• There will be no make up exams, except for well-documented bona fide emergencies. Any emergencies should be discussed with me as soon as is practically possible.
• Midterm and final exam dates are not flexible. The only exceptions are:
  1. A documented medical excuse.
  2. A university sponsored event such as an athletic tournament, a play, or a musical performance. Athletic practices and rehearsals do not fall into this category. Please have your coach, conductor, or other faculty adviser contact your instructor.
  3. A religious holiday.
  4. Extreme hardship such as a family emergency.

Useful resources

Here is some useful material for the course:

• List of statistical symbols
• Free statistical software packages:
  • OpenOffice Calc - download here
  • The R Project for statistical computing
• Various ways of working with statistical distributions:
  • Distribution tables (pdf) for Normal, t, Chi-squared distributions
  • Online calculator for Normal, t, Chi-squared, Binomial distributions
  • Excel file for various t-tests
• Diagnostics for simple linear regression: Online app