Basic Statistics for Social Scientists
SOC 294
Syllabus | Spring 2021
MoWeFr 10:20AM - 11:10AM
Recitation We 4:10 PM - 5:00 PM
Professor
Joanna Pepin, Ph.D.
Student hours: Mondays 11:10am–12:10pm via Discord
Email: jpepin@buffalo.edu
[BEFORE emailing: Read “What if I need to contact you?” in the FAQs section.]
Your professor is available on Discord Mondays and Wednesdays during class time (M/W 10:20am–11:10am), during student hours (M 11:10am–12:10pm) and during the class recitation (W 4:10-5:00p.m.).
TA
Zhe (Rachel) Zhang
Student hours: Fridays 10:20am–11:10am, via Discord
Email: Zzhang67@buffalo.edu
The land on which the University at Buffalo operates is the territory of the Seneca Nation, a member of the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations Confederacy. This territory is covered by The Dish with One Spoon Treaty of Peace and Friendship, a pledge to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. It is also covered by the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, between the United States Government and the Six Nations Confederacy, which further affirmed Haudenosaunee land rights and sovereignty in the State of New York. Today, this region is still the home to the Haudenosaunee people, and we are grateful for the opportunity to live, work, and share ideas in this territory.
Course Description
Statistics are all around you every day—in advertisements, companies try to lure you by claiming the approval of “4 out of 5 experts” or they tout “success rates.” Newspapers report the findings of social scientists on marriage rates and epidemiologists report on the likelihood of disease transmission. Economic decisions at the state and federal level are made on the basis of population statistics, political polls give news pundits talking points, and sports newscasters report the free throw percentages and batting averages of star players.
This course will introduce you to the vocabulary, concepts, and statistical techniques used by quantitative social scientists to describe data and test hypotheses about the social world. Understanding statistics will make you a more informed citizen and a more intelligent consumer of information.
This is a fully online course with no face-to-face meetings and some required meeting times (synchronous).
Learning Outcomes
What will I learn?
The primary purpose of this course is to increase your statistical literacy and your data analysis skills. You will learn how to interpret data and how to choose between different statistical techniques to answer a research question. You will also learn how to compute basic statistics using . You will practice these skills through weekly assignments, exams, and by producing a final project.
Course Outcomes
| Outcome | Method of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Choose appropriate methods or models for a given problem, using information from observed or deduced data and knowledge of the system being studied. | All learning checks, exams, and lab assignments |
| Employ quantitative methods, mathematical models, statistics, and/or logic to analyze data and solve real-world problems beyond the level of basic algebra. | Lab assignments and final project |
| Identify common mistakes and/or limitations in empirical and deductive reasoning, and in mathematical, quantitative, and/or logical problem solving. | All learning checks and lab assignments |
| Interpret mathematical models, formulas, graphs, and/or tables, to draw inferences from them, and explain these inferences. | Exam 2 and final project |
Materials
- Access to a web-browser with a stable internet connection
- A calculator capable of computing squares and square roots
- A free account with Discord
- Additional readings will be posted on UBLearns
Technology Recommendations
To effectively participate in this course, you should have access to a Windows or Mac computer with a webcam and broadband internet connection. Your best opportunity for success will require these minimum technology capabilities listed on this UB website
Schedule
Tutorials: Available by M/W/F 10:20am, via UBLearns
Recitation: W, 4:10pm–5:00pm, via Discord
What do I have to attend?
This course is fully remote and a combination of asynchronous (complete at your own time) and synchronous classes (scheduled class meeting times).
Asynchronous
Tutorials will be offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and can be completed on your own schedule.
A typical week will include a new content day (Monday), a learning check day (Wednesday), and a lab day (Friday).
You are strongly encouraged to work through the tutorials, learning checks, and lab assignments during the designated class time. Your instructor/TA will be available on Discord at these times to answer questions and troubleshoot technology issues that may arise.
Three days throughout the semester you will work on your final project: March 1st, April 12, and May 7th. Instructions will become available on these designated days but you will complete the assignment asynchronously.
NOTE: I recognize the difficulty in adhering to a strict class schedule given the varied circumstances brought about by the pandemic. Therefore, this course offers you flexibility to complete the course requirements on alternative days/times that may work better for you each week. Know that the trade-off of altering when you complete assignments is fewer available resources in terms of professor, TA, and peer support at unscheduled class times.
Synchronous
Exam reviews will all take place during scheduled days/times: March 3rd, March 5th, April 14th, April 16th.
Exams will be available on the day they are noted on the course schedule: March 8th, April 19th, and Finals Week (TBD).
After the exam is posted, you will have 48 hours to start the exam and 90 minutes to complete it once started. The time given to complete an exam (to start it and finish it) will not extend beyond the time allotted (with the exception of a documented accessibility accommodations).
Schedule
The exact topic order is subject to change [but the assignment dates will remain the same].
| Week | Day | Date | Topic | Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday | February 1 | Welcome | |
| Wednesday | February 3 | Learning Statistics | LC 01 | |
| Friday | February 5 | Introduction to Data Analysis | Lab 01 | |
| 2 | Monday | February 8 | Frequency distributions | |
| Wednesday | February 10 | Frequency distributions | LC 02 | |
| Friday | February 12 | Frequency distributions | Lab 02 | |
| 3 | Monday | February 15 | Measures of central tendency | |
| Wednesday | February 17 | Measures of central tendency | LC 03 | |
| Friday | February 19 | Measures of central tendency | Lab 03 | |
| 4 | Monday | February 22 | Measures of variability | |
| Wednesday | February 24 | Measures of variability | LC 04 | |
| Friday | February 26 | Measures of variability | Lab 04 | |
| 5 | Monday | March 1 | Final Project work day | Final Project P01 |
| Wednesday | March 3 | Review/Practice | ||
| Friday | March 5 | Review/Practice | ||
| 6 | Monday | March 8 | Exam 1 | |
| Wednesday | March 10 | Descriptive tables | LC 05 | |
| Friday | March 12 | Descriptive tables | Lab 05 | |
| 7 | Monday | March 15 | Sampling/Normal distribution | |
| Wednesday | March 17 | Sampling/Normal distribution | LC 06 | |
| Friday | March 19 | Sampling/Normal distribution | Lab 06 | |
| 8 | Monday | March 22 | Estimation & confidence intervals | |
| Wednesday | March 24 | Estimation & confidence intervals | LC 07 | |
| Friday | March 26 | Estimation & confidence intervals | Lab 07 | |
| 9 | Monday | March 29 | Hypothesis testing | |
| Wednesday | March 31 | Hypothesis testing | LC 08 | |
| Friday | April 2 | Hypothesis testing | Lab 08 | |
| 10 | Monday | April 5 | Data visualization | |
| Wednesday | April 7 | Data visualization | LC 09 | |
| Friday | April 9 | Data visualization | Lab 09 | |
| 11 | Monday | April 12 | Final Project work day | Final Project P02 |
| Wednesday | April 14 | Review/Practice | ||
| Friday | April 16 | Review/Practice | ||
| 12 | Monday | April 19 | Exam 2 | |
| Wednesday | April 21 | Chi-square | ||
| Friday | April 23 | Chi-square | LC 10 | |
| 13 | Monday | April 26 | Chi-square | Lab 10 |
| Wednesday | April 28 | Regression and correlation | ||
| Friday | April 30 | Regression and correlation | LC 11 | |
| 14 | Monday | May 3 | Regression and correlation | Lab 11 |
| Wednesday | May 5 | Statistical Significance | REST DAY | |
| Friday | May 7 | Final Project work day | Final Project P03 | |
| 15 | Friday | May 14 | Exam 3 | |
| Friday | May 14 | Final Project |
Requirements
Participation
You will be expected to actively participate in an effort to ensure your understanding of the ideas presented in the course. Your class participation grade will be determined based on your participation in ungraded surveys and discussion platforms throughout the semester. Participation will be measured by completion of surveys/polling embedded in the modules, questions and answers on the course channels (Discord), and engagement during the course recitations. Opportunities to participate will be offered throughout the duration of the course.
Learning Checks
You will complete 11 Learning Checks throughout the semester to check your comprehension of the class material. These will include multiple choice questions, sometimes involve calculations, and at other times you will be asked to provide an interpretive or analytical response.
Your lowest grade will be dropped from inclusion of your Learning Check grade (even if it is a zero). Recommended deadlines will be given for each Learning Check but they may be turned in until the corresponding exam. I do not accept late Learning Checks after exam dates, as they are intended to help prepare for the exam.
| Learning Check | Soft Deadline | Hard Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| LC 01 | Feb 3rd @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| LC 02 | Feb 10th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| LC 03 | Feb 17th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| LC 04 | Feb 24th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| LC 05 | Mar 10th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| LC 06 | Mar 17th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| LC 07 | Mar 24th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| LC 08 | Mar 31st @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| LC 09 | Apr 7th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| LC 10 | Apr 23rd @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
| LC 11 | Apr 30th @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
Lab Assignments
You will analyze sociological data using R tutorials that you will be able to access via your web browser. It is strongly recommended that you use a desktop or laptop to complete your lab assignments, as viewing the content on smaller screens will create additional challenges in completing these assignments.
Your lowest grade will be dropped from inclusion of your Lab Assignment grade (even if it is a zero). Recommended deadlines will be given for each Lab Assignment but they may be turned in until the corresponding exam. I do not accept late Lab Assignment after exam dates, as they are intended to help prepare for the exam.
| Labs | Soft Deadline | Hard Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Lab 01 | Feb 5th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 02 | Feb 12th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 03 | Feb 19th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 04 | Feb 26th @ 11:59pm | March 8th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 05 | Mar 12th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 06 | Mar 19th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 07 | Mar 26th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 08 | Apr 2nd @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 09 | Apr 9th @ 11:59pm | April 19th @ 10:20am |
| Lab 10 | Apr 26th @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
| Lab 11 | May 3rd @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
Exams
There will be 3 exams offered over the course of the semester. Although exams 01 and 02 are not specifically cumulative, ability to complete more complex statistical techniques rests on one’s comprehension of earlier concepts.
I will also offer a cumulative final exam that you can CHOOSE to take during the final exam period. The material will cover all course material, including chi-square and regression (no R coding).
If you are satisfied with your grades from Exams 1 & 2, you do not need to take the final exam. In other words, I will take your top two exam scores to calculate your final grade.
- Exams must be taken within 48 hours from the class day/time noted on the course schedule.
- You will have 90 minutes to answer multiple choice questions.
- Exams will be available on UBLearns.
- Once you begin the exam, you will have to complete it in one sitting.
- Exams are open note/open book but they are NOT open friends/family/classmates.
Final Project
You will apply your new statistical knowledge and coding skills to answer a research question with data. Real world data will be provided to you for your analysis. You will employ your quantitative skills to draw inferences about a social issue. Final project working days will be used over the course of the semester to develop your project. The skills required to complete the final project will be cumulative.
The project will be completed in three parts, each with a suggested due date. The final project is due at the time of the final exam (TBD).
Parts 01 and 02 can be corrected and re-submitted to be re-graded IF they are turned in within 1 week of their suggested due date.
| Labs | Soft Deadline | Hard Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Part 01 | Mar 1st @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
| Part 02 | Apr 12th @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
| Part 03 | May 7th @ 11:59pm | May 14th @ 08:00am |
Grading
Grading summary
| Output | Proportion |
|---|---|
| Participation | 5% |
| Learning Checks | 20% |
| Lab Assignments | 15% |
| Exams | 45% |
| Final Project | 15% |
Grading scale (out of 100):
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 94.00–100 |
| A- | 90.00–93.99 |
| B+ | 87.00–89.99 |
| B | 84.00–86.99 |
| B- | 80.00–83.99 |
| C+ | 77.00–79.99 |
| C | 74.00–76.99 |
| C- | 70.00–73.99 |
| D | 60.00–69.99 |
| F | 59.99 or below |
The FX grade is given to students who have no course involvement after week 9 of the semester.
How can I succeed?
If you have trouble with an early reading, assignment, or exam, I strongly recommend you work to understand your mistakes so that you will not fall further behind. This may include re-reading materials, revisiting old assignments, forming study groups, and asking the TA for further clarification of concepts.
Be proactive about your performance in this class! Ultimately, your grade is up to you, and is a reflection of your performance. Grades are not assigned based on actual or perceived effort.
It is critical that you remain current with the assigned reading and assignment schedule. For every hour that we spend in class, I recommend you set aside two hours for careful reading of the texts, preparation for class, completing assignments, and reviewing your notes.
FAQs
What is the recitation?
The weekly recitation hour is an opportunity to review tutorial material, work on practice exercises, and work on Learning Checks, Lab Assignments, or the Final Project. It is also a good time to study for the exam with the assistance. Attendance is not required but it is another opportunity for additional support.
When are assignments due?
Due dates are listed on the course website. Suggested completion dates are given for the Learning Checks and Lab Assignments. I will accept Learning Checks and Lab Assignments until the date of the exam they correspond with. For example, Learning Check 4 will be accepted until the date of the first exam. This is meant to provide a structured schedule for students who want that, but also flexibility over the course of the semester as disruptions are likely to arise.
Do you accept late assignments?
I strongly recommend you try to adhere to the provided weekly schedule. Late Learning Checks and Lab Assignments will be accepted until the date of the corresponding exam, but will not be accepted afterwards.
As an adult, I understand that you have a lot of other things going on in your life and that you are the one best equipped to decide what merits your time and attention. Sometimes, that isn’t school. And that’s okay. But every decision you make as an adult has adult consequences. I can’t hold each student to different standards than every other student because of the decisions you made.
Will you change my grade?
If you have a question about the grading of any piece of work, first consult with the TA who graded your work. If you cannot resolve your questions with the TA, you should consult with the instructor.
Any questions about grades on an assignment or exam must be raised within one week of the date that the work was returned to you. In other words, if you do not review your work in a timely fashion, you forfeit your right to question the grading of your work.
If you ask for your grade to be changed on any assignment, your grade may be increased OR decreased after the TA or instructor reconsiders your work. Be advised that we err on the side of being too generous, rather than stingy, during the first past of grading. Thus, it is possible that when your paper is re-examined, your grade might be lowered.
Can I do extra credit?
I don’t offer extra credit out of fairness for all students in the course.
Please do not ask for opportunities for extra credit. There are no exceptions.
I appreciate that you are managing competing demands on your time and that you care about your grade. Instead of spending extra energy completing even more assignments, use it to do your best on the remaining assignments.
What if I need to contact you?
The best way to get in touch with the professor and TA outside of class is through the course discussion channels (DISCORD), followed by an email. You will likely get a response faster on DISCORD.
Please start the email subject line with “SOC294”, and direct emails to the TA first, unless the matter clearly needs the professor’s attention. Use your UB email to contact your TA/Professor (emails from other accounts will not be answered). Do not expect an immediate response. We will make every effort to respond to emails within 24-48 business hours.
Note, under federal law (FERPA—The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), I am prohibited from discussing a student’s grades and academic record with parents.
Academic tip How to address instructors
- Err on the side of formality
- For faculty (with Ph.D.s), use “Professor LastName” or “Dr. LastName” unless directed otherwise.
- Instructors without Ph.D.s usually invite you to use first names (but will likely not be offended if “Professor” slips out).
- Use a formal, respectful writing style
- Include opening and closing salutations (e.g., Dear Professor Pepin; Sincerely).
- No text-speak.
- Do your part in solving what you need to solve.
- Don’t ask about something that’s answered right on the syllabus.
More information can be found in this article on how to email professors
Will you write me a recommendation letter?
Recommendation letters are generally only written for students earning an A- or better in this course. Contact the professor at least two weeks prior to the letter deadline to inquire about a letter of support.
UB Required Notices
Academic Integrity
Students must be familiar with and abide by the university’s policies and procedures on Academic Integrity, available at: https://catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/integrity.html. In brief, do not cheat. If you are caught cheating on an exam, you will at minimum receive a grade of zero on the exam in question and will be formally reported to the university.
Accessibility Resources
If you have any disability which requires reasonable accommodations to enable you to participate in this course, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources in 60 Capen Hall, 716-645-2608 and also the instructor of this course during the first week of class. The office will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodations, which can be found at: https://www.buffalo.edu/studentlife/who-we-are/departments/accessibility.html.
Students taking exams with Accessibility Resources must start the exam at the same time/date as the rest of the class unless prior permission has been obtained from the professor.
Incomplete (I) Grades
I do not permit incompletes. If you suspect you will be unable to fulfill course requirements at the level you desire, please resign from the course by the deadline: April 16th, 2021.
UB Portfolio
If you are completing this course as part of your UB Curriculum requirements, please select an ‘artifact’ from this course that is representative of your learning and upload it to your UBPortfolio (powered by Digication) account. Templates have been created for this purpose. Artifacts include homework assignments and exams. Your final UB Curriculum requirement, UBC 399: UB Curriculum Capstone, will require you to submit these ‘artifacts’ as you process and reflect on your achievement and growth through the UB Curriculum. For more information, see the UB Curriculum Capstone website: https://www.buffalo.edu/ubcurriculum/capstone.html.
Gender Violence
UB is committed to providing a safe learning environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking. If you have experienced gender-based violence (intimate partner violence, attempted or completed sexual assault, harassment, coercion, stalking, etc.), UB has resources to help. This includes academic accommodations, health and counseling services, housing accommodations, helping with legal protective orders, and assistance with reporting the incident to police or other UB officials if you so choose.
Please contact UB’s Title IX Coordinator at 716-645-2266 for more information. For confidential assistance, you may also contact a Crisis Services Campus Advocate at 716-796-4399.
Mental Health & Well-being
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. These might include strained relationships, anxiety, high levels of stress, alcohol/drug dependency, feeling down, health concerns, or unwanted sexual experiences. Counseling, Health Services, and Health Promotion are here to help with these or other issues you may experience.
You can learn more about these programs and services by contacting:
Counseling Services:
120 Richmond Quad (North Campus), 716-645-2720
202 Michael Hall (South Campus), 716-829-5800
Health Services:
Michael Hall (South Campus), 716-829-3316
Health Promotion:
114 Student Union (North Campus), 716-645-2837
Change My Major
Thinking about a Major or Minor in Sociology, Criminology, Social Justice, or Society, Medicine and Health?
To major in sociology, you must:
(a) earn a “C” or better in four required courses: SOC 101 (Introduction to Sociology), SOC 293 (Social Research Methods), SOC 294 (Basic Statistics for Social Sciences), and SOC 349 (Sociological Theory); and (b) complete eight sociology electives, seven of which must be at the 300- or 400-level.
To major in criminology, you must:
(a) earn a “C” or better in six required courses: SOC 101 (Introduction to Sociology), SOC 206 (Social Problems), SOC 293 (Social Research Methods), SOC 294 (Basic Statistics for Social Sciences), SOC 307 (Criminology), SOC 349 (Sociological Theory); and (b) complete six criminology electives at the 300- or 400-level.
To minor in sociology, you must:
(a) earn a “C” or better in SOC 101 (Introduction to Sociology); and (b) complete five additional sociology electives, four of which must be at the 300- or 400-level.
To minor in criminology, you must:
(a) earn a “C” or better in SOC 206 (Social Problems) and SOC 307 (Criminology); and (b) complete four additional criminology electives, three of which must be at the 300- or 400-level.
To minor in social justice, you must:
(a) earn a “C” or better in SOC 206 (Social Problems); (b) complete an internship (SOC 496); and (c) complete four additional social justice electives, three of which must be at the 300- or 400-level.
To minor in society, medicine and health, you must:
(a) earn a “C” or better in SOC 229 (Population Problems) and SOC 322 (Medical Sociology); and (b) complete four additional society, medicine and health electives, three of which must be at the 300- or 400-level.
The Sociology Department also offers a combined BA/MA degree in applied social research. Details about all of our programs can be found on our website (http://sociology.buffalo.edu/undergraduate/).
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