pos-3713-redux

A streamlined set of class notes for POS-3713

Histograms: histograms-master.rmd

The Goal

The initial aim of this project was to squash together the histograms chapter of FPP with class notes, incorporating Rstudio into an explanation of histograms while maintaining brevity.

The execution

• This has worked reasonably well, but brevity has taken a hit. The PDF is right at 10 pages (5 pages printed though!).

• I am particularly pleased with the second and third set of exercises. Most focus on the substantive implications of the coding portions, and are solidly poli-sci in flavor, challenging students' ability to interpret histograms and use them to generate hypotheses and evaluate claims.

• I am dissatisfied with some of the first exercises, which are a bit more rote, but still test the student's core understanding and intuition about histograms, not (only) their ability to draw them.

Regrets

• I would rather the first few examples be more substantive. In the future, I'd probably make example histograms by sampling from actual datasets, not just generating noise.

Reflections

• It is very difficult knowing what can and can't be trimmed when you're writing for an audience who doesn't know more than you.