QBA 282, 4M

QUANTITATIVE BUSINESS ANALYSIS

SPRING 2012

Instructor name: Dr. Shari Lawrence

Office location: White Hall, Room 101
Phone number: (985) 448-4231
Email: Shari.Lawrence@nicholls.edu
Office hours: Mon. 9:00-9:30, 1:30-3:00, Wed. 9:00-9:30, 1:30-5:00, Thurs. 9:00-12:00,
Fri. 8:00-9:30.
Catalog Description: QBA 282. Business Statistics I. 3-3-0. Prerequisites: Completion of MATH
105 or 106 and sophomore standing. An introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics.
Special topics covered include frequency distributions; descriptive statistics; random variables;
probability distributions; sampling techniques, sampling distributions; estimation; hypothesis
testing; sample size determination; correlation; linear regression. (52.1302)
Prerequisites:

Sophmore standing (at least thirty credit hours of non-developmental coursework). Completion
of MATH 105 or 106.

ETS Major Field Test - Required For All Business Majors: You will be required to take the ETS
Major Field Test in Business in BSAD 490 during your final year of study. This is a standardized test
that assesses core business areas of accounting, economics, finance, IS, legal and social issues,
management, marketing, international issues and quantitative
analysis. As you move through your business courses you are
putting the pieces together that form a foundation of business
knowledge. This course is one of these pieces. Expect to see the
concepts integrated into other courses and on the ETS exam.

Required Text and Other Materials:

James T. McClave, P. George Benson, and Terry Sincich, Statistics for Business and Economics,
Edition 11e, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2010.
Calculator:
Any business calculator is appropriate for this course.

Student Outcome Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, students will have a basic understanding of the primary statistical
tools used in business analysis. More specifically,

 Students will know the definition of a random sample.

 Students will know the definition of inferential statistics.
 Students will be able to identify qualitative versus quantitative variables.
 Students will be able to calculate a probability using different rules of probability.
 Students will know the definition of a random variable.
 Students will know the definitions of continuous and discrete distributions.
 Students will know the definition of a sampling distribution.
 Students will be able to apply the central limit theorem to solve a problem.
  Students will be able to calculate an interval estimate.
 Students will be able to formulate and test a hypothesis.
 Students will be able to calculate inferential statistics on two populations.

Course Content:

Date Class Mtg Topic Homework Assignments

01.18 1 Review the syllabus
01.20 2 Chapter 1-Why Study Statistics? 1-27 odd
01.23 3 Chapter 1
01.25 4 Chapter 2-Describing Data 1-7odd, 17-21all, 37-42all, 44, 45, 56, 57, 71,
89, 90, 91.
01.27 5 Chapter 2
01.30 6 Chapter 2
02.01 7 Chapter 2
02.03 8 Chapter 3-Probability 1-4 all, 5-11odd, 26 27-33odd, 47-53all, 56,
57.
02.06 9 Chapter 3
02.08 10 Chapter 3
02.10 11 Chapter 3
02.13 12 Exam 1
02.15 13 Chapter 4-Random Variables &Probability 1, 2, 11-19odd, 20, 37-45odd, 58, 79-89odd,
Distributions 105, 106, 163-167all,
02.17 14 Chapter 4
02.20 Mardi Gras No Classes
02.22 Mardi Gras No Classes
02.24 15 Chapter 4
02.27 16 Chapter 4
02.29 17 Chapter 5-Confidence Intervals 1-11odd, 21-27odd, 37-41odd, 56.
03.02 18 Chapter 5
03.05 19 Chapter 5
03.07 20 Chapter 5
03.09 21 Chapter 6-Single Sample Hypothesis Testing 1-11odd, 19-23odd, 35-41 odd, 42, 49-53odd,
54
03.12 22 Chapter 6
03.14 23 Chapter 6
03.16 24 Chapter 6
03.19 25 Exam 2
03.21 26 Chapter 7-Two Sample Hypothesis Testing 1-11odd, 12, 25-30all, 41-47odd, 59.
03.23 27 Chapter 7
03.26 28 Chapter 7
03.28 29 Chapter 7
03.30 30 Chapter 8-Experiment Design and Analysis of 1-7odd.
Variance
04.02 31 Chapter 8
04.04 32 Chapter 8 Last Day to Drop Course
04.06- Spring Break No Classes
04/13
04.16 33 Chapter 9-Categorical Data Analysis 1-9odd, 17, 18.
04.18 34 Chapter 9
04.20 35 Chapter 9
04.23 36 Exam 3
04.25 37 Chapter 10-Simple Regression 1-9odd.
04.27 38 Chapter 10
04.30 39 Chapter 10
05.02 40 Review
05.07 41 Final Exam: Mon., May 7, 1:00-3:00PM

Course Requirements:

Students are required to take three examinations, one final examination, and complete the homework
assignments.
Examinations:
The tests will consist of multiple choice, short answer/definitions, and problems. The final
examination will be cumulative.
Homework Assignments:
Homework problems and questions will be assigned during the semester and graded. Homework
assignments will be representative of the level of difficulty you may expect in exams, and they will
help prepare you for the exams as well. Late assignments will result in a reduction of one letter
grade per day.
Quizzes: There will 6 in-class quizzes given throughout the semester. You may drop your lowest
quiz grade.
Attendance:
Attendance is required and your seat will be assigned. Lack of attendance (e.g., missing more than
three classes without notice) will result in a reduction of one letter grade.
Participation:
Since there is explicit grade weight attached to class participation it is in your best interest to
contribute effectively to class discussions. It is intended to assist students in learning the material in a
friendly and congenial atmosphere.
Please remember the importance of participating. Your experiences and those of your classmates will
make the course more valuable and enjoyable.
Structure of the Course and Expectations from Students:
The structure of the course is a combination of lectures and discussions. Students are required to
keep up with reading assignments and homework problems. Lectures will be conducted on the
assumption that students have read the book and at least partially understand the material.
Although every effort will be made to adhere to the class schedule and objectives, adjustments may
be made if necessary.
What Your Peers Say About This Course:
Based on the experience of undergraduate students in a business administration program, I would
like to offer you some advice. First, students find this course challenging and demanding. Those who
have done well have told me that they read each chapter as well as the power point slides before the
class in which the material is covered, and practiced through the problems afterwards. I, therefore,
would like you to make a commitment to read the chapters and power point slides before each class.
In addition, make a commitment to attend class unless circumstances beyond your control force you
to miss.
I want all of you learn and do well in this course. I hope this advice helps both you and me. I hope
you will find the classes interesting and stimulating. My job is to help you learn and if you need me
anytime, please call me or see me.

Methods of Evaluation:

The distribution of credit for each of the course requirements is as follows:

Points
Examinations (3 at 100 points each) 300
 Final Examination 130
Individual Homework Assignments 100
Quizzes 50
Participation 20_
Total Points 600

Grading Policy:
Assignment of letter grades will be given at the end of the semester on the basis of cumulative points
earned on all exams, homework assignments, and class attendance and participation. The following
scale will be used to determine the final grade:
A 540-600
B 480-539
C 420-479
D 360-419
F Less than 360

Make-up Procedure:

A missed exam may be made up only if: (1) the reason for missing the exam is beyond the student’s
control (such as a medical excuse, jury duty, death in the family or automobile accident), or (2) the
student receives prior consent from the instructor for missing the exam based on a non-frivolous
excuse (such as job interview or out-of-town job related travel).
In either case, the student must submit a written and signed statement concerning the reasons
for missing the exam, with appropriate documentation, and petition for a make-up. If these
conditions are met, it is the student’s responsibility to contact me to schedule the make-up
exam as soon as feasibly possible.
A missed exam will carry a zero grade if these conditions are not met.

Academic Honesty Policy:

You are expected to maintain the highest level of personal, professional and academic integrity in this
course of study. Any breach of the University’s “Code of Student Conduct” will be addressed in the
appropriate manner outlined in the “Code of Student Conduct.” If you are not clear on this policy or
procedure, please read the “Code of Student Conduct.” In particular, read the section covering “Acts
Constituting Sanctionable Misconduct” and the section regarding “Academic Dishonesty.”

Attendance Policy:

Attendance is required and your seat will be assigned. Lack of attendance (e.g., missing more than
three classes without notice) will result in a reduction of one letter grade.

DROP DATE: The last day to drop a course with a “W” is: Wednesday, April 4.

Americans With Disabilities Act:

 If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to register with the
Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Office of
Disability Services is located in 158-A Shaver Gym. The phone number is (985) 448-4430 (TTY
449-7002). www.nicholls.edu/disability

Academic Grievances:

The proper procedure for filing grade appeals or grievances related to academic matters is listed in
Section 5 of the Code of Student Conduct and at the following link:
http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf.

Continued Learning following an Extreme Emergency:

In order to make continued learning possible following an extreme emergency, students are
responsible for:
 reading regular emergency notifications on the NSU website;
 knowing how to use and access Blackboard (or university designated electronic delivery
system);
 being familiar with emergency guidelines;
 evacuating textbooks and other course materials;
 knowing their Blackboard (or designated system) student login and password;
 contacting faculty regarding their intentions for completing the course.

Faculty are responsible for:

 their development in the use of the Blackboard (or designated) software;
 having a plan for continuing their courses using only Blackboard and email;
 continuing their course in whatever way suits the completion of the course best, and being
creative in the continuation of these courses;
 making adjustments or compensations to a student’s progress in special programs with labs,
clinical sequences or the like only in the immediate semester following the emergency.

Electronic Communication Devices and Computer Usage:

All cellular phones must be turned off prior to entering class or placed on silent mode. Any
disruption of the class due to a cellular phone will result in your dismissal from the class for that
session. Under no circumstances will camera phones be allowed in the class. Any use of a camera
phone during class will result in your termination from the class with a grade of “F”. Laptops are
strictly prohibited in class unless we are working with Excel.