GEOG 204 – Spatial Analysis
Section
001, 4 Credits
Spring
2015
Instructor: Dr.
Arthur J. Lembo, Jr.
Office: Henson Hall 157H
Office Hours: M,W,F 9:00-11:00am; (also by appointment)
Phone: 410-677-0140
E-mail: ajlembo@salisbury.edu
Class Meetings: MWF 11 – 11:50 a.m., F 12 – 1:40 p.m.; Henson Hall 153
Text:
Introduction to
Statistical Problem Solving in Geography,
3rd Edition, Waveland Press. McGrew,
Lembo, Monroe. (available at bookstore, Amazon.com,
Waveland.com, and BarnesandNoble.com).
Workbook: Workbook for Statistical
Problem Solving in Geography. Lembo.
(available through lulu.com, createspace.com, and
Amazon.com – see Professor for coupon code before ordering).
Course Description: This course will introduce the basics of statistics and
their applications in geographic research. You will be exposed to both
descriptive and inferential statistics, with an emphasis on geographic
applications. This course focuses on statistical analysis and spatial
statistics, since these methods are crucial to anyone having to deal with
spatially-oriented problems. Applications from both human and physical
geography will be used for in-class examples and out-of-class exercises.
In class, problems will be presented and output interpreted using Minitab
statistical software or Excel, but you may use any software system you
wish. After finishing this class, students are expected to be able to
know how to collect data, choose the appropriate statistical techniques and
analyze the data according to their research questions.
Exams: This course has a total of three exams during the semester
as well as a final exam. Each exam is worth 60 points and the final exam
is worth 120 points (a total of 300 points for all
exams). Each exam will be administered as scheduled. All exams
count for a portion of the final grade; none can be dropped. Very few if
any numerical calculations are required in the exams. Questions are a mix of objective (multiple
choice, matching, fill in, simple graphics) and essays. Questions
involve: (1) basic knowledge of the characteristics and factual information
associated with a statistical technique or concept; (2) understanding and
interpretation of the purposes and objectives of a technique; (3) explanation
of why a technique is important, and the limitations of the technique; (4)
creative identification of geographic problems that can be solved by a
technique; and (5) the ability to decide which statistical technique is most
appropriate, when presented with a geographic data set of a research
problem.
There are also 2 Lab
Practicum Exams each worth 50 points (a total of 100 points). The practicum exams
will be open book and require the use of a computer to perform the calculations.
Make-up Exams: Any student missing an exam must supply the instructor with
a written excuse. It is the student’s responsibility to
inform the instructor of the missed exam within one class day after
the original exam is given in order to schedule a make-up exam. Anyone
failing to comply with this policy will receive a zero for the missed exam.
Exercises: This course has a total of 10 exercises
worth 10 points each (a total of 100 points for all
exercises). The exercises are designed to reinforce the lecture and
should be completed during the lab time.
Students will submit their workbook at the end of lab to be
checked. If an exercise is turned in
late, the penalty is 5 points per school day late. Additional
decisions to alter exercise assignments or points may have to be made during
the semester as conditions warrant, and the instructor reserves the right to
make these decisions.
Grades: This course has a total of 500 points. Each
student’s grade for this course will be determined by a percentage
based on the total points accumulated by that individual, divided by the total
number of points possible (500). Letter grades will be assigned as
follows:
|
Letter Grade |
Percentage of Points |
Total Points |
|
A |
90.00 – 100% |
450 – 500 |
|
B |
80.00 – 89.99% |
400 – 449 |
|
C |
70.00 – 79.99% |
350 – 399 |
|
D |
60.00 – 69.99% |
300 – 349 |
|
F |
0.00 – 59.99% |
Below 300 |
Attendance: Attending class is
important. Coming to class, paying attention and taking notes is the best
way to learn the course material. Most lectures will come from the
textbook, but some material will only be presented in class.
****** PLEASE NOTE SCHOOL POLICY FOR THE H1N1 VIRUS *******
Classroom Environment: Students are expected to contribute to an environment appropriate
for learning that considers and respects the needs and rights of others.
Any academic misconduct will be confronted and handled accordingly. Please
silence all electronic devices while in class. Do not arrive late and
do not leave early – the door will be closed at 11:05. Please
note, if you miss lecture on Friday, you will not be allowed to attend the lab.
Academic Integrity: Cheating, plagiarism and other forms
of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. Students
should pay special attention to the expectations discussed in the 2005-2006
Student Handbook and 2005-2007 University Catalog. Violating these
rules will result in significant grade penalties up to and including a failing
grade for the course. Extreme cases of academic misconduct can result in
expulsion from the University.
Writing Across the Curriculum: All writing assignments, both formal
and informal, are in support of Salisbury University’s Writing Across the Curriculum Program.
Important University Dates for Spring
Last day to drop/add – January 30
Last day to withdraw
from course to receive a “W” – April 3
Changes to Syllabus: This syllabus may be modified or changed by the
instructor as necessary. Students will be notified of the changes in class.
Approximate Schedule –
Spatial Analysis – Spring 2015
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Exercises |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 1 |
Monday, January 26, 2014 |
An
introduction to spatial analysis. Role of Statistics in
Geography. Examples of Statistical Problem |
|
|
Ch. 2 |
Wednesday, January 28,
2014 |
The Context of statistical techniques. Geographic Data: Characteristics and
Preparation |
|
|
|
Friday, January 30, 2014 |
Geographic Data: Characteristics and Preparation |
Exercise 1:
chapters 1 and 2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 3 |
Monday, February 02, 2014 |
Descriptive Statistics and Graphics: Central tendency,
Dispersion and Variability. |
|
|
|
Wednesday, February 04,
2014 |
Descriptive Statistics and Graphics: Shape or relative position. |
|
|
|
Friday, February 06, 2014 |
Spatial Data and Descriptive Statistics |
Exercise 2: chapter 3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 4 |
Monday, February 09, 2014 |
Descriptive Spatial Statistics |
|
|
Ch. 5 |
Wednesday, February 11,
2014 |
Basic Probability and Discreet Probability Distributions |
|
|
Ch. 5 |
Friday, February 13, 2014 |
Basic Probability and Discreet Probability Distributions |
Exercise 3: Chapters 4 and 5 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 6 |
Monday, February 16, 2014 |
Continuous Probability Distributions |
|
|
Ch. 6 |
Wednesday, February 18,
2014 |
Continuous Probability Distributions and exam review |
|
|
|
Friday, February 20, 2014 |
Exam 1 chapters 1 - 5 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 6 |
Monday, February 23, 2014 |
Continuous Probability Distributions |
|
|
Ch. 7 |
Wednesday, February 25,
2014 |
Basic Element of Sampling |
|
|
|
Friday, February 27, 2014 |
Basic Element of Sampling |
Exercise 4: chapters 6 and 7 |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 8 |
Monday, March 02, 2014 |
Estimation in Sampling |
|
|
Ch. 8 |
Wednesday, March 04, 2014 |
Estimation in Sampling |
|
|
Friday, March 06, 2014 |
Estimation in Sampling |
Exercise 5: chapter 8 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 9 |
Monday, March 09, 2014 |
Elements of Inferential Statistics |
|
|
|
Wednesday, March 11, 2014 |
Elements of Inferential Statistics |
|
|
|
Friday, March 13, 2014 |
Exam 2 chapters 6, 7, and 8 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
Monday, March 16, 2014 |
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 |
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
|
Friday, March 20, 2014 |
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 9 |
Monday, March 23, 2014 |
One sample tests and Two Sample Tests |
|
|
Ch. 10 |
Wednesday, March 25, 2014 |
Two Sample Tests |
|
|
Ch. 10 |
Friday, March 27, 2014 |
Two sample tests |
Exercise 6: chapter 9 and 10 |
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 11 |
Monday, March 30, 2014 |
Three or more sample tests |
|
|
Ch. 11 |
Wednesday, April 01, 2014 |
Three or more sample tests |
|
|
Ch. 11 |
Friday, April 03, 2014 |
Three or more sample tests |
Exercise 7: chapter 11 |
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 12 |
Monday, April 06, 2014 |
Categorical Difference Tests |
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 08, 2014 |
Categorical Difference Tests |
|
|
|
Friday, April 11, 2014 |
Exam 3 |
Lab Practicum |
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 13 |
Monday, April 13, 2014 |
Inferential spatial statistics; point patterns |
|
|
Ch. 14 |
Wednesday, April 15, 2014 |
Point pattern analysis |
|
|
Ch. 14 |
Friday, April 17, 2014 |
Area pattern analysis |
Exercise 8: chapter 14 |
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 15 |
Monday, April 20, 2014 |
Area pattern analysis, continued |
|
|
Ch. 16 |
Wednesday, April 22, 2014 |
Correlation |
|
|
Ch. 16 |
Friday, April 24, 2014 |
Correlation, continued |
Exercise 9: chapter 16 |
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
Ch. 17 |
Monday, April 27, 2014 |
Linear regression |
|
|
Ch. 17 |
Wednesday, April 29, 2014 |
Linear regression, continued |
|
|
Ch. 18 |
Friday, May 01, 2014 |
Multivariate regression |
Exercise 10: chapter 17 |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, May 04, 2014 |
Multivariate regression, continued |
|
|
|
Wednesday, May 06, 2014 |
Mop up |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, May 08, 2014 |
Exam Review |
Lab Practicum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, May 20, 2013 |
Final
Exam 10:45-1:15 |
|