What This Document Is
This document contains lab exercises (Labs 3-5) for STSCI 2150, an introductory statistics and data science course at Cornell University. It focuses on practical application of statistical concepts using the R programming language. The labs build upon foundational ideas and provide hands-on experience with data manipulation, random sampling, and basic statistical calculations.
Why This Document Matters
These lab exercises are essential for students enrolled in STSCI 2150. They are designed to reinforce lecture material and develop proficiency in using R for data analysis. Completion of these labs is a required component of the course, contributing to a student’s overall understanding of statistical principles and data science techniques. The labs are intended to be worked on during lab sections with TA support, but can be completed independently within a week of release.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document provides the *problems* and *framework* for the labs, but does not offer complete solutions or detailed explanations of the underlying statistical theory. Students will need to leverage course lectures, readings, and TA assistance to fully grasp the concepts and successfully complete the assignments. It assumes a basic familiarity with the R programming environment.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes:
* Lab assignments focused on data entry in R, random sampling, and calculating summary statistics.
* Specific instructions for submitting work via Canvas and Gradescope.
* Example datasets and R code snippets to guide data manipulation.
* Objectives for each activity, outlining the skills students will develop.
* A description of a cowrie shell sampling exercise to illustrate random sampling principles.
This preview *does not* include the solutions to the lab problems, the complete R code, or the detailed explanations of statistical concepts. It is a roadmap of the lab’s content, not a substitute for completing the exercises.