| Date | Assignment due | Discussion topic and readings |
| Jan. 14 | Introduction to spreadsheets and econometrics Introductory probability and statistics review HTML Simple Regression Theory I PDF Class demo: What a linear model means HTML Class demo: The true line and the regression line HTML Assignment 1 PDF Simple Regression Theory II PDF Assignment 1A PDF I revised the Assignment 1A instructions to change the spreadsheet a little! The new spreadsheet fits better with what we will be doing in week 3. If you already did Assignment 1A, you don't need to resubmit it. To convert your Assignment 1A spreadsheet, download this file, open it in Excel, and follow the instructions you will see. |
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| Jan. 28 | 1 and 1A (If you need more time with 1A, hand it in next
week.) Data for Assignment 1 and 1A HTML Data for the last part of Assignment 1A HTML Tables for hypothesis tests PDF for 1A and later assignments. |
Assumptions behind using regression, Excel charts Class demos about regression HTML The Philosophy of Hypothesis Testing PDF Graphs and predictions Assignment 2 instructions PDF Last year's instructions show how to graph in Excel 2000 or 2003. The assignment has changed a little, so read this year's instructions for what to send me. |
| Feb. 4 | 1A and 2 Data for assignment 1A's last part HTML Answer Checker for assignment 2 HTML (includes help with the confidence interval). I recommend that you try this Answer Checker once you have completed the work for Clinic 1. |
Multiple regression Multiple regression theory PDF Instructions for Assignment 3 PDF |
| Feb. 11 | 3 Getting data for assignment 3 HTML LS HTML Comment hints HTML |
Multicollinearity in regression Assignment 4 instructions PDF |
| Feb. 18 | 4 Data for assignments 4&5 Excel LS HTML Answer Checker HTML This Answer Checker includes help with calculating the F-test and with writing your comment on the F-test and t-test results. |
Heteroskedasticity, nonlinear regression Non-linear regression PDF Assignment 5 PDF Corrected Monday night, Feb. 25, to fix this: On page 4 it used to say Advanced users can try typing =ln&I1 |
| Feb. 25 | 5 LS HTML If you get stuck, you can get ideas from the Answer Checker HTML |
Time series analysis Dummy variables and time series PDF Assignment 6 PDF |
| Mar. 3 | 6 Data for Assignment 6 Excel LS HTML Answer Checker HTML |
Queuing theory introduction Queuing Theory I, Assignments 7 and 7A PDF Demonstrations used in class HTML |
| Mar. 17 | 7, 7A The Answer Checker HTML features a partial walk-through for 7A's last question. |
Queuing theory advanced models Queuing Theory II, Assignments 8 and 8A PDF Queuing Theory Cookbook PDF Queuing theory cookbook with named cells HTML |
| Mar. 24 | 8 The Answer Checker HTML will help you start right and finish right. 8A Answer Checker HTML |
What-if analysis What-If Analysis and Assignment 9 PDF |
| Mar. 31 | 9 Answer
Checker for part 1 HTML Download file for Contest Excel |
Linear programming introduction Linear Programming I, Assignment 10 PDF |
| Apr. 7 | 10 Answer Checker HTML If Solver... is not under the Data tab in Excel 2007 for PCs (under Tools in older Excel versions), here is how to install Solver in Excel 2007 PDF. Instructions for older Excel versions HTML. Excel 2007 Solver bug! When you ask for the Reports after solving, you may get an error message box. I have no sure workaround. Try changing the profit numbers to something much larger. Then Solve. Then change them back and Solve again. That worked once for me. If you have a computer available with Office 2003 or older, use that. If you can't get the Sensitivity Report, e-mail me your spreadsheet. |
Linear programming, scheduling Linear Programming II, Assignment 11 PDF |
| Apr. 14 | 11 Answer Checker HTML | Project planning, critical path method (CPM) CPM instructions, Assignment 12 HTML I recommend opening this HTML file in its own window and having Excel and Pathfind each open in separate windows. Use Alt+Tab to move among open windows. |
| Apr. 21 | 12 Pathfind HTML Answer Checker HTML |
Decision Theory Decision Theory, Assignment 13 PDF Tricky extra-credit question HTML |
| Apr. 28 | 13 | Markup languages, HTML, and XML HTML, Assignment 14 HTML |
| May 5 | 14 and all make-up or late work | No class |
Classes meet Mondays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Wardlaw 116. The classes are televised live to regional campuses and other locations with access to the ETV closed-circuit network.
Goal of the course: To introduce selected quantitative methods applicable to public and institutional health administration.
Instructional method: Learning by doing. You will apply the methods presented in class in homework exercises due each week.
Required work: The weekly assignments are the only required work in the course. No examinations. How the grading works.
Prerequisite: BIOS 700 or its equivalent with permission of the instructor. This course builds on the statistics concepts and the computer experience in BIOS 700. If you can understand this introductory probability and statistics review, you should be OK.
Readings: Downloadable pdf files. Links are in the table to the right. A free pdf reader can be downloaded from www.adobe.com. There is no book to buy. Students wishing additional detail on econometric theory may consult a standard textbook, such as Wonnacott & Wonnacott, Econometrics, but this not required.
Downloading all of the readings at the start of the semester is not recommended. I may revise some readings as I notice errors or get ideas for improvements. Instead, download each week's materials when you are about to start that week's work.
Required computer access: Every course assignment will require using a computer. You may do course assignments in our computer lab, Room 124 of the Arnold School of Public Health's old building (HESC). If you wish to work elsewhere, you must have access to a computer with a full-featured spreadsheet program and internet access with a browser that can do Java.
Internet access, with a web browser with Java, will enable you to download data for assignments, use course software, read about bugs and last-minute changes, and use the Answer Checkers. (Answer checkers let you know instantly whether you are on the right track as you do assignments.) If you do not have internet access or cannot get Java to work, plan to spend time in our lab.
| Microsoft Excel | OK, except that Mac Excel 2008 does not have Solver. |
| Corel Quattro Pro | OK |
| Lotus 1-2-3 | OK |
| Microsoft Works | Not OK -- limited features, incompatible file format with Excel |
| Sun StarOffice | OK, but I haven't tried its Solver. |
You'll get keystroke-by-keystroke instructions for doing the assignments with Excel, run under Microsoft Windows . All of the course assignments can be done with recent versions of Excel, Quattro Pro, and Lotus 1-2-3. Course data files will be provided in a format that all of these programs can read. Students using spreadsheets other than Excel will have to translate the instructions to fit their particular programs. The spreadsheet with Microsoft Works is not good enough, sorry.
Solver: Several of the course exercises use Excel's Solver. This is not installed by the default "typical" installation of Excel. If the Solver icon is not under the Data tab in Excel 2007 (under Tools on older Excel versions), here is how to install it. (Here are instructions for older Excel versions. For older versions, you will need your Microsoft Office installation CD.)
Please locate the computer(s) that you intend to use well before the first meeting of the course. Contact me if you have questions about your computer's capabilities.
Homework: A write-up is mandatory. The write-up should answer the assignment's questions in sentences. It is good to also turn in your spreadsheet file. That can help a lot if I need to track down an error. Your spreadsheet can be in a separate file from your write-up, or you can include your write-up in the spreadsheet.
Most homework assignments have an online Answer Checker. It can tell you if you are on the right track, and give you hints.
Turning in homework: Use Blackboard's feature.
Blackboard's allows you to include a spreadsheet file as an attachment. Your write-up can go in the text box, in an attached word processor file, or it can be incorporated into a spreadsheet file that you attach. A few assignments require your doing something on paper. You may bring the paper to my office or to class on the due date. Alternatively, you may mail the paper, fax it (803-777-6986) or scan it and attach it to what you submit on Blackboard.
Helping another student is a great way to learn, and a great way to make a friend. Be careful, however, to follow these guidelines.
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For helpers:
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For help-ees:
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The assignments in this course are intended to be individual work, not team efforts. The goal is for you to have confidence that you can do this.
By the way, I like explaining things. Feel free to ask me for help, by e-mail or when I'm in my office.
Each week's assignment is worth 4 points, if done well.
There are 14 assignments, so a perfect score for the semester is 56.
| Semester grade |
Total |
Average per assignment |
| A |
52.5 to 56 |
3.75 to 4.00 |
| B+ |
45.5 up to 52.5 |
3.25 up to 3.75 |
| B |
38.5 up to 45.5 |
2.75 up to 3.25 |
| C+ |
31.5 up to 38.5 |
2.25 up to 2.75 |
| C |
24.5 up to 31.5 |
1.75 up to 2.25 |
| D or D+ |
10.5 up to 24.5 |
0.75 up to 1.75 |
| F |
below 10.5 |
below 0.75 |
Some weeks have their assignment split into two parts. The first week, for example, has assignment 1 and assignment 1A. Each part is worth 2 points, so that the total for the week is 4 points.
| Storage Technology | Advantages | Disadvantages | Access as |
| 3-inch floppy disk | Cheap. Enough capacity for this course. | Not reliable. Tends to break while you're working on an important assignment. | Floppy (A:) |
| Thumb-sized USB flash drive | Reliable. Enough capacity for all your courses. | Moderately expensive. Easy to lose. | Removable (E:) |
| Hard drive of computer | Already paid for. | May be erased at any time! When we upgrade software, we often overwrite the hard disks of lab computers. | Local Disk (C:) |
Student performance of these objectives will be evaluated by weekly assignments.