Sociology 5811: Intermediate Social Statistics
Fall 2001
Lecture: 11:15am - 12:30pm Tuesday and Thursday, Hubert Humphrey Center 35
Lab: 1:25pm - 3:20pm Monday, Blegen 440
Web Page: http://www.soc.umn.edu/~schofer/2001soc5811/home5811.htm
Instructor: Evan Schofer
Email: schofer@atlas.socsci.umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-4075
Office: 1172 Social Sciences
Office Hrs: Wed 9:00-11:00am and by appt.
TA: Ryan King
Email: kingx077@tc.umn.edu
Office: 1178 Social Sciences
Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 10-11:15am
Office Phone: (612) 624-4842
Home Phone: (612) 379-4375
Introduction
This course covers the basic principles of statistics necessary to conduct social science research. These include basic descriptive and inferential statistics, with emphasis on commonly used methods such as crosstabulation and OLS regression. In addition, the course laboratory provides instruction in the use of a statistical software package SPSS.
Readings
Most readings will be from one of the assigned texts. Additionally, you will receive handouts and other small reading assignments on occasion. Complete reading assignments prior to the class in which material will be covered. You will get much more out of lectures and labs if you have already finished the readings. We will be using Bohrnstedt and Knoke's Statistics for Social Data Analysis as our primary statistics textbook. (It never hurts to have another text on hand to consult if you are having difficulty understanding certain concepts. Contact me if you need recommendations.) In addition, I have assigned a text to assist you in using the software package SPSS. The SPSS Guide to Data Analysis describes the PC (Windows) version of SPSS 10.0. It also discusses statistical concepts, which may aid you in understanding course material.
Assignments and Evaluation
Problem Assignments. Math problems will be assigned regularly. (20% of final grade)
Computer Tasks. There will be a number of exercises involving computer data analysis and the interpretation of results. (20% of final grade)
Mid-term Exam. There will be one mid-term exam. (30% of final grade)
Final Paper. There will be a final course project, in which you perform statistical analyses on data of your own choosing and write up the results. (30% of final grade)
Papers received late will be marked down one partial grade
(i.e., and A becomes an A-, C+ becomes a C) per day past the due date. Extensions will be granted for legitimate
reasons if requested in advance -- before the due date. Missed exams cannot be re-taken unless
arrangements are made in advance, except in unusual circumstances (e.g.,
medical emergencies).
Your final grade will be computed based on the percentage weightings indicated. In the event of a borderline grade, I may use my discretion in adjusting grades based on course participation and effort (or lack thereof). Incompletes will not be given, except in unusual circumstances.
General Information
Check the course web site periodically. Notices may be posted on the web site (e.g., if an assignment due date were to be extended). Also, the course web page will contain important information: copies of course handouts and assignments, data relevant to course assignments, etc.
Schedule
& Reading Assignments:
Week 1: Introduction / Data (Sept. 4, 6)
Start reading Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 1
Start reading Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 1, 2
Week 2: Univariate Graphs and Descriptive Statistics (Sept 11, 13)
Lab: Introduction to SPSS, Datasets, Reading in Data
Finish previous readings. Also read:
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 2: 2.1-2.4
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapters 3, 4
Week 3: Descriptive Statistics (cont'd) (Sept. 18, 20)
Lab: Frequencies and Descriptive Statistics
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 2: 2.5-end
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapters 5, 6, Appendix A, B
Week 4: Sampling, Probability, Statistical Inference (Sept. 25, 27)
Lab: Frequencies and Descriptive Statistics (cont'd)
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 3: 3.1-3.5
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 9, 10
Week 5: Sampling, Probability, Statistical Inference (Oct 2, 4)
Lab: Probability Distributions
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 3: 3.6-end
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 11
Week 6: Sampling, Probability, Statistical Inference (Oct. 9, 11)
Lab: Standard Error and T-tests
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Start on Chapter 12, 13
Week 7: T-Tests, ANOVA (Oct. 16, 18)
Lab: T-Tests for Difference in Means
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 4: 4.1 and 4.3
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 12, 13, 14
Week 8: ANOVA, start Crosstabs (Oct. 23, 25)
Lab: ANOVA
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 4: 4.2, 4.4-end
October 25: Midterm Exam
Week 9: Crosstabs (Oct 30, Nov 1)
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 5: all
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 7
Week 10: Crosstabs (Nov. 6, 8)
Lab: Crosstabs, Tests of Independence and Measures of Association
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 18
Week 11: Scatterplots and Correlation (Nov. 13, 15)
Lab: Crosstabs, Tests of Independence and Measures of Association
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 6: 6.1-6.3
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 8
Week 12: Correlation and Regression (Nov 20)
Lab: Scatterplots, Correlation and Regression
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, start reading Chapter 6: 6.4-end
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, start reading Chapter 19, 20
November 22:
Thanksgiving. No Class.
Week 13: Correlation and Regression (Nov. 27, 29)
Lab: Correlation and Regression
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, finish Chapter 6: 6.4-end
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, finish Chapter 19, 20
Week 14: Multivariate Regression (Dec.4, 6)
Lab: Regression
Bohrnstedt and Knoke, Chapter 8: 8.1-8.3
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 22
Week 15: Regression Diagnostics (Dec. 11, 13)
Lab: Regression
Norusis, SPSS 10.0, Chapter 21, 23