Introduction to Statistics
Fall 1999 Syllabus

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Latest update: August 22, 1999
Jeanne.

This page is under construction for Fall 1999. August 22, 1999.

Sociology 220-01
Time: M-W 11:30 - 12:45 p.m.
Room: SBS G122
Lab Time: M-W 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Room: SBS A104
Jeanne Curran, Ph.D., Esq.
Course requires computer literacy.

• Goals:

  • To situate the understanding of statistical analysis within the larger framework of theoretical and methodological considerations.
  • To develop an understanding of the mathematical tools through critical thinking about the theories which led us to the concepts we want to test for, and the methods by which we measure them.
  • To provide a generally accessible computer program that will do the mathematics for you, and that will provide you with the means to explore research concepts on your own.
  • To develop a facility for translating the computerized results back into the methodological and theoretical frameworks you want to use.
  • To develop a facility for explaining all this in plain English.

• Texts:

  • Required. George Dowdall, Kim Logio, Earl Babbie, and Fred Halley. Adventures in Criminal Justice Research. Pine Forge Press, 1999. ISBN: 0-7619-8625-1. This is the newest version of the text I have used for the last three semesters. If you have access to an older version, the SPSS understanding you need is covered in those other versions. You will simply need to take care that you share with someone who has the new edition to cover glitches that are bound to occur with five different text versions in one class. I will work from the new version, but try to give you corresponding pages from the old ones. If you are obsessive-compulsive, get the new version. Sometimes I can't keep up with them all. If you are willing to translate, and xerox the few pages you may want of the newest edition, you may use the older versions.

  • Required. Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata, Statistics for Ordinary Folks. Available online from our site.

• Course Requirements

  1. Attendance

     Expected in accord with university policy.

  2. Concept Exercises

     A series of exercises, with accompanying lecture notes designed to clarify what we were thinking of when we asked the question, must be answered by e-mail. The lecture notes will apprise you of at least one plausible way to answer the question, and you should reflect in your answer that you recognize our response, though you are welcome to disagree with it.

     Answers to concept exercises shall be kept to no more than 50 words.

     You shall recognize any author whose work you quote with quotation marks; and some of your answer must be rephrased into your own words.

     You may work in groups on any or all of these exercises. Cooperative groups are strongly encouraged. Permission to work with more than one group, and to work with different groups. All names of active group members should be recorded as indicated on the exercise material.

     You are required to submit 20 concept exercises, your choice of which concepts, but the concepts must cover at least three of the topic sections.

     These exercises will be recorded, but not corrected, since the lecture notes have already provided satisfactory responses.

  3. Interpretation Exercises.

     Interpretation questions, along with accompanying lecture notes, are provided with each topic section.

     You are required to submit 3 interpretation exercises. Please try to limit them to 50 words.

Grading

Successful and timely submission of all exercises will earn a C for the course.

For a B or an A, your interpretation submissions must show scholarly discipline in conceptually linking your material to theory, policy, and methodology discussions, with appropriate citations to academic sources, and should show some creative thought on the issue.