| Sept. 5 |
Introduction to Statistics |
| Concepts and variables, unit of analysis,
levels of measurement, causal theories and models, validity and reliability |
|
Readings:
Knoke: Chapter 1 & 11 (pp. 407-413)
Wonnacott: Chapter 1
Recommended:
Davis, The Logic of Causal Order
|
|
|
| Sept. 12 |
Descriptive Statistics |
| Frequency distributions, measures of central tendency,
measures of dispersion |
Readings:
Knoke: Chapter 2
Wonnacott: Chapter 2, Sec. 1-3, 6 & 7 |
|
|
Sept. 19
Sept. 26
Oct. 3
Oct. 10 |
Sampling and Populations |
|
Probability distributions, sampling distributions,
central limit theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing
|
Readings:
Knoke: Chapter 3
| Wonnacott: |
Chapter 3, Sec. 1-6 (Probability Theory; September
20) |
| |
Chapter 4, Sec. 1-6 (Probability Distributions;
September 20) |
| |
Chapter 6, Sec. 1-4 (Sampling; September 27) |
| |
Chapter 7, Sec. 1-3 (Point Estimation; September
27) |
| |
Chapter 8, Sec. 1-5 (Confidence Intervals;
October 4) |
| |
Chapter 9, Sec. 1-4 & 6 (Hypothesis Testing;
October 11) |
|
|
|
| Oct. 17 |
MIDTERM EXAM. |
|
|
Oct. 24
Oct. 31 |
Bivariate Analysis |
|
ANOVA, simple bivariate relationships, cross tabulations,
differences in means, measures of association, chi-square
|
Readings:
Knoke: Chapters 4 & 5
| Wonnacott: |
Chapter 10 |
| |
Chapter 17 |
|
|
|
Nov. 7
Nov. 14 |
Bivariate Regression |
| Bivariate distribution for continuous variables, ordinary
least squares (OLS) regression model, Gauss-Markov assumptions, “dummy
variables,” regression coefficients, measures of goodness of
fit, correlation |
Readings:
| Knoke: |
Chapter 6 |
| Wonnacott: |
Chapter 11 |
| |
Chapter 12 |
| |
Chapter 14, Sec. 1 & 2 |
| |
Chapter 15, Sec. 1-3 |
Recommended: Lewis-Beck, Applied Regression, Ch. 1-2 |
|
|
| Nov. 28 |
Logic of Multivariate Analysis |
| Multi-variable analysis, interactions, elaborating a
theory with additional variables |
|
Readings:
Knoke: Chapter 7
Recommended:
Davis, The Logic of Causal Order
Achen, Interpreting and Using Regression
|
|
|
| Dec. 5 |
Designing Research Questions and
Surveys |
| Research question design, survey design, in-class presentations
to summarize topic and sample research questions |
Readings: TBA
Recommended:
Davis, J. Elementary Survey Analysis.
Judd, C.M., Smith, E.R., and Kidder, L.H. Research Methods in Social
Relations, (6th Ed.), Ch. 3, 7, 10, 11. |
|
|
|