Sociology 3112-002 Introduction to Social Statistics Fall 2010 Instructor: Professor Jeffrey Kentor, 301 BEHS Phone: 581-6153, [email protected] Office Hours: By Appointment Course Summary The goal of this course is to enable you to both calculate and interpret statistical analyses within the context of social science research. This course introduces you to the basic concepts of statistical analysis, both in theory (lectures) and practice (labs). We begin with a discussion of descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions, graphs, and measures of central tendency and variability. Next, we examine relationships between variables and measures of association, including multiple regression and correlations. The course concludes with an introduction to inferential statistics, including t-tests, ANOVA and chi-square. Course Requirements and Grading Regular attendance is especially important in this type of class, where each week’s work builds on the prior week’s content. Failure to attend the lectures or labs will result in a lower grade. To encourage you to keep up with the work, there will be several unannounced quizzes during the semester. These quizzes MAY NOT be made up. However, I will drop your lowest quiz. Prior approval is necessary to miss an exam, and will only be permitted in extreme cases. You will be graded on your homework assignments, lab performance, class participation, quizzes, and exams. Please be sure to contact the teaching assistants, or me immediately if you are having difficulty with any aspect of the course. Don’t wait until the day before a test to ask for help – it may be too late! Class Policies and Student Responsibilities Students and faculty at the University of Utah are obligated to behave in accordance with the ordinances of the University. The Student Code (or Students’ Rights and Responsibilities) is located on the Web at: http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html You are encouraged to review this document. All of the rights and responsibilities applicable to both the student and the faculty member will be observed during the semester.Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Academic misconduct, including plagiarism, is a serious offense. The following regarding academic integrity and plagiarism is taken from the University of Utah’s Student Code: “Academic misconduct” includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one's work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information, as defined further below. It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic misconduct. a. “Cheating” involves the unauthorized possession or use of information, materials, notes, study aids, or other devices in any academic exercise, or the unauthorized communication with another person during such an exercise. Common examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, copying from another student's examination, submitting work for an in-class exam that has been prepared in advance, violating rules governing the administration of exams, having another person take an exam, altering one's work after the work has been returned and before resubmitting it, or violating any rules relating to academic conduct of a course or program. b. Misrepresenting one's work includes, but is not limited to, representing material prepared by another as one's own work, or submitting the same work in more than one course without prior permission of both faculty members. c. “Plagiarism” means the intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person's work in, or as a basis for, one's own work offered for academic consideration or credit or for public presentation. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one's own, without attribution, any other individual’s words, phrasing, ideas, sequence of ideas, information or any other mode or content of expression. The Student Code states that academic misconduct can be sanctioned in the following ways: “Academic sanction” means a sanction imposed on a student for engaging in academic or professional misconduct. It may include, but is not limited to, requiring a student to retake an exam(s) or rewrite a paper(s), a grade reduction, a failing grade, probation, suspension or dismissal from a program or the University, or revocation of a student’s degree or certificate. It may also include community service, a written reprimand, and/or a written statement of misconduct that can be put into an appropriate record maintained for purposes of the profession or discipline for which the student is preparing.Faculty Responsibilities As the instructor for the course, I will: • Convene classes unless valid reason and notice given • Perform and return evaluations in a timely manner • Inform you of: 1. General course content 2. Course activities 3. Course evaluation methods 4. Course grading scale 5. Course schedule of meetings, topics, and due dates. • Ensure that the class environment is conducive to learning. This includes limiting student use of cell phones, reading newspapers during class, talking during class, arriving late and leaving early and other disruptive behavior. Other faculty rights and responsibilities are further detailed online: http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-12-4.html Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services. Texts Frankfort-Nachmias, C. 2005: Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. 4th Edition. Pine Forge Press. Kentor, Jeffrey. 2004. Exploring Social Inequality with Statistics. Thompson Publishing. (Use of this manual complies with University Policy 8-12.4, B. 10.)Course Outline and Readings: Please note that this outline is tentative. Chapter discussions and test dates may change. August Intro: Chapter 1: The What and Why of Statistics August-September