Course Description
An introduction to the logic, interpretation, and estimation of quantitative methods as they are commonly used in sociology and the other social sciences. The course begins with hypotheses and measurement and ends with correlation and regression analysis. Emphasis is on interpretation, application, and the hands-on use of statistical software.
Athena Title
Quantitative Methods
Prerequisite
SOCI 1101 or SOCI 1101H or SOCI 2600 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the logic, interpretation, and estimation of statistical analysis as it is commonly used in sociology and the other social sciences. The course covers hypotheses, levels of measurement, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and variability, confidence intervals, statistical hypothesis testing, association and inference with bivariate tables, the analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlation and regression. Throughout, emphasis is placed on interpretation, appropriate application, and the hands-on use of statistical software. Students will be expected to be able to identify, interpret, and produce statistical analyses appropriate to variables at different levels of measurement. Students will be expected to know the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics. More generally, students will be expected to engage in the scholarly practices of reading, focused discussion, and writing. Mandatory data- analysis projects place special emphasis on analysis, evidence, and logic in order to further develop the analytical, quantitative, interpretive, and writing skills of students. Students will be asked to demonstrate their mastery of the course content in written work that is appropriate for an academic context. Students will be asked to demonstrate their mastery of the course content in speech that is appropriate for an academic context.
Topical Outline
1. Getting Started: Hypothesis Testing and Levels of Measurement 2. Frequency Distributions: Counts and Percentages 3. Measures of Central Tendency: What’s Typical? 4. Measures of Variability: How Different Are Cases? 5. Sampling Distributions and Confidence Intervals 6. Statistical Hypothesis Testing: Evaluating Chance 7. Bivariate Tables: Association and Inference 8. Basic Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) 9. Correlation and Regression
General Education Core
CORE III: Quantitative ReasoningSyllabus