University of Warwick, Department of Sociology, 2014/15
SO201: SSAASS (Surveys and Statistics) (Richard Lampard)
SO 201
SURVEYS, SECONDARY ANALYSIS
AND SOCIAL STATISTICS
MODULE OUTLINE AND READING LIST
Overview: The core issue covered by the module is social statistics (particularly statistical testing/inference/modelling), with statistical computing, the secondary analysis of survey data, and social surveys more generally being important sub-issues.
Assessment: This takes a standard, fixed form (except in the case of any visiting students who are not at Warwick for the full academic year), consisting of a two-hour examination and a secondary-analysis based project report (Length: 5,000 words) to be submitted by 2pm on the Tuesday of Week 3 in Term 3 (Tuesday 5 May 2015). (For a description of the consequences of exceeding the maximum word length of 5,000 + 10% = 5,500 words, see the Department’s Undergraduate Handbook.)
Projects should be submitted electronically and also as a hard copy to the Sociology Undergraduate Secretary in the Sociology Reception Area by 2pm on the specified date. Late submission where no formal extension has been granted (via the relevant form located within the Undergraduate Study section of the Department’s web pages) will incur a penalty of 5 marks per day deduction from the mark awarded.
Lectures are on Monday at 12noon - 1pm
The ‘Seminar’ time is Wednesday at 11am - 1pm
The Lectures are all in Room S1.69 (Social Studies Building: 1st Floor).
The ‘Seminars’ (Computer-based sessions) are held in R0.41 (a workarea, sometimes referred to as Computer Suite 1, which is on the Ground Floor of the Library, located off a lobby which is accessed via an external door just along the side of the building from the corner of the Library which is nearest to the Ramphal Building) ,
Richard Lampard’s office is R3.29A on the top floor of the Ramphal Building and his e-mail address is .
His pigeonhole is in R2.17A on the 2nd floor of the Ramphal Building.
MODULE SCHEDULE
(Note that the Wednesday session will often ‘echo’ the topic of the Monday lecture, but will sometimes also include other useful activities, e.g. focusing on particular features of SPSS, projects, etc.)
Term 1:
WEEK 2: (Bivariate) Cross-tabulations, Chi-square and SPSS Revisited/
Secondary Analysis and Official Statistics
WEEK 3: Multivariate Analysis (with an emphasis on Multi-way Cross-tabulations)
WEEK 4: Regression I: Getting the preliminaries in place (e.g. correlation)
WEEK 5: Regression II: Multiple regression
WEEK 6: Regression III: Assumptions and complications
WEEK 7: Logistic regression I
WEEK 8: Logistic regression II/Log-linear models I
WEEK 9: Log-linear models II
WEEK 10: Issues relating to complex sample designs
Term 2:
WEEK 11: Operationalising concepts
WEEK 12: Interpreting published articles based on multivariate analyses
WEEK 13: Index construction
WEEK 14: Analysing means I: (Extending) Analysis of Variance
WEEK 15: Analysing means II: Nonparametric techniques
WEEK 16: [READING WEEK]
WEEK 17: Survival analysis/Event history analysis
WEEK 18: Measuring association and inequality
WEEK 19: Other multivariate techniques: clustering and scaling
WEEK 20: A glimpse beyond the module:
Extensions of logistic regression, Multi-level models, etc.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students should have...
Subject knowledge and understanding
· An enhanced understanding of statistical inference
· An enhanced knowledge of various statistical measures and bivariate forms of statistical analysis
· An awareness of the value of, and practical experience of applying, multivariate analysis techniques
· An enhanced knowledge of various stages and aspects of the quantitative research process
Cognitive Skills
· A heightened awareness of both the technical and theoretical/conceptual dimensions of quantitative data analysis
· An enhanced understanding of the impact of the ways in which quantitative data are generated, manipulated and analysed on the validity and usefulness of research findings
Key Skills; Subject-Specific/Professional Skills
· The ability to carry out a greater range of statistical tests using statistical computing software
· An enhanced ability to manipulate and analyse existing survey data using statistical computing software, and to present and interpret the results of these analyses appropriately
· The ability to carry out multivariate statistical analyses using statistical software
· An enhanced ability to evaluate the merits, limitations and specificities of existing surveys as sources of data
· A more developed ability to interpret and critiques published quantitative research
Learning and teaching methods which enable students to achieve the module's learning outcomes
(a) 18 lectures, including formal coverage of statistical analysis topics
(b) 18 (two hour) computer-based sessions, in which students (a) apply statistical techniques, as covered by some of the lectures, to data from existing social surveys, (b) consider or discuss other data collection and/or analysis topics, sometimes with reference to preparatory reading, and/or (c) discuss the project component of the course assessment.
(c) Students produce two pieces of classwork, in relation to which they receive both qualitative feedback and a quantitative mark, but which are not formally assessed and which do not contribute (directly) to the final module mark.
(d) Students access learning materials in the library and on the module web-site.
(e) Students are provided with examples and exercises, in relation to the statistical testing and data analysis aspects of the module, that they can make use of outside the module’s contact hours
(f) With regard to project work, students are provided with a CD containing data from an existing social survey (or download such date), and have access to statistical computing software via the University computer network (and can download a copy under licence)
(g) Revision sessions are held during the first three-to-four weeks of the third term.
(h) Individual advice, tuition and project-related support are available during the tutors’ office hours or by appointment (and also via e-mail).
Assessment methods designed to measure the achievement of the module's learning outcomes
Students are assessed via the following:
a) a two-hour unseen examination.
b) a project report (length 5,000 words), corresponding to the secondary analysis of data from an existing survey.
Assessment of the examination answers and project report is based on the following criteria:
· Presentation of written work, including spelling and grammar
· Structure of written work, and its fluency, clarity and maturity
· Quality and soundness of argument
· Competence in the application of statistical techniques
· Competence in interpretation of quantitative research findings
· Quality and sophistication of linkages between data and substantive/theoretical ideas
· Breadth and accuracy of knowledge with respect to research methods issues
· Independence of thought and critical awareness within analyses
The learning outcomes for this module are reflected in the learning and teaching methods employed, and the assessment methods measure the students’ achievements across the range of learning outcomes.
Assessment of seminar performance/transferable skills
Students’ performance in the computer-based sessions and their achievement of transferable skills are assessed as part of the Department’s review of student progress. This assessment does not enter into the final mark for the module. Aspects of student performance relevant to most or all modules include: writing skills (measured via the assessment of classwork), oral skills (measured with respect to participation in taught sessions), time management skills (measured with regard to attendance and preparation), and research skills (measured with regard to use of the library and of IT resources). With regard to this specific module, students are expected to enhance all or most of the transferable skills listed above. However, performance in the context of computer-based sessions relates primarily to attendance, willingness to engage actively with the material covered in sessions, and willingness to develop data analysis skills. Students who do not miss any sessions without appropriate explanation, participate actively within sessions as and when required, and carry out set tasks outside the scheduled sessions adequately (including project work) will be deemed, at the very least, to be making satisfactory progress.
Surveys and Statistics module web pages:
These can be accessed via: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/so201/, which is located within the Sociology Department’s web pages within the University’s website. They will contain, in due course, some or all of the following:
· Material relevant to project work.
· Links to pertinent websites.
· Additional reading material or links corresponding to one or more of the topics on this reading list, and to other research methods themes of relevance to quantitative social research.
· Material relevant to examination preparation.
· Material (data files, etc.) for use in computing sessions.
· Any other material added as the academic year progresses.
Reading list
The sections that follow list reasonably good texts relating to different aspects of the module. No one text covers all the material contained within the module (and the module’s set of Library course extracts may be collectively more useful), but you may feel it is worth buying one or more of the texts marked with an asterisk (though others may be worth buying second-hand):
Statistical computing
The following texts are linked to SPSS for Windows, the software used in the module, although many of them will not cover all of the techniques that we will apply using SPSS. Note that there are subtle variations between versions of SPSS for Windows {e.g. between Versions 6.1, 8.0, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and between 15.0 and 16}; we will be using Version 21 (or possibly 22) on the University’s PC network; for those of you who have your own {adequately powerful} PCs, a licensed copy of the software (Version 22) has been made available for download by IT Services
(see: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/software/list/spss/)
*MARSH, C. and ELLIOTT, J. 2009. Exploring Data: An Introduction to Data Analysis for Social Scientists (2nd edition). Cambridge: Polity Press. [Covers much of the statistical analysis/data analysis side of the module, and contains some material on SPSS].
*FIELDING, J. and GILBERT, N. 2006. Understanding Social Statistics. (2nd edition) London: Sage. [First edition (2000) still useful. Covers SPSS for Windows and a fair amount of the statistical testing material covered by the module].
ACTON, C. and MILLER, R., with FULLERTON, D. and MALTBY, J. 2009. SPSS for Social Scientists (2nd edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
KINNEAR, P.R. and GRAY, C.D. 2010. IBM SPSS Statistics 18 Made Simple. Hove: Psychology Press. [A good, straightforward, but broad text (& relatively cheap!); the 2008, 2006, 2000, 1997 and 1994 editions are also still of relevance; there is also a 2011 edition.]
PALLANT, J. 2007. SPSS Survival Manual (3rd edition): A Step-By-Step Guide to Data Analysis Using SPSS (Version 15). Maidenhead: Open University Press. [Leans towards psychology (affecting the balance of the statistical content); 2010/earlier edition are useful].
BRYMAN, A. and CRAMER, D. 2001. Quantitative Data Analysis with SPSS Release 10 for Windows. London: Routledge. [The 1999 edition using Version 8 is also still of relevance, and the 1997 version is still of some use; there is a more up-to-date 2011 edition].
GEORGE, D. and MALLERY, P. 2002. SPSS for Windows Step-by-Step: A Simple Guide and Reference, 11.0 Update (4th edition). Allyn & Bacon. [Detailed, fairly recent text].
HO, R. 2006. Handbook of Univariate and Multivariate Data Analysis and Interpretation with SPSS. London: Chapman & Hall/CRC. [Also available as an e-book!!]
COLMAN, A. and PULFORD, B. 2006. A Crash Course in SPSS for Windows (3rd edition). Oxford: Blackwell. [Fairly technical/orientated towards psychology; previous editions by Corston and Colman still useful].
BURTON, D. (ed.) 2000. Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers. London: Sage. [Chapters by Gayle].
FIELD, A. 2009. Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (3rd edition). London: Sage. [2013 4th edition now available too!]
ARGYROUS, G. 2005. Statistics for Research with a Guide to SPSS (2nd ed.). London: Sage.
[2011 3rd edition also now available].
SARANTAKOS, S. 2007. A Tool Kit for Quantitative Data Analysis. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
CONNOLLY, P. 2007. Quantitative Data Analysis in Education: A critical introduction using SPSS. London: Routledge. [Esp. Chapter 6].
HINTON, P.R., BROWNLOW, C., McMURRAY, I. and COZENS, B. 2004. SPSS Explained. Hove: Psychology Press.
BABBIE, E.R., HALLEY, F. and ZAINO, J. 2000. Adventures in Social Research: Data Analysis Using SPSS for Windows 95/98 (4th Edition). London: Sage (Pine Forge Press). [Don’t confuse this with the SPSS-PC+-related edition (1993/4); the 1995 edition (Babbie & Halley) is, however, still of relevance/value, and is used for reference purposes below].
FOSTER, J.J., BARKUS, E. and YAVORSKY, C. 2005. Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics: A Practical Guide for Students. London: Sage.
LANDAU, S. and EVERITT, B.S. 2004. A Handbook of Statistical Analyses using SPSS. Boca Raton: Chapman and Hall/CRC. [Available online].
BOSLAUGH, S. 2005. An Intermediate Guide to SPSS Programming: Using Syntax for Data Management. London: Sage. [May be useful for doing things with syntax windows].
COLLIER, J. 2010. Using SPSS Syntax: A Beginner’s Guide. London: Sage.
ROSE, D. and SULLIVAN, O. 1996. Introducing Data Analysis for Social Scientists (2nd revised edition). Buckingham: Open University Press.
DAVID, M. and SUTTON, C.D. 2004. Social Research: The Basics. London: Sage. [Part III on Data Analysis contains some useful material on SPSS].
MUIJS, D. 2004. Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. London: Sage.
HOWITT, D. and CRAMER, D. 2002. A Guide to Computing Statistics with SPSS 11 for Windows (Revised Edition). Harlow: Pearson Education.
CRAMER, D. 1998. Fundamental Statistics for Social Research: Step-by-step calculations and computer techniques using SPSS for Windows. London: Routledge.
EINSPRUCH, E.L. 1998. An Introductory Guide to SPSS for Windows. London: Sage.
HEALEY, J., BABBIE, E. and HALLEY, F. 1997. Exploring Social Issues Using SPSS for Windows. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.
FRANKFORT-NACHMIAS, C. 1997. Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. London: Pine Forge (Sage). [2011 edition now available].
VOELKL, K. and GERBER, S. 1999. Using SPSS for Windows: Data Analysis and Graphics. London: Springer-Verlag. [Covers statistical testing/using SPSS; fairly technical].
There may also still be (tatty) copies of some manuals for SPSS for Windows in the Library. Though a little dated, these may be as useful as some of the above texts, and are not necessarily less accessibly written either!
e.g. NORUSIS, M.J. 1993c. SPSS Professional Statistics 6.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc.