THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

SOCW 3325 001 SOCIAL WORK STATISTICS

Summer 2010

Instructor: FangHsun Wei, Doctoral student Office Number: Building A, Room 311 (PhD lounge) Email Address: sarawei@uta.edu Office Hours: Tuesday 4:30pm-5:30pm; other times by appointment only Course Number, Section Number, and Course Title: SOCW 3325 001: Social Work Statistics Time and Place of Class Meetings: Tuesday 1:00-4:20 pm in Building A, Room SWC A 217

Course Description CSWE EPAS Policy Statement (Research): Qualitative and quantitative research content provides understanding of a scientific, analytic, and ethical approach to building knowledge for practice. The content prepares students to develop, use and effectively communicate empirically based knowledge, including evidence-based interventions. Research knowledge is used by students to provide high-quality services; to initiate change; to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery; and to evaluate their own practice.

Course Content The overall purpose is to enhance student's skills in performing research and statistical analyses in social work and social science. Included in the course are descriptive procedures including measures of central tendency, variability, shape and distribution along with associations between two variables. In addition inferential statistics will be covered including estimation and hypothesis testing. Students will also be introduced to the use of SPSS. Note: is required for all students. This course is required of all undergraduate social work students.

Educational Objectives The specific objectives of this course are as follows: 1. To increase student's knowledge of quantitative research and statistics in social work

practice. 2. To increase student's ability to use, analyze, and interpret statistical data presented in social

work practice. 3. To increase student's ability to use SPSS statistical software.

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4. To increase student's ability to interpret the statistical research results.

Student Learning Outcomes 1. Critically examine existing statistical literature with emphasis on issues regarding cultural

diversity, gender, sexual orientation, and sensitive topics (i.e., social and economic justice, oppression, and populations at risk). 2. Apply relevant social, cultural, economic and other diversity factors in the analysis, and conclusions drawn in the research endeavor. 3. Interpret statistical findings as they apply to generalist social work practice. 4. Match appropriate statistical procedures to type of data, and research questions. 5. Perform statistical calculations and analyses, including analyses using SPSS statistical software.

Requirements: Prerequisite: Sophomore status.

Required Textbooks and Other Course Materials Required Texts Frankfort-Nachmias, C. & Leon-Guerrero, A. (2009). Social statistics for a diverse society.

(5th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. Note: A CD ROM comes with the text that contains the student version of SPSS. A simple calculator is needed. Scientific calculators are not allowed.

SPSS Software SPSS software will be used in this class. Although the use of SPSS will be demonstrated on many occasions in class, this is not a technology course. The focus of this class will be on understanding, implementation, and interpretation of statistics used in social work practice, social work research, and social science, not on how to work the SPSS software. However, those students who are unfamiliar with the SPSS software may want to consider:

1. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) at UTA offers an Introduction to SPSS, free to UTA students. This course is scheduled for: Date: Thu, 6/ 10 Time: 12:00PM-2:00PM location: UH004 30 students For more information about this course and other technology courses go to:

2. An online SPSS tutorial: Google SPSS and choose the ones that fit your needs; some are more advanced than others.

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SPSS Software Access The SPSS Software, though not available on every public computer on campus, is available at many different computer sites. 1. The School of Social Work Computer Lab (Technology Classroom). For information about the

hours this lab is available for student use go to: 2. The School of Social Work E-Library (SWEL). For information about the hours this site is open see: 3. Additional Computer Labs on Campus for SPSS: Business Building rooms 336/340 Engineering Building room 256 Fine Arts Building rooms 404/411/411A/412/412A Nedderman Hall room 231 University Hall rooms 004/005. For more information about these labs go to: 4. To purchase SPSS software, you can go to the bookstore at the campus. For more information go to:

Grading Grades will be based on the student's performance in the following areas:

Assignments and Exams Class participation Graded Homework Assignments (10 %?4) Midterm Exam Final Exam Total

10 % 40 % 25 % 25 % 100 %

Grading Scale A=90% -100% B=80% -89% C=70% -79% D=60% -69% F= 0 % -59%

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Course Outline/Topics and Readings

Week Date

1

06/08

2

06/15

3

06/22

4

06/29

5

07/06

6

07/13

7

07/20

8

07/27

9

08/03

10 08/10

Topics Welcome Introduction to statistics Frequency distributions Graphic presentation Measures of central tendency Measures of Variability The normal distribution Sampling and sampling distribution Estimation Review for Midterm Exam Midterm Exam Testing hypotheses Cross-Tabulation The Chi-Square test Measures of association for nominal and ordinal variables Regression and correlation Analysis of variance Analysis of variance Review for Final Exam Final Exam Course evaluation

Readings Chapter 1 &2

Chapter 3, 4 & 5

Chapter 6 & 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9 &10 Chapter 11 &12

Chapter 13 & 14 Chapter 14

** This schedule is subject to change to fit the progress of the class**

Assignments

HW1 due HW2 due HW3 due HW4 due

Assignments and Examinations Assignments and examinations are used to assess student learning outcomes 1-5. Students in this class will be expected to complete all class assignments and exams. Assignments and examinations may involve a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answers, and calculations. Please turn in all your assignments in hard copy at the beginning of the class, which is 1:00 PM on the due dates. Homework will not be accepted via email or fax.

Late Assignments: Late papers will receive a deduction of 10 points per calendar day. No assignments will be accepted one week after the due date or after the last day of class, which will result in an automatic zero for the assignment.

Assignments: Homework 1 due 06/29 at the beginning of class: 100 points (10%) Homework 1 includes from chapter 1 to chapter 7.

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Homework 2 due 07/20 at the beginning of class: 100 points (10%) Homework 2 includes from chapter 8 to chapter 10.

Homework 3 due 07/27 at the beginning of class: 100 points (10%) Homework 3 includes from chapter 11 and chapter 12.

Homework 4 due 08/03 at the beginning of class: 100 points (10%) Homework 4 includes from chapter 13 and chapter 14.

Examinations: Midterm Exam 07/06: 100 points (25%) The test content includes chapter 1 to chapter 7. This examination may include a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answers, and calculations. Student is allowed to bring simple calculator.

Final Exam 08/10: 100 points (25%) The test content includes chapter 8 to chapter 14. This examination may include a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answers, and calculations. Student is allowed to bring simple calculator.

University and Class Policy Attendance Policy Students are expected to be on time and attend all class sessions, complete reading assignments and be prepared to participate in class discussions. Unexcused (except emergency situation) class absences will result in deduction of final grade by 3 points for each absence. Only when official documentation of the cause of the missed class is presented in writing within one week of the absence will be accepted. Leaving early and tardiness exceeding 20 minutes will be considered absences. Please turn off cell phone in class!

Drop Policy Refer University web site for information about the University class drop policy and to the University calendar for information on the current drop date deadlines.

Americans with Disabilities Act The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled

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