Changing the stats syllabus

[Drnanjo]

Hello Out There,

I know that probably almost no one is there right now, but wanted to see if I
could get some input anyway.

Having taught intro stats about a dozen times now, it has not escaped my
notice that the students do fairly well on the first two tests (primarily
descriptive statistics) but then the first test on inferential stats, usually
featuring z and t tests, is a massacre.  Part of the problem seems to be that
t tests are rather complicated, and very few texts give the formula for the
test, instead taking the formula apart into standard error of the difference,
etc. It is a confusing enterprise, IMHO.

I was thinking about changing the order of topics thusly:

THE OLD ORDER:

Measures of Central Tendency
Measures of Dispersion
Probability/Normal Curve
Confidence Intervals
Z tests
T tests
ANOVA
Chi Square
Regression and Correlation

To this:

NEW ORDER

Central Tendency
Variation
Probability/Normal Curve
Chi-Square
ANOVA
Confidence Intervals
Z-tests
T-tests
Regression and Correlation

My reasoning is that chi-square can be linked to probability via the goodness
of fit test, and that chi-square is a conceptually easy test to learn.  It
would allow the students to become comfortable with the hypothesis testing
protocols without being overwhelmed.  

The downside is that we would be skipping to the right tailed distributions
(chi-square and F) and have to return to those based on the normal
distribution later on (z and t) perhaps not wonderful for student
understanding and retention.

Anyway, I have rambled. I hope someone who teaches stats out there might
share their thoughts. It is not 100% definite that I will teach stats in the
fall, but I'd like to be ready to go with this plan if it comes to pass.

Happy Summer Days to all -

Nancy Melucci
LACCD