/2020-432

This will be the public repository for my 432 course in Spring 2020.

Primary LanguageTeXMIT LicenseMIT

2020-432

Welcome to Dr. Thomas E. Love's 432 course in Spring 2020 at Case Western Reserve University.

When and Where?

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 PM to 2:15 PM in Room E321-323 in the Robbins Building at the School of Medicine.
  • Classes meet as listed on the Course Calendar. Our first session will be on Tuesday 2020-01-14.

Key Links

  • The Course Calendar serves as the final word for all deadlines and provides links for all classes and deliverables.
    • Each Class has an associated README page (here's Class 1) linked from the Course Calendar.
    • The README is where we'll start each session, and where you'll find the slides Dr. Love presents.
  • The Course Syllabus includes information on me, and on the teaching assistants.
  • Dr. Love's Course Notes will be edited and posted as the semester progresses.
  • Data and Code for the course.
  • Instructions regarding Software and R Packages.
  • The R-Basics page contains several examples in Cleaning Data and Coding Analyses in R designed to help you with this course's assignments, particularly the first project. The main PDF here is about 60 pages long, so there's a lot of material to review.
  • The References page links to supplemental readings and related materials, including several online texts.
  • The website for my Fall 2019 431 course will stay up through April.

Deliverables

  • The Homework page provides details on the homework assignments.
  • The Projects page provides details on the two course projects you'll complete.
  • The Quizzes page provides details on the quizzes you'll take.

Deadlines for all deliverables are specified exclusively at the Course Calendar.

Getting Help

  • Once the class begins, email 431-help at case dot edu to get in touch with Dr. Love and the teaching assistants. We WANT to hear from you!
  • Details on Teaching Assistants and their Office Hours are in the Syllabus and at the bottom of the Course Calendar.
  • TA office hours are open to all - just drop in!
  • Dr. Love holds office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, by appointment. To make an appointment, email him directly at thomas dot love at case dot edu.
  • Don't forget that the R-basics page provides numerous examples in data cleaning, data management, and coding analyses in R.

Stuff from before the class started

  • After the first class, most questions and other feedback should be sent to Dr. Love and the Teaching Assistants via email: 431-help at case dot edu.
  • Prior to the first class, or to contact Dr. Love individually, email thomas dot love at case dot edu.

What Should I Do Prior to the First Class?

  1. Buy The Art of Statistics: How to Learn from Data by David Spiegelhalter.

    • We'll read the entire book this Spring, but I encourage you to read Chapters 1-5 soon.
    • The book is available online for less than $25 in hardcover, and less than $20 as an e-book. Amazon link.
    • Here's the book's website which contains code, corrections and other materials.

  2. Install the Software: Install R (version 3.6.2 or later) and RStudio (version 1.2.5033 or later) and some necessary R packages. Details here.

  3. Materials will continue to appear on the web in fits and starts all semester. Take a look at what's already up.

Staying Sharp over the Break

The best thing to do is analyze some data. I can think of no better place to keep sharp than working on some of the Tidy Tuesday projects and I hope to spend some time on this myself over the break. There's a new data set every week!