SOCI-203 Social Statistics

SOCI-203 Social Statistics

Spring only

Faculty:

Hinkson, Leslie

This is an introduction to statistical analysis of social data. It presumes no math knowledge beyond high school algebra and no more than basic computer literacy. It is intended for the beginning social researcher. Students who have not had Methods of Social Research or an equivalent must get the permission of the instructor for admission to this course.

The course covers: various methods of summarizing, presenting and comparing descriptive data graphically and in summary measures of central tendency and of variation; the normal distribution and probability theory; methods of examining the strength and significance of relationships among variables; hypothesis testing; chi-square; analysis of variance; multi-variate tabular analysis; and multiple regression and correlation.

Students perform statistical analyses of real data sets (including the General Social Survey, the major database for social scientists) with a user-friendly statistical package (an individual copy of which comes with each textbook). Homework problems are regularly assigned.
For the purpose of giving some substantive continuity to the course, students will read some brief excerpts on the debate about multi-culturalism, translate the terms of that debate into empirical propositions that can be tested with the data and run analyses testing their propositions.
Learning statistics is like learning a foreign language. One must practice daily and the knowledge is cumulative (as is the final exam).

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: SOCI-201 or permission of instructor

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