Geog 2100: Introduction to Geographic Statistics

Words to the wise: Read the two books first but do that quickly. Each can be read in an evening. Focus your effort on the problem sets. Start by simply trying to do the problems. Use the books as a reference. Most of the problems in the Problem Sets are very analogous to problems in Gonick’s Cartoon Guide. This is a ‘learn by doing’ class. You will not learn much by reading. 90% of your time should be spent on the problem sets.

Personal Comment: I put the cartoon above on this page both because it is one of my favorites and it is a representation of how I felt when I was trying to learn statistics. I was a slow and confused learner. It takes a long time and a lot of repetition to master statistics (unless you are unusually gifted). The only reason I obtained a Master’s Degree in statistics is that I kept taking courses until I felt I understood most of it and –voila – I had a master’s degree. I think you will come out of this class with the ability to think ‘statistically’ which is very valuable. In fact I believe statistics should be the de rigeur course for undergrads rather than calculus. It strikes me as much more useful in everyday life because the most of the phenomena we observe are stochastic (random) rather than deterministic.