Please note that this syllabus should be regarded as only a general guide to the course. The instructor may have changed
specific course content and requirements subsequent to posting this syllabus. Last Modified: 12:06:24 01/18/2011
STATISTICS (SC200.01)
Spring 2011 / Fullton423 (TTh 9)
Lecturer: Seil Oh, S.J.
Office: McGuinn 410-C
Office Hours: TBA (by appointment)
Mailbox is # 44 in 410-C
Phone: 617-552-2270 (St. Mary’s Hall)
E-mail: froh1206@gmail.com
This course provides an introduction to the use of statistics for social science data
analysis. Students are expected to develop an understanding of commonly used descriptive and
inferential statistics and to become competent in the use of the Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS) software.
You don’t need to feel good at math and statistics. Math, statistics, and computers are all
tools for social research. If you keep an open mind and learn to use them in the right way, you
will have no trouble mastering them.
Course Materials
Required Texts: Joseph F. Healey. Statistics: A Tool for Social Research (Wardsworth, 2010)
Recommended Texts: SPSS Brief Guide 16.0.pdf
(BC students can download from: http:www.bc.edu/software/applications/research/SPSS16.html)
Darrel Huff. How to lie with Statistics (W.W. Norton & Company 1982)
*** Bring your Calculator – just a basic one, not a fancy machine.
Course Requirements
(1) Homework Assignments (30 %):
Throughout the semester, there are five homework assignments; all of thee require work
with SPSS. Hard copies of the homework assignments must be turn in on the DUE day (or
earlier). Late assignments will be penalized 10 % for each calendar day late – NO
EXECPTIONS!
(2) Three 75-minuites quizzes (30 %):
Three quizzes will be given throughout the semester; however, only your two best scores
will count. Make-up quizzes will NOT be given. If you miss one quiz, then it will be the one
that is not counted. A second missed quiz will count as a zero, unless BOTH absences are due to
documental medical reasons, or upon my receipt of written excuses from a Dean’s Office.
*** Hand Calculators (but NOT graphing calculators with statistical and regression functions)
may be used.
(3) Final Exam
(40 %):
A comprehensive final exam will cover the entire course. The final exam is held on the
day/time set by the Registrar: There will be NO EXCEPTION! Do not buy airline tickets for an
earlier departure.
Grading
Homework
30 % (6 points * 5)
Quizzes
30 % (15 points * 2)
Final Exam
40 % (40 points * 1)
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*** Important: Do keep a copy of all of your work. Do retain all of the work that is returned to
you (homework and quizzes) until after you have received your final course grade.
Tentative Course Schedule
Date
January 18
January 20
January 25
January 27
February 1
February 3
February 8
February10
February 15
February 17
February 22
February 24
March 1
March 3
March 8, 10
March 15
March 17
March 22
March 24
March 29
March 31
April 5
April 7
April 12
April 14
April 19
April 21
April 26
April 28
May 3
May 5
May 17 9AM
Topics
INTRODUCTION
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
Percentages, Ratios and Rates, Frequency Distributions
Measures of Central Tendency
SPSS
Measures of Dispersion
The Normal Curve and Z scores
No Class
INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Probability, Sampling Distribution, and Estimation
Review for Quiz 1
Quiz 1
HYPOTHESIS TESTING: The one sample t-test
HYPOTHESIS TESTING: The two sample t-test
The Analysis of Variance
Chi Square test
No Class: Spring Break
Review for Quiz 2
Quiz 2
MEASURES OF ASSOCIATION
Nominal level
Readings
Healey, Ch. 1
Assignments
Healey, Ch. 2
Healey, Ch. 4
Healey, Ch. 5
Healey, Ch. 6
HW 1
Healey, Ch. 7
HW 2
Healey, Ch. 8
Healey, Ch. 9
Healey, Ch.10
Healey, Ch.11
HW 3
Healey, Ch.12
HW 4
Ordinal level
Healey, Ch.13
Interval-ratio level
Healey, Ch.14
SPSS
Regression and Prediction
Pearson’s r: Correlation Coefficient
No Class: Easter Break
Review for Quiz 3
Quiz 3
Statistics in Media/Our lives; Excel Program
Review for the whole course
Final Exam
Healey, Ch.14
Healey, Ch.16
HW 5
Huff
Academic Integrity
It is your obligation to be fully aware of the Boston College policies on academic honesty. ANY
violation may subject the offender to severe penalty, including course failure. If you are not familiar with
the Boston College policy on academic honesty, see on the web: http://www.bc.edu/integrity
*** All participants in this course must turn in work that is wholly their own.
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