INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY



SOCIOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS

SOC 328, FALL, 2013

Instructor: Jianjun Ji

Office: Schneider Hall 437

Department of Sociology

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Tel: (715) 836 -3050

Fax: (715) 836-5071

Email: Jij@uwec.edu

Location: SSS: 306

Schedule: 11:00am-12:15pm, TR

Office Hours: 3:00 – 5:00 pm, T; 8:00 am. - 12:00 pm. F, or by appointment

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Course Description and Objectives

This is an introductory level course in sociological data analysis. The goal of the course is to provide students with basics of statistical concepts and methods in sociological data analysis. The primary topics to be covered in this course include three areas: 1) Univariate analysis. 2) Bivariate analysis. 3) Multivariate analysis. A student version of MicroCase is incorporated in the course in order to help students do data analysis and get the job done efficiently. After completing the course, students will be able to use the techniques of statistical approach to analyze sociological data, provide statistical description, draw statistical inference, give graphic presentation, and interpret results. Specifically, as outcomes of this course students will

1 Gain a basic understanding of the concepts in social statistics.

2 Have a basic mastery of the social statistical methods.

3 Obtain basic skills in the application to sociological data analysis.

4 Be able to analyze and interpret the results of the data analysis.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Liberal Education Learning Goals

1 Knowledge of Human Culture and the Natural World

2 Creative and Critical Thinking

3 Effective Communication

4 Individual and Social Responsibility

5 Respect for Diversity among People.

These goals will be addressed through the content of the course. This includes but is not limited to lectures, assignments, handouts, quizzes, exams, discussions, power points, the overhead projector, and personal advising.

Department of Sociology Program Goals

1 Ability to construct, evaluate and communicate empirically based arguments about the social world

2 A respect for ways of life and diverse viewpoints of others

3 Skills necessary to promote professional development and community engagement over their lifetimes.

These goals will be addressed through the content of the course, including but not limited to lectures, assignments, handouts, quizzes, exams, discussions, power points, the overhead projector, and personal advising.

Textbooks

Rental

Fox, William, 2003. Social Statistics: A Text Using MicroCase. Fourth edition. Wadsworth Microcase.

Fox, William, 2003. A MicroCase Workbook for Social Statistics. Fourth edition. Wadsworth Microcase.

Recommended

Holcomb, Zealure C., 2009. SPSS Basics: Techniques for a First Course in Statistics. Pyrczak Publishing.

Course Requirement

Students with basic mathematic skills such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing and who are reasonably comfortable with fractions, decimals, squares, probability, and simple equations, will be qualified for this class. It is required that students have a calculator, a ruler, a pencil, and an eraser during the entire course.

Attendance

According to the university’s policy, the instructor “will maintain student attendance records.” In case of an absence, A WRITTEN NOTICE must be given to the instructor. Students who are late for class 30 minutes or more, or leave class early before the dismissal without the instructor’s prior permission, will be treated as absent. Absences will affect students’ final grade. An unexcused absence will be one point deduction from the final grade. Students who have 4 unexcused absences during the semester cannot get an “A” grade, and those who have 6 unexcused absences cannot get a “B” grade, regardless of their performance in other areas. Any student who has a disability and is in need of classroom accommodations, please contact the instructor and the Services for Students with Disabilities Office in Old Library 2136 at the beginning of the semester. For students with substantial difficulties due to disability and absences due to emergency or serious illness, absences will be excused, but they must report to the instructor within two class meetings after missing a class. This policy, however, does not penalize students for absences that are “authorized” (see ).

Readings

Students are expected to read the chapters of the required textbook in advance of the time they are to be discussed in class. Handouts are assigned as an essential part of readings to help students understand the themes of the text.

Assignments

Assignments are compulsory and assigned specifically for each chapter. There are 12 assignments in all. Assignments must be organized clearly in readable format and be submitted in due time. Late assignments, incomplete assignments, and unstapled assignments are not accepted; and the violation of the above policies would receive deduction points. The assignments account for 30% of the final grade. If one misses an assignment, one misses 2.5 points from the final grade (12 assignments worth 30 final points in all). The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments or changes in the assignments.

Exams

There will be three exams during the term including the final. The content of the exams will be within the scope of the text and the lecture. The focus of the tests, however, will be primarily on the terminology, concepts, and formula applications, covered in class and assigned for homework. Specifically, the first exam will cover 4 chapters in Part I of the textbook - univariate analysis; the second exam covers 4 chapters in Part II - bivariate analysis; the third (the final) exam includes the rest of the book in Part II and Part III - bivariate and multivariate analysis. Types of tests will be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short essays, calculations, and/or interpretations. No makeup exams will be given if the instructor has not received a prior notice. Missed exams will be recorded as “zero” for that test.

Classroom Decorum

To promote a learning atmosphere in the classroom, students should refrain from any distractive behaviors during the class. Talking to seatmates is disrespectful to other students and strongly discouraged. Further, inappropriate behaviors such as sleeping, eating, listening to radios, talking on cell phones, reading a book or newspaper, doing homework, coming to class late or leaving early, will not be tolerated.

Academic Dishonesty

Students are expected to do all their work independently. Any occurrence of academic misconduct such as plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines and procedures outlined in the academic misconduct policy at the university.

Syllabus

The syllabus serves as a “contract” between the instructor and the students. It is strongly recommended that students read the syllabus carefully, make plans, and act upon it accordingly. The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments of the syllabus and to curve the final grade when necessary.

Assignment Weights Grading System

1 Attendance 10% A = 91 -100

2 Assignments 30% A- = 88 - 90

3 Test 1 20% B+ = 85 - 87

4 Test 2 20% B = 82 – 84

5 Test 3 20% B- = 79 - 81

____ C+ = 76 – 78

Total 100 C = 73 - 75

C- = 70 – 72

D+ = 65 – 69

D = 60 – 64

D- = 58 - 59

F = 57 or below

Formula for Final Grade Calculation

Final Grade = (Exam 60%) + (Assignment 30%) + [(Attendance 10%) – (Absence)]

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Examination Schedule

Test 1 10/03 Thursday

Test 2 11/7 Thursday

Final 12/19 Thursday 3:00-4:50 p.m. #306

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CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENT

9/3-5 CHAPTER 1 STATISTICS AND VARIABLES

Syllabus

MicroCase and SPSS Application

Statistics, Concepts, and Level of Measurement

Discussion Levels of Measurement

9/10 Assignment 1 due

9/10-12 CHAPTER 2 FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION

Frequency Distribution

Collapsing Variables

Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, and Mapping Ecological Variables

Discussion Frequency Distribution and Percentage Distribution

9/17 Assignment 2 due

9/17-19 CHAPTER 3 AVERAGES

Mode, Median, Mean

Rules of Thumb of Mode, Median, and Mean

Discussion The Three Popular Averages

9/24 Assignment 3 due

9/24-26 CHAPTER 4 MEASURES OF VARIATION

Variance and Standard Deviations

Standard Scores (Z-Scores)

Confidence Intervals

Discussion Standard Deviations and Standard Scores/Z-Scores

10/1 Assignment 4 due

10/1 Review

10/3 Test 1 Thursday

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10/8-10 CHAPTER 5 CROSS-TABULATION

Bivariate Frequency Tables

Pattern of Relationships: positive, negative, curvilinear

Association and Causation

Discussion Reading Tables and Pattern of Relationships

10/15 Assignment 5 due

10/15-17 CHAPTER 6 CHI-SQUARE TEST OF STATISTICAL SIG.

The Logic of Tests

The Chi-Square Test

Discussion Chi-Square Test and watch film: Basic Probability*

10/22 Assignment 6 due

10/22-24 CHAPTER 7 MEASURES OF ASSOCIATION

Chi Square-Based Measures for Nominal Variables

C, V, (, and Lambda.

Measure of Association for Ordinal Variable

Gamma, Somers’ Dyx, Tau-b, and Tau-c

Discussion Measures of Association

10/29 Assignment 7 due

10/29-31 CHAPTER 8 COMPARISON OF MEANS AND t TEST

Box-and-Whisker Diagrams/Differences between Means

t Test for the Difference Between Means

One-Tailed and Two-Tailed Tests

Discussion T-test

11/5 Assignment 8 due

11/5 Review

11/7 Test 2 Thursday

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11/12 Test 2 Answers and Explanation

11/14-19 CHAPTER 9 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE

The Logic of Analysis of Variance

The Correlation Ratio (E2)

One-Way Analysis of Variance

Discussion Analysis of Variance

11/21 Assignment 9 due

11/21-26 CHAPTER 10 REGRESSION AND CORRELATION

Scatterplots, Strength and Limitations

Simple Linear Regression

Correlation Matrix

Discussion Regression and Correlation Coefficients

Watch film Basic Probability*

11-28 Thanksgiving Day

12/3 Assignment 10due

12/3-5 CHAPTER 11 MULTIVARIATE CROSS-TABULATION

The Logic of Causal Relationships

Spurious Relationships

Control and Intervening Variables

Discussion Terms for Causal Relationships

12/3 Assignment 11due

12/10-12 CHAPTER 12 MULTIPLE REGRESSION AND CORRELATION

Multiple Linear Regression

Multiple Correlation Coefficients

Regression with Dummy Variables

Discussion Interpretation of Linear Regression Analysis

12/13 Assignment 12due

Final 12/19 3:00-4:50 p.m. Thursday #306

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AN OVERVIEW OF THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE COURSE - SOC328*

|Chapter |Specified Assignments Required to Complete |

|Chapter 1 |1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 24 |

|Chapter 2 |6, 11, 14, 15, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35 |

|Chapter 3 |1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 |

|Chapter 4 |1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14, 24 |

|Chapter 5 |8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 |

|Chapter 6 |7, 8, 10, 12, 16 |

|Chapter 7 |6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |

|Chapter 8 |7b, 15 |

|Chapter 9 |11, 12, 13, 19 |

|Chapter 10 |15, 22, 23 |

|Chapter 11 |1a, 1b, 7, 10 |

|Chapter 12 |1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |

*There are about 60 exercises for the entire course. Each chapter covers 5 exercises on average. Please note that the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments for these assignments when necessary.

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

SOC328 SOCIOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS

|Category |Content |Characteristics |

|Part I |Univariate Analyses |One variable analyses: |

| | |concepts, frequency, percentage,|

|Chapter 1 |Statistics and Variables |mode, median, mean, variance, |

| | |standard deviation, Z-scores, |

|Chapter 2 |Frequency and Percentage Distributions |and the normal distribution |

| | | |

|Chapter 3 |Averages | |

| | | |

|Chapter 4 |Measures of Variation | |

|Part II |Bivariate Analyses |Two variable analyses: |

| | |relationship between two |

|Chapter 5 |Cross-tabulation* |variables, cross-tab, Chi-square|

| | |test, measures of association, |

|Chapter 6 |Chi-Square Test of Statistical Significance |C, V, phi, Somers’ D, Tau-b and |

| | |Tau-c, comparison of means, |

|Chapter 7 |Measures of Association for Cross-tabulations |t-test, ANOVA, simple |

| | |regression, and correlation |

|Chapter 8 |Comparison of Means and t Test | |

| | | |

|Chapter 9 |Analysis of Variance | |

| | | |

|Chpater10 |Regression and Correlation | |

|Part III |Multivariate Analyses |Three or more |

| | |variable analyses: multivariate |

|Chapter 11 |Multivariate Cross-tabulation |cross-tabs, multiple regression,|

| | |correlation, and the logic of |

|Chapter 12 |Multiple Regression and Correlation |causality |

*Basic Probability = watch film:



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