Page 1 Syllabus for CJK 500: Statistics

Page | 1 Syllabus for CJK 500: Statistics

Class Location: FH 212

Class Hours:R6:00-9:00 pm

Instructor: Floyd Berry, PhD

Office:FH, 217G

Office Hours:MW 11:00-5:00

Contact Phone:254.519.5705 (prefer Bb message)

Contact Email: (prefer Bb message)

1.0Course Description

This course assumes competency in basic statistics, measures of significance, and use of a statpak, which are available in an undergraduate statistics course. CJK 500 introduces the student to statistical concepts and techniques that can assist him in evaluating research and in engaging in research on the graduate level. The techniques allow one to compute measures of association and correlation. The student is introduced to the use of bivariate tables, Phi, Cramer’s V, Lambda, Gamma, Spearman’s Rho, Pearson’s r, and several multivariate techniques. The student will also manipulate, analyze, and interpret data using SPSS.

2.0Accessing Blackboard (Bb)

This is a lecture course with online components in Blackboard (Bb). The student accesses Bb on the TAMUCT website. The student may get assistance 24/7 by phone.

3.0Course Objectives

1.Students will be able to select an appropriate statistic for a given set of data.

2.Students will acquire the ability to use, analyze, and interpret statistical tests.

3.Students will learn the basic, technical vocabulary of intermediate social statistics.

4.Students will be able to interpret the use of intermediate statistics in social research.

5.Students will demonstrate calculator proficiency for all statistical formulas.

6.Students will employ SPSS for data manipulation, analysis, and interpretation.

7.Students will gain some appreciation for the role of statistics in the research process.

4.0Textbook/Calculator

Required for the Course:

Healey, J. F. (2015). Statistics: A tool for social research (10thed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage. ISBN: 978-1-

285-45885-4

Hand Calculator

The student is required to use a hand calculator in this course. The calculator should be able to compute squares and square roots. The student should not purchase or use a calculator that is too technical for the needs of this course. Calculator features on a cell phone or other device will hinder a student’s progress in this course rather than aid it. The calculator needed for this course may be purchased for about $12.

Recommended but Not Required Textbooks:

Agresti, A., & Finlay, B. (2009).Statistical methods for the social sciences (4thed.). Upper Saddle River,

NJ: Pearson. 9780130272959.

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological

Association (6thed.). Washington, DC: Author. NOTE: This work will be referred to as the APA Manual in this syllabus and in the course.

Cronk, B. (2014). How to use SPSS: A step-by-step guide to analysis and interpretation (8thed.).

Glendale, CA: Pyrczak. 9781936523269.

Jaccard, J., & Turrisi, R. (2003).Interaction effects in multiple regression (2nded.). Thousand Oaks, CA:

Sage. 9780761927426.

Kahane, L. H. (2008). Regression basics (2nded.). Los Angeles: Sage. 9781412951265.

Kutner, M. H., Nachtsheim, C. J., & Neter, J. (2004).Applied linear regression models (4thed.). Boston:

McGraw-Hill. 9780073013442.

Osborne, J. W. (2013). Best practices in data cleaning: A complete guide to everything you need to do

before and after collecting your data. Los Angeles: Sage. 9781412988018.

Schroeder, L. D., Sjoquist, D. L., & Stephan, P. E. (1986).Understanding regression analysis: An

introductory guide. Newbury Park: CA: Sage. 9780803927582.

Schwartz, B. M., Landrum, R. E., & Gurung, R. A. R. (2014).An easy guide to APA style(2nded.). Los

Angeles: Sage. 978-1-4522-6839-2.

TeGrotenhuis, M, & Visscher, C. (2014).How to use SPSS syntax: An overview of common commands.

Los Angeles: Sage. 9781483333434.

Wagner, W. E. (2015). Using IBM SPSS statistics for research methods and social science statistics (5th

ed.). Los Angeles: Sage. 9781483351285.

5.0Course Requirements

5.1Exams (600 points)

The student will completefour,take-home exams that are usually due a week later at the beginning of class. The exams consist of cover sheet, main prose section, references page, and SPSS output, the output being appended to the end of the paper. The papershall conform to APA guidelines. Neatness, organization, and thoroughness contribute to better scores. The first exam is a practice exam and is not counted toward the final course grade.

5.2Homework (100 points)

The student shall complete and submit five homework assignments that are due at the beginning of the class period (see course calendar for due dates). The assignments shall be written on notebook paper. The student must complete all of the assigned questions to receive credit. Pages torn out of spiral notebooks, leaving jagged edges, will not be accepted. Each homework assignment is valued at 20 points. It is not necessary that the student obtain the correct answers to each question, only that he makes an honest effort to obtain the answer by working the problem.

5.3Class Participation (100 points)

The student is expected to participate in class discussions. The student earns a point for full attendance on a specific day (appears on time and does not leave early). He earns another point for participating in class discussion. Thus, the student earns 0-2 points on each class day (total of 15 days), which computes into the following grade for class participation in the course:

Points / Grade / Points / Grade
30 / 100 / 15-17 / 38
27-29 / 88 / 12-14 / 25
24-26 / 75 / 9-11 / 13
21-23 / 63 / 0-8 / 0
18-20 / 50

NOTE: The student is allowed to miss a class without major reduction in points. If the student misses two classes, his final letter grade will be reduced by one letter grade (e.g., A becomes a B, B becomes a C, etc.). if the student is tardy (appears in class after roll is caused), it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor at the conclusion of class (before leaving the classroom), that he arrived in class and would like to receive some credit for class participation. Failure to notify the instructor will result in an absence for that class day.

5.4SPSS Exercises (200 points)

There are exercises to complete and submit using SPSS. The exercises must be converted to a .pdf file, attached to an email on Bb, and submitted to the instructor. Like the homework assignments, it is not necessary that the content of the exercises be correct, only that the student made an honest attempt to complete the exercise. If the SPSS assignment is rejected by the instructor, the student has one week to correct the assignment and resubmit it for credit. No rejected assignments are accepted after one week. SPSS exercises are due according to the Course Calendar. Each of the 40 SPSS exercises is worth 5 points. Only SPSS outputs are needed to complete each SPSS assignment.

Although Dr. Healey lists the steps in his text for completing an SPSS assignment, the first two steps are usually unnecessary, inasmuch as the dataset and SPSS software are already loaded onto lab computers. (The dataset is already loaded onto Bb, and each lab computer has SPSS installed.) The textbook has sections at the end of most chapters that describe the exercise and general procedure to follow in each exercise. The rule of thumb is to “learn by doing.” If the step described does not work exactly as expected, then the student should keep trying. The solution will most likely present itself. Different versions of SPSS may have slightly different formats or wordings.

The student saves his output by clicking on “File,” “Export,” selecting pdf file and location (for location, click on “Browse” and “Desktop”). For FILENAME, use the filename indicated on the Course Calendar (see “Assignments Due” column). For example, for his first assignment, the student notes that the filename is to be SPSS1.pdf. So, the student types SPSS1 for the filename, and the .pdf suffix is automatically added. The student clicks on “Save” and “OK.” The file is now saved to his desktop. The student then sends the instructor an email through Bb, with the file (SPSS1.pdf) attached. Once the SPSS output is sent, the student quits the output file that appears on the screen. To the message, “Save contents of output viewer?”, the student clicks “No,” and quits the GSS (General Social Survey) database file as well. Only outputs are required to be submitted to the instructor, although the student will need to complete other portions of the SPSS assignment to gain sufficient insight into other aspects of the assignment.

5.5Academic Honesty

During the first week of class, the student is to read the section in the syllabus on Academic Honesty and the material at the Purdue University OWL website regarding plagiarism. The student must sign the document pertaining to Academic Honesty and return it to the instructor. NOTE: The student will not be allowed to continue in the course without notifying the instructor of his comprehension of this material (by signing the document and submitting it to the instructor).

5.6Monitoring Bb for Announcements

It is the student’s responsibility to monitor Bb daily for Announcements and Revised Course Calendars. Failure to do so may result in poor scores.

5.7Readings and Exercises

To gain a good understanding and to develop skills related to statistics, the student will need to apply himself on a consistent, regular basis to readings, exercises, exams, and discussions with other students and the instructor. Other resources are available that may also assist the student, such as answers in the back of the textbook for odd-numbered exercises, chapter reviews, and summaries of terms and formulas.

6.0Grading Criteria Rubric and Conversion

5.1Rubric

Points

3Exams @ 200 / 600
Homework (5 @20) / 100
Class participation (15 classes) / 100
SPSS exercises (40 @ 5) / 200
Academic Honesty document / ---
Total: / 1000

5.2Conversion to Course Letter Grade for Posting

Points % Grade

900 – 1000 / 90 – 100% / A
800 – 899 / 80 – 89% / B
700 – 799 / 70 – 79% / C
600 – 699 / 60 – 69% / D
0 – 599 / 0 – 59% / F

7.0Course Calendar1

Day Topics/Activities Readings2 Assignments Due3

1/21 / Academic Honesty
Course requirements
Review of Basic Statistics
Univariate Statistics
Levels of Measurement
Causality v. Association
Sampling, Estimation
Hypothesis Testing
Bivariate Analysis
Multivariate Analysis
Causal Impact / Academic Honesty/plagiarism readings
Syllabus
H, chs 1-10
1/28 / Review Continued
SPSS / H, Appendices F, G
Bb: databases and codebooks / Academic Honesty document is due
2/4 / Categorical Variables
χ2
Bivariate Tables
Column Percentages
Maximum Difference
Phi
Cramer’s V
Lambda / H, ch 11
H, ch 12 (pp 308-323)
2/11 / Categorical Variables Continued
Partial Tables for Multivariate Analysis / H, ch 14 (pp 380-389)
H, p 289 (SPSS1)
H, p 301, 11.18 (SPSS2)
H, pp 301-303 (SPSS3) – “Project 1”
H, pp 303-304 (SPSS4) – “Project 2”
H, pp 337-338, 12.13 (SPSS5)
H, pp 298-299, 11.6, 11.13 (HW1)
H, pp 335, 12.4a, 12.4b (HW2) / SPSS1 – SPSS5
HW1, HW2
Exam 1 passed out
2/18 / No Class
2/25 / Ordinal Variables
Gamma
Spearman’s rho
Partial Gamma / H, ch 12 (pp 324-341)
H, ch 14 (pp 389-404) / Exam 1 due
3/3 / Ordinal Variables Continued / H, pp 328-329 (SPSS6)
H, p 338, 12.14 (SPSS7)
H, pp 338-339 (SPSS8) – “Project 1”
H, pp 339-341 (SPSS9) – “Project 2”
H, pp 393-394 (SPSS10)
H, p 401, 14.6 (SPSS11)
H, pp 401-401, 14.7 (SPSS12)
H, p 402, 14.8 (SPSS13)
H, p 402, 14.9 (SPSS14)
H, p 402, 14.10 (SPSS15)
H, pp 403-404 (SPSS16)
H, p 336-337, 12.8, 12.10 (HW3)
H, pp 398-399, 14.2 (HW4) / SPSS6 – SPSS16
HW3, HW4
Exam 2 passed out
3/10 / Bivariate Regression
Scatterplots
Correlation
Regression Coefficients
Dummy Variables, r, r2 / H, ch 13 / Exam 2 due
3/17 / Spring Break
3/24 / Bivariate Regression Continued
3/31 / Bivariate Regression Continued / H, pp 347-348 (SPSS17)
H, pp 360-361 (SPSS18)
H, pp 362-363 (SPSS19)
H, p 371, 13.6 (SPSS20)
H, pp 371-372, 13.7 (SPSS21)
H, p 372, 13.8 (SPSS22)
H, pp 372-373, 13.9 (SPSS23)
H, p 373, 13.10 (SPSS24)
H, p 373, 13.11 (SPSS25)
H, p 373, 13.12 (SPSS26)
H, pp 373-375 (SPSS27) – “Project 1”
H, pp 375-376 (SPSS28) – “Project 2”
H, p 370, 13.2 (HW5) / SPSS17 – SPSS28
HW5
Exam 3 passed out
4/7 / Multiple Regression
Partial Correlation
Partial Slopes
Beta-weights
R2 / H, ch 15 / Exam 3 due
4/14 / Multiple Regression Continued
4/21 / Multiple Regression Continued
4/28 / Multiple Regression Continued / H, p 412 (SPSS29)
H, p 422 (SPSS30)
H, p 432, 15.4 (SPSS31)
H, p 433, 15.5 (SPSS32)
H, p 433, 15.6 (SPSS33)
H, p 434, 15.7 (SPSS34)
H, p 434, 15.8 (SPSS35)
H, p 434-435, 15.9 (SPSS36)
H, p 435, 15.10 (SPSS37)
H, pp 435-437 (SPSS38) – “Project 1”
H, pp 437-438 (SPSS39) – “Project 2”
H, pp 439-441 (SPSS40) / SPSS29 – SPSS40
5/5 / Multiple Regression Continued / Exam 4 passed out
5/12 / Exam 4 due

1 Events are subject to minor revision

2 H= Healey, Statistics: A tool for social research (10th ed.)

ch = chapter, chs = chapters, pp = pages

3 All assignment at due at 6:00 p.m., unless noted otherwise

HW = homework exercises in Healey text (HW1, HW2, etc.)

SPSS = SPSS exercises in Healey text (SPSS1, SPSS2, etc.)

8.0Academic Honesty

TAMUCT expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, self-plagiarism (“recycling”), or collusion. The instructor shall initiate action for each case of academic dishonesty and report it to the Associate Director of Student Conduct. Zero points will be assigned for any course product that violates academic honesty. The student should access this link for more information:

9.0Disability Support

If a student believes that this course may present barriers to learning due to a disability, he is advised to contact Disability Support and Access at (254) 501-5831 in Warrior Hall, Ste. 212. For more information, the student may visit the following website: Any information the student provides is private and confidential. The instructor cannot accommodate an alleged disability unless the student first communicates with Disability Support.

10.0Tutoring

Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on campus and online. Subjects tutored include Statistics and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at the Tutoring Center in Warrior Hall 111. Visit and click “Tutoring Support” for tutor schedules and contact information. If you have questions or need to schedule a tutoring session, contact Academic Support at 254-501-5830 or email .

11.0Writing Center

The University Writing Center (UWC) at Texas A&M University-Central Texas is a free workspace open to all TAMUCT students. The UWC is located in Warrior Hall, Rm 416. The Center is open 11am-6pm, Monday-Thursday during the Spring semester. Students may work independently in the UWC by checking out a laptop that runs Microsoft Office suite and connects to WIFI, or by consulting the resources on writing, including all of the relevant style guides. Students may also arrange a one-on-one session with a trained and experienced writing tutor. Tutorials can be arranged by visiting the UWC. Tutors are prepared to help writers of all levels and abilities at any stage of the writing process. Sessions typically last between 20-30 minutes. While tutors will not write, edit, or grade papers, they will help students develop more effective invention and revision strategies.

12.0Late Work

As a rule, make-up work for homework, SPSS exercises, and exams will not be accepted. In rare instances, however, one make-up exam may be offered, but with a 20-point deduction (evidence pertaining to a serious emergency will be considered for such a makeup). In no instance will a make-up be offered for the final exam, and in no instance will a make-up for an exam be given after two weeks from the original exam date. To be considered as a prospect for making up an exam, the student must contact the instructor within 24 hours of having missed an exam for purposes of making it up. A request for make-up, of course, may or may not be granted. The final course grade will be posted within a few days of the final exam; therefore, no incompletes will be awarded for this course. If the student foresees that he will be unable to complete the course, then he should either drop the course or accept the posted grade.

13.0Modification of the Syllabus

This syllabus may be revised in minor ways at the discretion of the instructor. The student is responsible for noting any changes in the syllabus. More than likely, a change in the syllabus will pertain to events in the Course Calendar (sect. 7.0). A Revised Course Calendar will be posted on Bb.

14.0Contact with Instructor

The student should contact the instructor via the message feature on Bb about any topic or issue that pertains to this course.

15.0Announcements

The student is responsible for checking Bb for ongoing announcements pertaining to the course.