STA431s09: Structural Equation Models
University of Toronto at Mississauga, Winter-Spring 2009
http://fisher.utstat.toronto.edu/~brunner/431s09
Lecture: Monday 1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. in Room 257, North Building and Wednesday 1:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. in room 3093, South Building
Tutorial: Friday 1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. in Room 228, North Building
| Lecture | Tutorial | |
| Instructor | Jerry Brunner | Christine Lim |
| Office | SE 4059c | SE 2110Z |
| Phone | 905-828-3816 | 905-569-4630 |
| jbrunner(at)utm.utoronto.ca | limm_my(at)yahoo.com | |
| Office Hours | Mon. 10-11 & Wed. 11-12 | Thurs. 11 - 12 |
Text: There is no textbook for this course at the bookstore. Free online material will be substituted. These materials overlap with and supplement the lectures. They do not replace the lectures. Two reference books will be on reserve in the UTM library:
Topics: Overview, Random matrices, The multivariate normal distribution, SAS basics, A path model for observed variables, SAS proc calis, Model Identification Part 1, Latent variables, Regression with measurement error, Exploratory factor analysis, Confirmatory factor analysis, Model Identification Part 2, A two-stage model. Further applications.
Prerequisites: STA331H or ECO327Y.
Grading: There will be 10 quiz marks worth 7% each, and a final exam worth 30%. Quizzes will be given in tutorial on most Fridays. Quiz dates are Jan. 16, 23, 30; Feb. 6, 13, 27; March 6, 13, 20, 27; April 3. That's eleven quizzes; the best ten will count. There will be a homework assignment for each quiz. On each quiz, you are responsible for the ideas and techniques needed to do the corresponding homework assignment. If you can do the homework assignment, you will do well on the quiz.
Some of the assignments include a computer part. You will bring your printouts to the quiz and answer questions based on the printout. In some cases, printouts will be handed in. The non-computer parts of the assignments are just to prepare you for the tests; they will never be handed in.
Policy for missed work: If you miss a quiz, the mark is zero. However, your lowest quiz mark will be dropped. If you miss a quiz with a valid excuse, your mark on the final exam will be substituted for the missing quiz mark. If you miss a quiz for medical reasons, the medical certificate or doctor's note must include the statement that you were unable to write the test or quiz for medical reasons. The documentation must clearly indicate that you were unable to take the quiz, and must show that the physician was consulted on the day of the quiz, or on the next day. A statement merely confirming a report of illness made by the student is not acceptable.
Plagiarism: It is academic dishonesty to present someone else's work as your own, or to allow your work to be copied for this purpose. To repeat: the person who allows her or his work to be copied is equally guilty, and subject to disciplinary action by the university.
Here are some guidelines that apply to the computer assignments. If there is a problem with plagiarism, it will probably happen here, since computer assignments may be handed in. It is fine to discuss the assignments and to learn from each other, but don't copy. Never look at anyone else's printouts or show anyone yours before the quiz or exam when they might be handed in. Above all, do not allow to see your program file before a computer assignment is due, and do not look at anyone else's. Also, you must use your own computer account, and only your own computer account to do the SAS assignments. The first time you violate this rule, the mark for both students on the computer part of the quiz will be zero, even if there is no evidence of copying. The second time, Computing Services will be asked to lock the computer account.
For some quizzes and for the final exam, you will be asked to bring your printout to class; maybe you will hand part of it in, and maybe you will use it to answer some questions. Never, ever, bring a copy of somebody else's printout, or allow anyone to have a copy of yours.
Don't copy. If you are caught, you will get in big trouble. And even if you are not caught, after you die you will be reincarnated as a tadpole in a polluted stream.
If this is not clear enough, the latest version of the student handout "How not to Plagiarize" is available at http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.html The Academic Regulations of the University are outlined in the Code of Behaviour on Academic matters, which can be found in the UTM Calendar or on the web at http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/regcal/WEBGEN117.html.