STA 6126, Fall 2008

Statistical Methods in Social Research I

Section 4450

MWF Period 5 @ Griffin/Floyd 100

Section 2058

MWF Period 2 @ Turlington L011

 

Instructor:               Dr. Larry Winner

                                  228 Griffin/Floyd

                                  (352) 392-1941  x-230

                                   winner@stat.ufl.edu

 

Office Hours:          TBA

 

TA:                          Aixin Tan (Office Locations/Hours: TBA)

 

Course Objective:   Introduction to statistical methods used to analyze social science data.

 

Textbook:                Agresti&Finlay 2009.Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences 4th Ed., 

                                   Prentice-Hall.

 

Other Materials:    Datasets, assignments, and overheads available on class website.

 

Web Site:                 http://www.stat.ufl.edu/~winner/

 

Homework and Exams:

1.     Homework Assignments: There will be 4-5 assignments. You will have at least one week to hand them in from the time they are posted and shown in class. Assignments will be worth a total of 100 points. Practice problems from textbook are listed on class website.

2.     Exams: There will be 3 in-class midterm exams. They will be worth a total of 300 points. The highest exam score will be weighted to 125 points, the lowest to 75 points, the middle to 100 points.

3.     Grading: Grades will be based on the total of 400 points from homework and exams. Grades are not negotiable (unless a mis-calculation is made in totaling points)

4.     Exams and Formula Sheets. Tables will be provided on class website for each exam. You may download them and HAND-WRITE any formulas/information on back of table.

5.     Missed Exams: Any exams that will be missed must be confirmed as soon as possible, before the time of the exam.

6.     Late Homework: Will not be accepted and will receive a grade of 0. All homework must be handed in by hard copy. No e-mail will be accepted.

Computing:

You will need a computer for homework assignments. Examples will make use of SPSS, but you may use any program you choose. Datasets will be posted on web in column formatted ASCII format or EXCEL and can be easily imported into any program.

 

Tentative Schedule:

Lectures

Topics

Sections

1-2

Introduction, Description and Inference, Statistical Computing

1.1-1.3

3-5

Sampling and Measurement, Descriptive and Graphical Methods

2.1-2.4,3.1-3.6

6-8

Probability Distributions and Sampling Distributions

4.1-4.6

9-12

Point Estimation and Interval Estimation for a Mean and Proportion

5.1-5.5

15-18

Significance Tests for Means and Proportions

6.1-6.5, 6.7

19-24

Comparing 2 Groups (Means and Proportions)

7.1-7.6

27-32

Categorical Data Analysis

8.1-8.6

33-36

Simple Linear Regression and Correlation

9.1-9.6

39-40

Introduction to Multivariable Relationships

9.1-9.6

41-43

Introduction to Multiple Regression

11.1-11.5

 

Exam Dates:

·        Exam 1: September 26 (In Class)

·        Exam 2: October 31 (In Class)

·        Exam 3: December 10 (In Class)

 

University Policies:

Academic Dishonesty: All members of the University Community share the responsibility to challenge and make known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be referred to the Student Honor Council.

 

Academic Accommodations: If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations with me, please contact me as soon as possible.