Spring 2022 - SA 355 D100
Quantitative Methods (S) (4)
Class Number: 2765
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Thu, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Suzanna Crage
scrage@sfu.ca
Office: AQ 5180
Office Hours: Wed 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom; Thurs 12:30pm - 1:20pm in AQ 5180
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Prerequisites:
SA 255 and SA 257.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Examines the methods, concepts and statistical procedures central to quantitative sociological research. Emphasizing the meaningful application of statistical analysis to social issues, the course provides intermediate quantitative research skills. Students use statistics software to conduct applicable statistical analyses and interpret results. Quantitative.
COURSE DETAILS:
In this course, you finally get to focus on quantitative research methodology and play with statistics!
You have taken many courses about sociology. You’ve learned some basics about research design, and some principles and thinking behind statistics. This is where you get to focus on how to do design research, and do analysis yourself. Statistics in social research is interesting, important, and requires some specific ways of thinking about analysis. This is what you will learn in SA 355.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
In this course, you will…
- Learn about different methods for gathering quantitative data.
- Learn about social science statistical analysis. We will focus on a conceptual understanding of statistical tests, including reasoning about when and why to use different statistical techniques.
- Work with another student to choose and develop research questions, and you will conduct statistical analysis of existing data to find out the answers.
- Learn about principles of presenting results, and put together a video presentation of your project.
- Process data, conduct statistical analyses, and make tables and graphs using a combination of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and Microsoft Word.
Grading
- Data Analysis Project 55%
- Midterm Exam 30%
- Group Discussions 15%
NOTES:
Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.
Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:
A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements
Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct Policy: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T 20.01) and academic dishonesty and misconduct procedures (S10.01‐S10.04). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.
Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
You will use the IBM SPSS Statistics software program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), the Base GradPack 27 for Mac/Windows version. SFU has made SPSS available to students for free! Information is on the course Canvas site.
REQUIRED READING:
Required readings will be posted on Canvas or linked to from Canvas.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022
Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place. Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).
Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required. You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.