Scientific Method (GEOL
4/5/72035)
An introduction to quantitative methods for earth scientists
Photograph copyright 1999, Joseph D. Ortiz
Instructor:
Email:
Web: |
Dr.
Joseph D. Ortiz (About the instructor)
jortiz@kent.edu
www.personal.kent.edu/~jortiz/home |
Phone: 330-672-2225
|
Office
and Lab:
Mailbox: |
McGilvrey
Hall, Room 334/336
Dept. of
Geology
Office,
McGilvrey
Hall,
Room 221 |
FAX: 330-672-7949 |
Office
Hours for Dr. Ortiz
McGilvrey
Hall
Room 334/336 |
Monday 10:00
- 11:30 am
Thursday 3:20
- 4:30 pm
or by
appointment |
Course Rationale and Objectives:
Students graduating from college
today face an increasingly technical and computer oriented society that demands
a quantitatively skilled work force. This is especially true within the fields
of math and science. This upper level course will provide participants with a
broad introduction to quantitative and statistical methods commonly used by
research scientists. This objective will be accomplished through lectures,
selected readings from the primary literature, and computer exercises built
around existing climate and environmental data sets. Emphasis will be placed on
developing an understanding of the concepts underlying various methods and
gaining the insights needed to determine which tests are appropriate for a
particular application or data set.
Approach:
An important aspect of the course will be the "hands on" computational
experience working with real world data sets on personal computers using a
variety of software applications. Students will be encouraged to use their own
data sets or data sets provided by their advisor for the final project. Working
with real world data will help to give immediate relevance to the examples
presented in class and on laboratory assignments. The internet provides an
excellent source of data that will be appealing to students with broad academic
interests (see below).
Expected
outcome:
Participants will gain an appreciation for statistical methods and considerable
experience working with computational software as research tools. This will
allow them to develop quantitative skills that will be helpful in a wide variety
of potential career choices.
Pre-requisites:
Basic computer skills, Algebra, and once semester of Calculus and/or Linear
Algebra will be helpful. Experience with computational software helpful by not
required. Enrollment will be limited, interested students should contact the
instructor for permission.
Text:
Mathematics, A simple tool for
Geologists, 2nd
Edition by David Waltham, ISBN 0-632-05345-3
Class Assignments
Instructions for obtaining the files: Follow
the links
below to the data directory,
then download the material you will need to
complete
the assignments.
Univariate and Bivariate Methods
|
Multivariate Methods
|
Time Series Analysis
|
| No. 1:
Intro to Excel |
No.
5: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) |
No.
9: TSA, Part 1 |
| No.
2: Probability and Sampling |
No.
6: Multiple Linear Regression |
No.
10: TSA, Part 2 |
| No.
3: Correlation
and T-Test |
No.
7: Discriminant Function Analysis |
No.
11: TSA, Part 3 |
| No.
4: Linear Regression |
No.
8: Factor Analysis |
No. 12: Presentation of
Class Projects |
Potential sources of data on the web:
Kent State
University
Home Page
KSU Department of Geology
Homepage for Dr.
J.D. Ortiz
Acknowledgments