Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - SA 257 D100

Understanding Quantitative Research in Sociology and Anthropology (SA) (4)

Class Number: 2620

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 101 or 150.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Takes the mystery, but not the magic, out of quantitative research in anthropology and sociology by introducing analytical skills necessary for reading, understanding, and critiquing quantitative research. Students evaluate popular coverage of social research; learn concepts related to statistical significance; conduct basic statistical analysis, including designing graphs and tables. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course takes the mystery out of numbers and statistics. People are presented with numerical information about the social world every day: 34% of Canadians support one political candidate, women marry for the first time at age 30, men marry at 32. Where does this information come from? And what does it really tell us? This course provides an introduction to thinking about, reading, understanding, evaluating and presenting statistical analyses of data. We focus on anthropological and sociological topics.
 
We will discuss issues such as: What role do, and should, numbers have in society? What does it mean to use numbers to measure things like abstract attitudes, experiences, or processes? What are the powers and limits of this quantification? We will explore fundamental principles that form the basis of statistical analysis. Why does an “average height” matter (or not)? What is statistical inference, and what are the concepts that its claims are based on? We will interpret different types of tables and graphs, and identify questions to ask about them. You will also analyze quantitative data to answer a question you choose, and present your findings.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course will teach you how to:

-Understand the goals and bases of descriptive and inferential statistics.

-Identify the uses of common statistical techniques.

-Read and interpret statistical reports.

-Think critically about numbers and graphs that make claims about the world.

-Consider relationships between survey items and the concepts they represent.

-Construct a quantitative research question that can be addressed using available data.

-Analyze survey data to answer the question with descriptive statistics, using SPSS.

-Present statistical findings in clear and appropriate ways.

Grading

  • Reading Research (three assignments) 23%
  • Data Analysis Project (three assignments) 37%
  • Exams (Midterm and Final) 40%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws 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 A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are 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

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.