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SOCIOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS
SOC 328, FALL, 2013
Instructor:
Office:
Email:
Jianjun Ji
Schneider Hall 437
Department of Sociology
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Tel: (715) 836 -3050
Fax: (715) 836-5071
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
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
2
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
http://www.uwec.edu/DOS/policies/attendance.htm ).
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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.
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Assignment Weights
1
Attendance 10%
2
Assignments 30%
3
Test 1
20%
4
Test 2
20%
5
Test 3
20%
____
Total
100
Grading System
A
= 91 -100
A= 88 - 90
B+
= 85 - 87
B
= 82 – 84
B= 79 - 81
C+
= 76 – 78
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)]
________________________________________________________________________
Examination Schedule
Test 1 10/03 Thursday
Test 2 11/7 Thursday
Final 12/19 Thursday
3:00-4:50 p.m. #306
________________________________________________________________________
CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENT
9/3-5
9/10
9/10-12
9/17
9/17-19
CHAPTER 1 STATISTICS AND VARIABLES
Syllabus
MicroCase and SPSS Application
Statistics, Concepts, and Level of Measurement
Discussion
Levels of Measurement
Assignment 1 due
CHAPTER 2 FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION
Frequency Distribution
Collapsing Variables
Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, and Mapping Ecological Variables
Discussion
Frequency Distribution and Percentage Distribution
Assignment 2 due
9/24
CHAPTER 3 AVERAGES
Mode, Median, Mean
Rules of Thumb of Mode, Median, and Mean
Discussion
The Three Popular Averages
Assignment 3 due
9/24-26
CHAPTER 4 MEASURES OF VARIATION
5
10/1
Variance and Standard Deviations
Standard Scores (Z-Scores)
Confidence Intervals
Discussion
Standard Deviations and Standard Scores/Z-Scores
Assignment 4 due
10/1
Review
10/3
Test 1 Thursday
________________________________________________________________________
10/8-10
10/15
10/15-17
10/22
10/22-24
10/29
10/29-31
CHAPTER 5 CROSS-TABULATION
Bivariate Frequency Tables
Pattern of Relationships: positive, negative, curvilinear
Association and Causation
Discussion
Reading Tables and Pattern of Relationships
Assignment 5 due
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*
Assignment 6 due
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
Assignment 7 due
11/5
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
Assignment 8 due
11/5
Review
11/7
Test 2 Thursday
________________________________________________________________________
11/12
Test 2 Answers and Explanation
11/14-19
CHAPTER 9 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE
6
11/21
The Logic of Analysis of Variance
The Correlation Ratio (E2)
One-Way Analysis of Variance
Discussion
Analysis of Variance
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
Assignment 11due
12/3
12/10-12
12/13
CHAPTER 12 MULTIPLE REGRESSION AND CORRELATION
Multiple Linear Regression
Multiple Correlation Coefficients
Regression with Dummy Variables
Discussion
Interpretation of Linear Regression Analysis
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.
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CHAPTER OVERVIEW
SOC328 SOCIOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS
Category
Content
Part I
Characteristics
Univariate Analyses
Chapter 1
Statistics and Variables
Chapter 2
Frequency and Percentage Distributions
Chapter 3
Averages
Chapter 4
Measures of Variation
Part II
Bivariate Analyses
Chapter 5
Cross-tabulation*
Chapter 6
Chi-Square Test of Statistical Significance
Chapter 7
Measures of Association for Cross-tabulations
Chapter 8
Comparison of Means and t Test
Chapter 9
Analysis of Variance
Chpater10
Regression and Correlation
Part III
Multivariate Analyses
Chapter 11
Multivariate Cross-tabulation
Chapter 12
Multiple Regression and Correlation
One variable
analyses:
concepts, frequency,
percentage, mode,
median, mean,
variance, standard
deviation, Z-scores,
and the normal
distribution
Two variable
analyses:
relationship between
two variables, crosstab, Chi-square test,
measures of
association, C, V,
phi, Somers’ D,
Tau-b and Tau-c,
comparison of
means, t-test,
ANOVA, simple
regression, and
correlation
Three or more
variable analyses:
multivariate crosstabs, multiple
regression,
correlation, and the
logic of causality
*Basic Probability = watch film:
http://www.khanacademy.org/math/probability/v/basic-probability
By Salman Khan, Khan Academy = A free world-class education for anyone anywhere.