COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY

 

SOSC 310.001 Introductory Basic Social Statistics

3 credits

Tuesday and Thursday    12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

GJ 325

In this course students will review basic mathematical concepts and skills; organize and present collected data; and engage in graphic presentations. Additionally, students will study measures of central tendency and variability, probability and the normal curve, one-sample projections, two means analysis (research and null hypothesis testing), chi-square 2x2 table analysis and correlation.  Exercises will strengthen mathematical skills and students will use statistical, computer programs in classroom work. Note: This class utilizes a new digital technology Tegrity to assist students with their electronic notes.

 

Pre-requisites – One of the following:

  • Required workshop prior to enrollment
  • Instructor’s permission
  • General Education Math

 

Fall, 2008

 

Dr. Elias L. Taylor

 

 

Text: Elementary Statistics in Social Research, Jack Levin and James Fox

         Pearson Education Inc., 10th Edition, 2006

 

 

OFFICE:   GJ 433

TEL:  410/ 951-3524

ETaylor@coppin.edu

 

OPEN OFFICE HOURS

M     W            11:00 a.m.  –   12:30 p.m.

T      Th              2:00 p.m.   –    4:30 p.m.

F                      11:00 a.m.   –    1:00 p.m.

 

 

OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT

 

 

 

Visit the library and familiarize yourself with several periodicals and books from the list below.  I strongly urge you to read additional material and utilize this knowledge in your class work.  If you wish you can discuss this material, having made a prior office appointment, with me. This type of activity will increase your understanding of the subject matter, strengthen your self confidence and efficacy, improve your performance, and better your grade.

 

PERIODICALS

  1. Sociology and Social Research
  2. Journal of Sociology
  3. American Sociological Review
  4. Public Opinion Quarterly
  5. Sociological Forum

 

BOOKS

  1. Statistical Analysis, James C. Raymondo, 1999
  2. Statistics and Data Analysis for Social Workers, J. Craft
  3. Fundamentals of Behavioral Statistics, Runyon and Harper, 1996
  4. Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, G. Heiman, 1966
  5. The Statistical Sleuth, Ramsey and Schafer, 1997
  6. Elementary Statistical Procedures, C. Chase
  7. General Statistics, Harper and Runyon
  8. Secondary Analysis of Sample Surveys, H. Hyman
  9. The Practice of Social Research, E. R. Babbie, 1998
  10. Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences, Norman R. Kurtz
  11. The Logic of Survey Analysis, M. Rosenberg
  12. Theory and Method of Political Analysis, E. Meehan
  13. Statistics: A Gentle Introduction, 2nd Edition F. L. Coolidge, 2003
  14. The Statistical Imagination, F. Ritchey, 2000
  15. Statistics: A Tool for Understanding Society, L. and M. Maykovich, 1995
  16. Elementary Statistics for the Social Sciences, J. A. Capon, 1988
  17. Statistics, Richard C. Weiner, 1993
  18. Social Statistics, J. R. Kendrick, 2000
  19. The Uses of Sociology, P. Lazarsfeld
  20. Basic Statistics for Social Research, D. Champion
  21. Statistics for the Terrified, 4th Edition, John H. Kranzler, 2007
  22. Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, A. Aron, 2005

 

 

                                                    

 

 

 

OBJECTIVES

 

 

* This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics.  Its purpose is to provide the student with some working knowledge of the basic tools used in empirical research in contemporary social sciences (i.e., sociology, political science, economics, social work), and to improve one’s critical understanding of the literature of the social sciences disciplines that utilize statistics.

 

 

*  Specifically, this course will review the material suggested in Social Research Methods (i.e., hypothesis formation, research design, data collection, etc.), and concern itself primarily with data analysis (descriptive and inferential statistics).  If you had some basic math and you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide without making mistakes you will have no trouble with this course.  However, you need to concentrate, organize your notes, and faithfully complete all your assignments at all times.

 

 

*  Clearly all sectors of society need data, but data are useful only to the extent that we can put order into masses of numbers that private and public agencies collect.  We, therefore, need ways of managing these types of information to answer the questions we have in mind.

 

 

*  Reading a morning newspaper, looking into an introductory textbook, watching TV, one characteristic that quickly strikes all of us is that in each instance the presentations include numbers.  We may, at times, raise several questions: What is the probability that another baseball player will break Henry Aaron’s home run record in this century? What percentage of marriages will end in divorce this year? What might be one’s income ten years from today? What are one’s chances that he/she will pick the correct lotto number? Which communities are most likely to accept low-income housing residents?

 

 

*  Obviously, this course is designed to assist students to deal with such questions and learn some statistical methods required to answer questions of this kind, as well as to handle the voluminous amounts of numbers thrown at all of us daily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Note: Read the chapter before coming to class.

 

 

                        Topic                                         Levin and Fox

 

September       Organizational Meeting

                        Diagnostic Math-Skills

 

                        Research Methodology-Review

                        Math Review                          Why Use Statistics

                        Math Exercises-Post Test                 1 – 20

 

                        Organizing Data                              29 – 70

                        Cross-Tabulations

                        Exercises

 

                        Measures of Central Tendency       81 – 100

                        Exercises

 

                        Measures of Variability                109 – 131

                        Exercises

 

1st Test – Central Tendencies and Variability

 

                        Probability and Normal Curve     143 – 172

                        Exercises

 

2nd Test – Probability and Normal Curve

 

                        Samples and Populations             179 – 210

                        Exercises

 

                        Testing Differences-Means          219 – 255

                        Exercises

 

                        Chi-Square                                 293 – 317

                        Exercises

 

                        Correlation                                 329 – 350

                        Exercises

 

3rd Test – Samples, Means, Chi-square, Correlation

 

 

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

1st and 2nd Week

Diagnostic Math Test – Math Skills Needed

Research Methodology – Review

Math Review: Symbols, Math Formulas

Post-Test – Math Mastery

 

3rd Week

Organizing Levels of Measurements

            Nominal, Ordinal, Interval

Organizing Data Distributions

            Single, Simple, Group

 

4th and 5th Week

Proportions and Percentages

Ratios and Rates

Percentile Ranks-Explanations and Usage

Cross-Tabulations-Construction and Interpretation

Graphs-Pie Charts and Frequency Polygon

Shapes of Frequency Polygons

            Negative or Positive Skewed Curves

            Normal Curve

 

6th Week

Measures of Central Tendency – Averages

     Mode    ]  Nominal, Ordinal, Interval Levels

     Mean    ]  and

     Median ] Single, Simple and Group

Meaning of Averages – Compare “better” or “worse”

 

7th Week

Measures of Variability

            Range and Mean Deviation

            Variance and Standard Deviation

                        Single Scores

                        Simple Frequencies

                        Group Intervals

Meaning of Standard Deviation – Consistency

 

 

1st TEST- Averages and Standard Deviation

 

 

8th and 9th Week

Decimal Numbers

Rules of Probability

Theoretical Probability and Actual Frequency Distributions

 

Normal Curve Characteristics

Symbols

Using Table A

Z scores

 

2nd TEST- Probability and Normal Curve Problems

 

 

10th and 11th Week

One Sample Projections

Sampling Methods-Review of Random Sampling Techniques

Use of Random Table

Sampling Error

Confidence Intervals – Use of the Normal Curve

95% Level of Significance

 

One Sample Mean Analysis at 95% Confidence- Using t

One Sample Proportion Analysis at 95% Confidence- Using z

 

12th Week

Testing Two Means-Two Independent Samples, Interval Data

            Research Hypothesis

            Null Hypothesis

 

13th Week

Non-Parametric Test

            Two Way Chi-Square Analysis, Nominal Data

            (2x2 Cross-Tabulation)

Computer Print-out Analysis

 

14th Week

Correlation

            Strength of Correlation, Interval Data

            Direction of Correlation

Pearson’s Correlation

Computer Print-out Analysis

 

3rd TEST-One Sample Projection, Two Means Analysis

                 Chi-Square Analysis, and Correlation Problems

 

 

 

GRADE GUIDELINES

You will be evaluated on the following objective and subjective criteria:

 

10%     CLASS PARTICIPATION – Instructor’s Evaluation

Knowledge of subject matter, understanding, mastery, utilization of terms in class discussions, effort, evidence of handling class exercises, returning work on time, asking questions, offering answers to questions, clarity and neatness of work (i.e., use of mathematical symbols and formulas in the presentation of exercises and in the solution of problems).

Note: Indicate on the daily roster your class contributions.

 

 5%      ATTENDANCE – Avoid absences (…none if possible) – When officially absent, provide evidence.

 

20%     CLASSWORK – HOMEWORK

This work is based on your readings (textbook) and exercises given in class. Although reading is not voluminous, it must be studied rather than skimmed.  Moreover, reading assignments cannot be postponed or allowed to pile up until the end of the week or month if you have any expectations to understand the material and to do well on your work (exams).  If there is a paragraph, section, or math computation you do not understand, go over it again.  Ask questions in class. Make sure you turn in all your work on time.  If your work needs to be redone or you need to retake a test, the calculated value of the corrected work will not exceed 75. Additionally, deductions will occur for any late work. You need a calculator to do this class-work.

 

 5%      UTILIZATION OF FORMULAS – Instructor’s Evaluation

 

10%     ANALYTICAL THINKING (SOLVING PROBLEMS) – Instructor’s Evaluation

 

50%     TESTS

            First Test – 15%

            Second Test – 15%

            Third Test – 20%   All students – no exceptions: May 20th (Tuesday) 12:00 noon

 

Note: Try you best at all times!

 

Note: The method of calculation for this course is…

            90 – 100          points  A

            80 – 89            points  B

            70 – 79            points  C

            60 – 69            points D

            59 or less         points  F

 

 

 

 

GENERAL POINTS

 

 

1.      Read your textbook every day.

 

2.      Take extensive notes and keep a well-organized notebook for this course.

 

3.      If you did not understand some of the material, raise questions in class.

 

4.      Make sure you keep in touch with your instructor, explaining to him your individual concerns in matters academic.  I will listen and try to help depending on the particular circumstances and specifics presented.

 

5.      Make-up examinations, work, exercises will not be easily given. In the event you had to miss such work, you must immediately get in touch with the instructor.  If in his judgment there is evidence and a reasonable excuse (bring an acceptable written excuse), he may reschedule your work or offer you a time extension. You must make up the exam/quiz/work before the on-time graded work has been returned to all other students.

 

6.      Written material must follow all the rules and technical aspects pertaining to formal presentation of papers.  Written work will be evaluated on grammar, syntax, utilization of language and terms, analytical thinking, technical aspects, and physical appearance. Assignments must be neatly presented on single pages. Keep copies for your own records.

 

7.      College-wide writing standards, published in the Writing Standards Document, apply in this course.  You can obtain this document from the bookstore for a nominal fee.

 

8.      Make sure you proofread all your work before you hand it to the instructor.

 

9.      Students are encouraged to use the following supplementary documents, books, and references to improve their written work.

a.       Coppin State College Writing Standards Document

b.      Webster’s ninth New Collegiate Dictionary

c.       Harbrace College Handbook

 

10.  Examinations in this course will be presented in the form of written problems. Students must utilize their analytical and math skills to solve such problems.

 

11.  Do not smoke or bring drinks/food of any kind in the classroom.  This is a university-wide policy.

 

 

 

12.  Explanations of academic honesty will be given orally in class.

 

13.  It will be taken for granted that any work, oral or written, produced by a student in this course is her/his original work and not a direct copy from some other person or source. Any violation of this rule constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism includes any form of cheating on examinations, tests, quizzes, or any unacknowledged or undocumented use of another’s writing, ideas, or solutions to problems whether published or unpublished.  Those who plagiarize, if proven, will receive an F for that project and may fail the course.  If you are uncertain of such rules, make sure you speak to the instructor.

 

14.  Do not come late to class or any other time (i.e., during exams).  If you are away from this class for many days, you should consider the option of withdrawing.  Accumulated absences beyond two (2), whether officially or unofficially excused, will count against your class performance.  In fact, if a student is absent from this course more than four (4) times, the instructor may suggest an official withdrawal. This is a serious matter, so be careful.

 

15.  Under certain circumstances, a student may explore the option of receiving an “Incomplete” grade for this course.  It is the responsibility of the student to initiate such a discussion and receive the necessary information from the instructor.

 

16.  You should frequently consult the textbook glossary for assistance with various statistical terms and concepts. Use these words/terms in your daily conversation and in your work to strengthen your vocabulary. Words have a hidden power!

 

17.  You are encouraged to take full advantage of modern technology in your studies at this academic institution. Make use of word-processing, e-mail, and the internet. Visit the Tegrity lectures as often as possible to clarify the work presented in this class.

 

18.  Beepers and cell-phones must be de-activated or placed on silent as you enter the classroom. Noises of this kind are disruptive and rude. If you receive an emergency call (vibration), please leave the room quietly before attempting to answer the call.

 

19.  Since you are interested in becoming a college graduate, a sense of professionalism should guide your manners, actions, behavior, and physical appearance/presentation in this class. Business casual is expected. Avoid using caps (while sitting in class), head wraps, dropped pants, clothes that display excessive skin, etc. I will try to look professional when I conduct my lectures in class and I expect no less from each one of you.

 

 

20.  Treat other people with respect, convey sensitivity and consideration by your outward demeanor, and let your actions, industry, and good effort proclaim the person that you really are.  In turn others will treat you with respect and appreciate your work.

 

 

Note: Class Rosters are the official document used to verify a student’s enrollment in this course. If your name does not appear on the class roster, you cannot attend this class. Please return immediately to the Registrar’s Office to resolve the matter.

 

Note: Coppin State University supports all students in their academic endeavors. Should you need academic accommodations because of a disability please contact the Disability Support Services (DSSP) Counselor, Ms. Patricia Johnson located in the Human Services Building, HHSB Room # 355, to register the special needs you request. If already registered with this program, please provide the DSSP accommodation form to the instructor.

 

 

 

Note: The method of calculation for this course is…

 

            90 – 100          points  A

            80 – 89            points  B

            70 – 79            points  C

            60 – 69            points  D

            59 or less         points F

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIPS FOR DOING WELL IN STATISTICS

 

 

 

1.      Statistics is cumulative.  This course, like most of your classes, consists of a specific body of knowledge.  Your job as a student is to master this knowledge. However, unlike any other course, the information you will receive in this class is cumulative.  Your comprehension of the concepts and work in the beginning of the course is imperative for the understanding of topic, formulas, and analysis presented later.  Missing one class, one lecture, or not reading an assignment may cause you difficulties for the rest of the course.  Keep up with the work, attend all lectures, do all your homework problems given to you by the instructor, and read the book consistently.

 

2.      Your professor is here to help you. As a student you have at least four sources for information about statistics: your professor, your book, fellow students, and the Internet. All can be helpful, but your professor can be extremely useful. Do not be afraid to approach him and ask questions.  Ask questions in class, if you do not understand something.  He may be able to clear the confusion that may exist in your mind.

 

3.      Make friends quickly. Other students in class are another significant source of help. Organize into small study groups to benefit from each other. There is no need to copy someone else’s answers. Try to work together to find out how something was done, and do it yourself.

 

4.      Read the book.  As you might have guessed, reading a statistics book is not like reading a novel.  Always have a pencil, paper, and a calculator handy when you start a new section or chapter.  Make sure you read carefully and understand what the text indicates, so you can comprehend the formulas and solve the problems provided in each chapter.

 

5.      Practice helps. This is a fundamental psychological law that is especially applicable to statistics.  The best way to improve your skills is to practice. You practice statistics by working problems. Copy and rework the problems demonstrated by your instructor. Work at home on problems provided at the end of each chapter.

 

6.      A calculator is necessary. Statistics involves a lot of computations. To sum columns of numbers, find the square root of a given number, and compute averages requires a nice, but not a very expensive, calculator. Have it handy at all times!

 

7.      Get into the mood. As you learn statistics, try not to memorize the formulas. Try to understand the concepts behind the formulas and when to use one formula instead of another.  When you reach a mathematical result, check it out to see if it makes sense in the light of the problem presented.

 

8.      Do not offer excuses for work you have not done and never complain. You are in this class to learn a quantitative way of thinking and analysis. There is no reason to carp about this and that. Be positive and ask questions to solve the difficulties you might encounter. If you complain in class your will not be admired by others.