1 Sociology 360: Statistics for Sociologists I Lecture 1, Fall 10/11 Revised 31 August 2010 Professor Nora Cate Schaeffer Office Hours: 4422 Sewell Social Science Building [email protected] or UWSC, 1800 UniversityAve. 262-2182 Tue 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. by appointment TA: Bo Hee Min Office hours: 11 a.m. to 1 p. m. on Mondays [email protected]. Office 8144 Sewell Social Science Building Phone 263-3857 Lectures: 9:30-10:45 a.m. TR 4308 Sewell Social Science Building Labs: Lab 301 7:45 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. F 216 Ingraham Lab 302 3:20 p.m. - 5:25 p.m. F 6109 Social Science (Note: Some lab sessions may be held in 3218 Sewell so that computers can be used.) Course Description: This course introduces you to statistics, with a focus on how statistics are used in social research. When you complete this course you should be able to use various tools, including graphs and tables, to describe a single variable, and to summarize the distribution of a variable using measures of central tendency and spread. In addition, you should be able to use correlation and regression to describe the relationship between a pair of variables. To teach you the basis for statistical inference, this course introduces experimental design and discusses the concepts underlying probability sampling, what a sampling distribution is, and the role of a sampling distribution in statistical inference. You then apply these concepts by learning how to test hypotheses about means, proportions, regression coefficients, and pairs of means and proportions; you also learn to calculate the confidence intervals associated with these tests. Two class projects give you the opportunity to apply your skills to analyzing data. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and basic algebra skills. Course website: The course website is available through Learn@UW. If you are enrolled in the course, you can access the site by going to http://learnuw.wisc.edu and entering your NetID and password. Once there, click on the link to Soc 360 under “My Madison Courses.” Course Materials: Required text: Moore, Davis S. The Basic Practice of Statistics, 4th edition. New York: W.H. Freeman, 2007. (Available at University Bookstore.) Optional text: Fligner, Michael A. and William I. Notz. 2006. Study Guide for Moore’s the Basic Practice of Statistics, Fourth Edition. New York: W.H. Freeman. The study guide offers a review of each section’s concepts and step-by-step solutions to selected problems. (Available at University Bookstore.)2 Computer software (STATA): We will be using the statistical package STATA for many of the homework problems. The TA will be providing instruction in STATA in lab. Outside of lab, you can access STATA in the Social Science Microcomputer classroom in 3218 Social Science if there is not another class being held there, or in 4218 Social Science, which is the primary lab for student drop-in use. You will also be able to access STATA remotely from home. The TA will cover how to do this in lab. Finally, if you anticipate using STATA regularly and would like to purchase it, it is available for a reduced rate through the University. See http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/sscc/info/gradplan.htm for details. Web Resources: Moore’s text comes with many useful online supplements that you are encouraged to explore (http://bcs.whfreeman.com/bps4e). These include self-quizzes, additional exercises, statistical applets, and data sets. The materials available on the free site are also on the CD that comes with your textbook. Calculators and other materials: You will need a calculator that can do “two-variable statistics” for the homework assignments and exams (e.g., the Texas Instruments TI-36X Solar, which is available at the University Bookstore Digital Outpost). Calculators should be able to compute correlations and simple two-variable regressions. These calculators are relatively inexpensive; the TI-36X is about $20. You are responsible for learning to use your calculator; the TA will provide only limited support during lab, and lab will focus on the TI36X. Many of the homework problems can also be done efficiently in Excel. To take advantage of Excel you must arrange for access to a computer at home or on campus. You will probably also want to buy some graph paper. Lectures: Lectures focus on basic concepts and their application. You are expected to attend class and to be prepared to participate. Attendance contributes to your grade. Materials for lecture: You will not usually need to bring your textbook to class. Beginning in week 2, you must bring your formula card (from Moore) and calculator. Copies of the lecture presentation for the first lectures will be provided in class. Lectures for subsequent weeks will be available (I will announce in class whether they will be in a coursepack available at the Sewell Building Copy Center on the 6th floor or from the course website). You are responsible for material covered in class, regardless of whether or not it appears in the text or on one of the handouts. Preparing for Lectures. To prepare for class, read the chapter, just skimming the problems, before the topic is covered in class. After class, read the chapter again and do the homework problems; do additional problems if you are having trouble. Then read the text of the chapter again to solidify what you learned. Labs: Lab sessions combine instruction with review of homework problems. Some activities, such as teaching STATA, will be done only during lab. Attendance is recorded. Lab will meet the first week of class. After the first week, bring your formula card and calculator. TA office hours are intended to provide assistance in addition to -- not instead of -- that given in lab.3 Examinations: There are three non-cumulative, in-class examinations. Examination questions will include true/false questions, multiple choice questions, and open-ended questions that require discussion, data analysis and calculation, or the selection of appropriate statistical methods. A copy of the quick reference card from the Moore book will be provided to use on the exams. You may use this reference card and a calculator, but no other materials for the exam. We provide blue books for the examination. The quick-reference card has copies of almost all of the formulas covered in the