Department
of Sociology
Sociology
2205b (formerly Soc205b) Sec530
Statistics
for Sociology
Fall, 2011
Instructor: Prof. Patricia Pakvis
Office: St.
James 301a
Telephone: (519) 432-8353
E-mail: pakvis@uwo.ca
Website: http://publish.uwo.ca/~pakvis/
Dates: Sept. – Dec. 2011
Day/Time: Monday 12:30 – 2:30 pm,
Wednesday, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Location: BR135
Office Hours: Wed. 2:30 – 3:30 pm (after
class in library/living room)
or by appointment at other times
Computer Lab: Wednesday 12:30 – 1:30 pm (
Tutors are available for this course if needed.
The cost for tutoring is your responsibility.
For tutoring, please contact: Catherine
Gelinas cpgelina@uwo.ca
Michael Haight haight.michael5@gmail.com
IMPORTANT MESSAGES (check this space
regularly!):
***NEW***
INSTRUCTIONS for accessing MyVLab from home.
SPSS HELP: There is an extra SPSS lab
in the library Monday, 2:30-3:30 pm.
REVIEW SESSION: Friday, Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
in Room 14
LINK TO FINAL EXAM
INFORMATION
RECODING INSTRUCTIONS for
SPSS Step 4
Note:
There is a free
student website for the Healey text that has various activities (flash cards, practice
questions, basic math review, etc.) for every chapter. Check it out! You can
get there by clicking the links below...
Healey and Prus 1st Canadian Edition (Nelson Student
Website)
Wadsworth Student Website for Healey
8e
Prerequisites and Antirequisites:
|
|
Old course # |
New course # |
|
Prerequisite |
At least 60% in Soc020 or 021e |
Soc1020 0r 1021e |
|
Antirequisite |
Soc231 |
SW2205 |
Unless
you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from
your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from
this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be
appealed. You will receive no
adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for
failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
Drop Date: Oct.
15, 2011
Course LEARNING Objectives:
After completing this course students will be able to
§
calculate and
interpret basic univariate and bivariate
statistics
§
use a statistical
computer software package (SPSS)
§
understand why, when, and how to use particular
techniques to analyze data
§
understand the
application of statistics in sociological research
§ read and make sense of statistics used in research
reports
Course Description:
During the
semester in you will be introduced to basic univariate
and bivariate statistical techniques and
their applications in sociological research. In addition, you will learn to use a statistical computer
software package (SPSS) in order to analyze and interpret statistical data.
Statistical techniques will include percentages, proportions, graphing, the
calculation of basic descriptive statistics such as the mean and standard
deviation, measures of association, and basic inferential statistics for hypothesis
testing. Ungraded homework will be assigned, and you
will also have the opportunity to work together in small groups during class to
practice problem solving. You will be expected to develop basic
competencies in identifying and using appropriate statistical techniques to
summarize and evaluate sociological information. The importance of
understanding why, when, and how to use particular analytic techniques will be
stressed as opposed to the memorization of formulae. Some basic mathematics
skills will be required but the emphasis will be on the application and
interpretation of statistics.
Required and Optional Texts:
Healey and Prus.
2010. Statistics: A Tool for Social Research (1st
OR Healey, Joseph F. 2009. Statistics:
A Tool for Social Research (8th edition).
Study Guide for Healey’s
Statistics: A Tool for Social Research (any edition). (Recommended)
Note: Students will also need a pocket
calculator which can perform basic statistical functions.
Course Evaluation:
Midterm #1 (1 hours, Oct. 5) 20%
Midterm #2 (2 hours, Nov. 7) 30%
SPSS
Exercise (due Dec. 7) 15%
Final
Exam (December Exam Period TBA) 35%
Midterms #1 and 2 and Final Exam:
Midterms 1 and 2 are worth 20 and 30% respectively
and will be held at the beginning of class on Oct. 5 and Nov. 7. They will be a
combination of multiple choice questions and/or problems. You are allowed to
use a calculator and may bring and use one 8.5 x 11 “cheat sheet”
for each midterm. Cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices are not
permitted. Should you miss a midterm for legitimate medical (i.e.
illness) or non-medical (i.e. funeral) reasons, appropriate documentation
must be submitted to the Academic Dean’s office in order to receive
accommodation for the missed exam. Unexcused absence from the midterm will
receive a grade of "0." Religious accommodation is also possible.
There are no makeup midterms.
If a midterm is missed, an assignment worth 10% of the final mark will be given
and the weights of the other exams will be adjusted accordingly.
The final exam, worth 35%, will be held during
the December examination period. It will be
approximately 2 ½ hours long. Like the midterms, it will be a
combination of multiple choice questions and problems and will also include one
or two SPSS analytical questions. You are allowed to use a calculator and an
8.5 x 11 “cheat sheet.” See above section for information on the
use of electronic devices and policy on accommodation.
ADDITIONAL NOTE REGARDING ACCOMMODATION:
For further
information on medical accommodation, please see the Policy on Accommodation
for Medical Illness (https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm)
and for more detail on religious accommodation, please see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/
and http://www.uwo.ca/equity/docs/mfcalendar.htm.
Please be advised that students must
give proper written notice for such an accommodation in accordance with the
directives in the UWO Academic Calendar.
SPSS Assignment:
An SPSS assignment, worth 15%, consists of five parts which can be
completed as the course progresses. A resource for this assignment is the SPSS
explanations and exercises at the end of each chapter in the Healey text. The
assignment is due in class on December 7. Detailed instructions are available
for download on the course webpage at http://publish.uwo.ca/~pakvis/. This
assignment is an individual assignment and must be your own work.
Copied assignments will receive a mark of “0”. Late assignments
will be penalized at 2%/day. Late assignments should placed
in an envelope addressed
to me and brought to the Brescia
Registrar's office to be signed in and dated-stamped.
Note: Plagiarism is a serious
academic offence. Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are
directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what
constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
Link to SPSS Research
Assignment
Schedule of Lecture Topics,
A detailed schedule of topics,
readings and dates as well as the lecture outlines can be found at the link
below. Much of the material covered in
this course will be new to you and may be difficult to understand so it is
important to read the appropriate chapter before the start of class and
then to review the readings again and try the suggested homework questions as
soon as possible after class. You may also want to print out the lecture
outline before class to aid you in your note-taking. Please check the webpage
regularly for other pertinent information.
Note that: Laptop use will be permitted in the
classroom during lectures; however students found to be using laptops for purposes
not directly related to the class may be subject to sanctions under the Student
Code of Conduct. Cell phones and PDA's may not be used during class and should
be silenced or turned off at the beginning of class.
Click
Here For Lecture Outlines, Tentative Dates, and Readings
