Sociolgy 300 Using Statistics in
Sociology
Spring 2005
Instructor
Dr.
John Faine
113 Grise Hall (745-2291)
e-mail john.faine@wku.edu
Text and Materials
Quick
Study Academy, Statistics: The Basic Principles of Statistics for
Introductory Courses, BarCharts, Inc., Feb., 2002 (this is a plastic
laminated 4-page summary of formulas and principles) $4.95
A
hand calculator, preferably TI30IIS or TI30IIB or TI82, 83, 83+ or 85
A
3 ˝ inch diskette (formatted, preferably blank)
A
notebook to organize lecture notes and homework exercises
Prerequisite
Students
in the class are expected to have met the university’s minimum math requirement
(math 109 or math 116) or by passing the CLEP exam in math.
Grading
Final
grades will be determined by the total number of points earned in the class:
A (695-772); B (618-694); C (540-617); D (463-539). A total of 772 points are
possible: 600 from examinations, 72 from class attendance and 100 from four
computer exercises.
Examinations
A
total of six examinations will be given (including the final), each worth 100
points. The final is not comprehensive. Each examination will emphasize
conceptual as well as computational mastery. That is, students will be expected
to know important symbols, definitions and concepts on each exam.
Class attendance
Good
class attendance is critical to mastering statistics. Therefore, students will
also be given 3 points for each day of class attendance, beginning the first
day of class, excluding examination days. A total of 72 points can be earned.
Homework
Homework
problems can be found on the internet with a link from WKU’s home page.. You reach it from www.wku.edu
under “quick links” as the Blackboard. You sign on with the same password as you use the register on
TopNet. You must be properly registered
for the course in order to access to Blackboard. Homework problems are found under “Course Documents”.
Computer Exercises
Students
will be expected to complete five out of class computer exercises using the
computer facilities on campus. Each exercise will be due at the beginning of
the hour on a specific date. Late exercises will be penalized 5 points per late
day (counting classroom days only).
Computer Exercise Due Dates
Exercise #1 1-25
Exercise #2 2-10
Exercise #3 3-1
Exercise #4 3-29
Exercise #5 4-11
Examination Schedule
#1
1-25 topics: level of measurement, frequency distributions, basic statistics
#2
2-10 . Measures of central tendency, dispersion, normal curve
#3
3-1 central limit theorem, confidence intervals
#4
3-29 one sample and two-sample difference of means, difference of proportions
tests
#5
4-14 bivariate correlation and regression
#6
finals week: (either 8:00 Monday or 10:30 Tuesday) chi-square, bivariate percentage
tables, phi, lambda, gamma
Bad Weather/Class Cancellation
In
the event that class must be cancelled either due to bad weather or other
unforeseen events, students should follow this emergency procedure. First,
check the voice-mail message at my office (270-745-2291). Instructions will be
left regarding the class schedule for the next class period. If possible, also
check the web homepage for any special announcements. Should class be cancelled
on or just before an examination date, you should ordinarily assume that the
examination will be given the very next class period.
Make-Up Exams
Make-up
exams will only be given to students who demonstrate a legitimate reason for
missing the scheduled exam. All make-up exams will be given in the classroom at
9:00 am on May 8th (the Wednesday of final’s week).
Students with
disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary
aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability
Services, Room 445, Potter Hall. The
OFSDS telephone number is (270) 745-5004 V/TDD.
Please DO NOT request
accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of
accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.