STAT 506 : Sampling Theory and Methods  Spring 2005

Tuesday, Thursday 11:15am-12:30pm  219 Thomas Building  

Instructor: Dr. Mosuk Chow

Office: 315 Thomas
Phone: 863-8128 (e-mail: mchow@stat.psu.edu)
Office Hours: Wednesday, Thursday  2:00-3:30pm or by appointment

Aim: The course covers sampling design and analysis methods useful for research and management in many fields. The field of Sampling considers the way that the data we observe are selected. A well-designed sampling procedure ensures that we can summarize and analysis the data with a minimum of assumptions or complications. In this course, we will cover the basic methods of sampling and estimation and then explore selected topics and recent developments. Basic methods include simple random sampling with associated estimation and confidence interval methods, selecting sample sizes, estimating proportions, unequal probability sampling, ratio and regression estimation, stratified sampling, cluster and systematic sampling, multistage designs, and double sampling. More recent topics will include network sampling.

Textbook: Sampling, Second Edition, by Steven K. Thompson, John Wiley and Sons, 2002.

Website: the ANGEL (cms.psu.edu) site of this course
 

Course Content: Chapters 1-8, 11-15 and selected topics.

Grades:

Home works: 

25 %

Midterm:

25 % ( March 1)

Presentation:

10 %

Project:

15 %

Final Exam:

25 % (per University schedule)


Grading (tentatively): Course grades in each of the nine categories will be tentatively awarded based on the following lower bounds:

F

D

C

C+

B-

B

B+

A-

A

0

60

70

77

80

83

87

90

93

Exams: Midterm exam and final will be closed book and comprehensive. More focus will be given to material not covered in the prior exams. For midterm and final exams, you will be allowed to bring in a formula sheet made up by yourself. This sheet may comprise three pages of one sided 8.5x11 inches sheets. No early or late exams will be allowed without a legitimate excuse.

Home works: Homework assignments will posted on the Angel site and you will get an e-mail when it is posted. You must show all work on the homework problems to get full credit. The lowest homework score will be dropped. Doing the homework promptly and carefully is necessary for learning the material. A reasonable amount of collaboration is allowed on homework. However, each student must turn in his or her own written work which reflects his or her own individual understanding of the material. Late home works : (10 % off for each day late)
Academic Integrity: All Penn State and Eberly College of Science policies regarding academic integrity apply to this course. See
http://www.science.psu.edu/academic/Integrity/index.html for details.

Disabilities: It is Penn State's policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for modifications in this course, contact your instructor and the Office for Disability Services (located in 116 Boucke Building). Instructors should be notified as early in the semester as possible. You may refer to the Nondiscrimination Policy in the Student Guide to University Policies and Rules 1997. See the website http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/ for details.