An educated person today without a basic knowledge of quantitative data analysis can perhaps understand contemporary debate on pressing social issues about as well as a visitor can understand a foreign country without knowledge of the language. Contemporary social issues, such as racial and gender discrimination, social and economic inequality, crime and declining SAT scores, simply cannot be intelligently debated without an elementary understanding of quantitative measurement and statistical reasoning. This course is designed to introduce students to the elementary data analytic procedures in the social sciences. Concrete examples from national opinion polls and surveys on race, gender, education and inequality will be explored. Though quantitative in orientation, the course does not require a strong math background or previous experience with computers. The basic statistical and computer techniques needed for the data analysis will be thoroughly explained in class and in special tutorial sessions.
COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Laboratory Lecture
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Prerequisites: SOC 151
Last Updated on MAR-10-1997
Robertson, Ian. SOCIOLOGY, 3rd ed., New York: Worth Publishers, Inc., 1987
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459