DIVISION OF SOCIAL WORK

SWRK110

Introduction to Statistics for Social Workers

Spring 2010

Schedule: Thursday at 6:30pm to 9:20pm

Classroom: 1014 Mariposa Hall

Instructor: Professor Kisun Nam

Office: 4023 Mariposa Hall

Phone: 916.278.4184

Email:

Office hour: Thursday 2:00pm to 5:00pm or by appointment

Course Description

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the statistics and statistical methods used in social services research. Topics covered include descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, probability distribution, introduction to empirical research methods, and the relationship of statistics to research methods. Illustrations are drawn from the field of human services. The statistical program called SPSS for Windows and Microsoft Excel 2003/2007 program will be used to assist in the analysis of data. Statistical procedures helpful to both quantitative and qualitative research methods will be covered.

Course Objectives

Through the expected requirements of this course, students will:

1.  Develop and improve critical thinking skills in producing, using and interpreting data in social work practice.

2.  Understand and perform standard descriptive and inferential statistical operations.

3.  Discriminate among the variety of statistics available and choose and apply those statistics most appropriate to the data to be analyzed.

4.  Begin to understand the types and varieties of research that are employed in the area of human services and to learn to recognize both sound and unsound research.

5.  Begin to understand the nature of empirical research and the role of statistical operations in such research, especially as it relates to research on issues of social and economic justice, multiculturalism, human diversity, ethics, and special populations.

6.  Present the results of data analysis in an appropriate way.

7.  Articulate a familiarity with basic statistical and research concepts.

8.  Become familiar with current technology as it relates primarily to research and statistics and secondarily to practice theory, issues in HBSE and policy, and the field practicum.

Required Text

Rubin, A. (2009). Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice and Evaluation. (2nd Edition) Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Textbook is available to purchase at the Hornet Bookstore (916.278.6446). Alternatively, you can purchase the e-textbook from iChapters.com (http://www.ichapters.com/micro/csusacswrk). Also, textbook is reserved at the library reserve room (next to Java City). You can check out the textbook for three days.

Course Format

Your active participation in class discussions is expected and essential to how you will be evaluated. Be prepared to answer questions on your readings and class exercises. You are expected to ask questions and to be an active participant in the classroom learning process. The instructor expects and welcomes questions that help the class understand and clarify the topics being discussed and presented. I prefer that you bring your questions, concerns, and other issues to class so that I can clarify them for you instead of keeping quiet and then struggling elsewhere. There will be a mid-term evaluation of the instructor, so that feedback can be incorporated into the last half of the class.

Course Expectations

In order to enhance feelings of safety and to create a positive learning environment, students are expected to:

1.  Attend every class, promptly;

2.  Read the assigned materials BEFORE the class;

3.  Do not ridicule others;

4.  Mind one’s own expression of bigotry; rather than attribute a negative characteristic to a social group or to a member of that group, you may begin with, “this is how I have been taught to believe …” or “I hate to admit it but I do have the belief that …”;

5.  Behave with a positive attitude;

6.  Be committed to growth and self-exploration.

It is impossible to pass the course without active attendance, keeping up with the works, actively participating in class discussions, and being able to apply concepts and findings to research situations. Statistics is not the type of course wherein you can easily understand and catch up if you fall behind. If you are absent for a class, do not expect that I repeat the lesson for you.

Statistics is learned by the experience of actually working out problems, understanding the processes of doing them, and relating the findings to real case situations. Thus, it is important that you read the assigned course materials prior to coming to class.

Attendance Policy

Class attendance and participation is a prerequisite in receiving a passing grade. Students are expected to attend all class on time. Similar to SWRK111 (research methods) class, this class may be one of the hardest courses you face in your undergraduate social work classes. Therefore, missing classes hurt your chance for achieving an “A” grade for the semester.

Each student is allowed one free absence without a good cause (see below). Additional absence(s) without a good cause will receive deductions from the attendance portion (see the table below). More than five absences without a good cause (including one free absence) in the semester will result in the student receiving “F” grade for the semester, regardless of her/his performance in all other required assignments.

Grading for class attendance, after the one free absence without good cause:

1 additional absence / –5% of class attendance portion
2 additional absences / –10% of class attendance portion
3 additional absences / –50% of class attendance portion
4 additional absences / –100% of class attendance portion
5 or more absences / automatic F grade for the course

Good cause absence(s) must be notified to the instructor via email or written note no later than a week after it happened. One who failed to notify the instructor for good cause absence(s) as stated will not be excused. One’s health issue, death of a loved one, and natural disasters (e.g. fire or earthquake) are considered by this instructor as good cause. The instructor may require additional documents (e.g. the doctor’s letter) to prove the good cause. All other issues, such as car broke down, alarm clock failed, children’s school, job interview, and so on do not constitute good cause.

Assignments and Grading

Each student’s final grade will result from adding the scores obtained from all the assignments required by the course (shown below).

1.  Exams (40 points)

There will be three exams for the semester, two midterm exams and one final exam. Each exam will have two components: to measure your mastery of statistical analysis and social science theory; and to measure your ability to calculate various statistics and to interpret or apply their meaning in a research context.

Both midterm and final exams will consist of multiple choice, true-false, and short-answer questions. Midterm exam #1 covers the class contents from Week 1 (Introduction) to Week 5 (Normal distribution), and midterm #2 covers Week 8 (Probability, sampling distribution, and hypothesis testing) to Week 12 (Chi-Square).

Final exam will be comprehensive, covering ALL course contents but with the emphasis on Week 14 (correlation) and Week 15 (regression).

All exams are provided as the online exam through SacCT. You will take those exams at the computer lab (Mariposa 1013). Detailed instructions will be provided before the exams.

Exam grading consists of two parts, one for midterm exam portion and the other for final exam portion. Midterm exam portion will be determined by the higher score out of your two midterm exams. Final exam portion will be determined by your final exam score.

Once two portions are identified, I will apply two grading schemes to calculate the exams score out of midterm and final exam portion. First scheme is to assign 20 points on midterm exam portion and 20 points on final exam portion, and second scheme is to assign 10 points on midterm exam portion and 30 points on final exam portion. Once your exam scores from both midterm and final exams are recorded, I will calculate the exam scores based on two schemes above and choose the higher score as your exam score (see the table below).

If you score in… / First scheme / Second scheme / Exam score
(out of 40)
Mid. #1 / Mid. #2 / Final / (20 pts & 20 pts) / (10 pts & 30 pts)
100% / 50% / 80% / 36 (=20+16) / 34 (=10+24) / 36
50% / 70% / 90% / 32 (=14+18) / 34 (=7+27) / 34

If for any reason you cannot take the exam on the scheduling date, make sure to arrange to take the exam ahead of time. You will not be allowed to take the exam the day after or to make-up the exam once the test is administered. ALL out of class exam must be arranged through Testing Center in Lassen Hall with a nominal fee. If the exam is scheduled with the Testing Center, it is your responsibility to turn in a copy of the appointment sheet to me at least a week ahead of time.

2.  Homework assignments (50 points, or 55 points with extra credit for all correct answers)

There are ten homework assignments over the semester, 5 points per each assignment. Homework must be submitted at the beginning of the class in due dates. Check the due date for each homework assignment in Course Outline below. Homework assignments are used as learning tools rather than a measure of student mastery their first time attempting a problem. Thus, homework assignment will consist of the review questions regarding the course materials in the previous week.

Below are the grading criteria for each homework submission. Note that students can earn up to extra 5 points extra if they answer ALL questions correctly in homework assignments.

Score / Grading criteria
5.5 points / Submit on time, and ALL answers are correct.
5 points / Submit on time, and showing reasonable effort to complete
4 points / Submit on time, but lack of reasonable effort to complete (ex. some questions are not answered)
3 points / Late submission for one (1) day (submitted on Friday)
0 point / Late for more than one day or no submission

3.  Attendance and Class Participation (10 points)

Your attendance and participation maximize your experience in the class, and together constitute 10 points of your final grade. More than five absences, including one free absence, will result in “F” grade regardless of the performance in all other required assignments. For example, if you miss four classes without good cause, you will earn 5 points out of attendance and class participation portion (one free absence and three additional absences, 50% deduction). Consult Attendance Policy (above) for details.

As a result, your final grade is delineated as follows:

Assignments / Points assigned / Due dates
Exams / 40 / Midterm #1: Mar. 11
Midterm #2: Apr. 22
Final: May 18
Homework assignment / 50/55 / See the course outline
Attendance / 10 / Every class
Total / 100 points

Grading scale is shown below. Keep in mind that your final grade will be determined by the total score you would earn through all the required assignments by the class. Social Work major students should earn “C” or better, or 70 points or higher, to receive a passing grade.

Final Grade / Total Score
A / 92 – 100 points
A− / 89 – 91 points
B+ / 85 – 88 points
B / 81 – 84 points
B− / 78 – 80 points
C+ / 74 – 77 points
C / 70 – 73 points
C− / 68 – 69 points
D+ / 64 – 67 points
D / 60 – 63 points
D− / 58 – 59 points
F / Below 58 points

Accommodation

The university is committed to providing every reasonable academic accommodation to students with disabilities. The Office of Service to Students with Disabilities (SSWD) provides university academic support services and specialized assistance to students with disabilities. Individuals who need such accommodation must notify the instructor to arrange said accommodation. This instructor is committed in every effort to accommodate all special needs. Disabilities that may require special accommodations are encouraged to contact the Office of Service to Students with Disabilities in Lassen Hall 1008 (916.278.6955, http://www.csus.edu/sswd/sswd.html).

Campus Employee Furloughs

For the past 10 years the CSU system has suffered chronic under-funding. The CSU administration is attempting to manage these cuts by dramatically increasing student fees and by furloughing almost all University employees, including faculty, staff, and administrators. A furlough means mandatory un-paid days off for employees; there are 18 of these this year for faculty.

For students this means that on some days the campus will be closed. The library will have shorter hours and many campus support services will be decreased or eliminated. It will, for example, be more difficult to get signatures to meet deadlines. Some classes you need may have been cut from the class schedule or are full.

The day when I’m forced to cancel class because of the furloughs is November 24th, marked on your syllabus below. This day off is not holiday; this is a very concrete example of how budget cuts have consequences.

If you would like to take action, or simply learn more, I strongly recommend you contact the Students for Quality Education at CSU Sacramento: