This post is rather long, sorry. I have started a new listserv ... called INTROSTAT-L ... that will be housed here at Penn State, and uses the list server lists.psu.edu. Here is a brief explanation of what the purpose of the list is, and information about who the list has been primarily designed for. You might want to have a look at my initial description of the nature of this list below. But, here is a way you can join the list. Send an email message in THIS format: TO: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You don't have to do anything else. Let me know if you have problems. It seems to me that a valuable service of a list would be to be structured approximately like a COURSE in statistics, and that is what is behind the creation of INTROSTAT-L. INTROSTAT-L will present and sequence material that is commonly presented in a general purpose (perhaps more social science oriented) introductory course in statistics. Most of the topics will be rather traditional and will include things like: Organization of data/ Averages/ Variability/ Measures of location Scatterplots and correlation/ Simple reqression/ Sampling from populations Sampling error of means/ Inferences about means/ Inferences about frequency data/ Errors in hyp testing and basic notion of power Now, we can debate until we are blue in the face whether this is the right 'set' of content or not. I don't want to get into that debate. The basic strategy will be to offer, from this end, some introductory material about a topic, and then welcome other input from subscribers about that topic. At the moment, I am working with 1 or 2 others to be more regular contributors who will add observations and examples, as follow ups to my initial posting. Then, the list in general is welcomed to chime in. After a topic has more or less 'run its course', I will start an introduction to the next topic and we will move on. Here are a few notes about this process: 1. This will NOT be a list (like EDSTAT for example) where it is commonplace to POSE questions. The list is not a question and answer source. Rather, the main purpose is to present sequenced discussion about intro stat course topics. 2. The list will stress the ARCHIVING function as a means for subscribers to gather information about previous topics. 3. This is deliberately a low tech operation ... in that, the vast majority of the discussion will be in TEXT form on the list. Now and then, as is warranted by the content, I MAY place some material on my website ... for example, it is rather difficult to show a regression LINE on screen in a text file. 4. For SURE, from time to time, web links will be mentioned for people to consider visiting. 5. I will use Minitab as the software for showing simple examples. Again, I will do it in such a way as to be able to include my output on the email screen ... and not rely on fancier versions of graphs, etc. Who Can Join: Anyone can join but, you MUST join the list. I am particularly interested in having STUDENTS (perhaps graduate students mainly) join who are in courses related to introductory statistics. Students are welcomed! And, they can contribute IF they have something to add to our general postings about a topic. However, again ... this is NOT a list where we accept basic questions being posed, about a disparate and unconnected set of topics. Please pass along this message to other colleagues who might be interested and also to students (announce in classes if you want) you know who might find it valuable to look in and/or might like to participate in such a list. Also, you may REpost to other lists if you think appropriate. If you have ANY questions about the list, please don't hesitate to send me a note. I am sure that this will be an evolving enterprise and, all will not be perfect. But, hopefully we will learn and revise, and the goal is to make the list a useful one for those interested in learning about introductory statistics, or wanting to refresh ones self or for those who might want to contribute to the discussions about various topics. =========================================================================== This list is open to everyone. Occasionally, people lacking respect for other members of the list send messages that are inappropriate or unrelated to the list's discussion topics. Please just delete the offensive email. For information concerning the list, please see the following web page: http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ ===========================================================================
