Abstract:

This study looked at the efficient allocation of limited resources (10 hours per week) based on students’ desired statistics lab hours and it found that both rank (relative importance or weight) and frequency based demand for lab hours based on week days was highest on Mondays followed by Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The demand for statistics lab hours was lower on Thursdays relative to that of Fridays even though statistics classes were offered on Mondays through Thursdays. Both frequencies and weight based assignment of lab hours with even distribution of two hours per day indicated that the lab hours should have been allocated between 10-11 am and 3-4 pm, but the weight based assignment of lab hours without even distribution per day should have been 3 hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, 2 hours on Wednesdays, and one hour each on Thursdays and Fridays. Overall, the study suggested that for efficient allocation of limited resources (10 hours of stat lab hours per week with one stat lab assistant), the statistics lab should be opened right before and right after lecture classes. The distribution of allocation of hours should be slightly more after lecture classes than before lecture classes.