1 / 36

PS 225 Lecture 1

PS 225 Lecture 1. Introduction Quantitative and Qualitative Research Basic Mathematics Review. Goal. Prepare for the course by addressing course administration, establishing a broad context and verifying possession of requisite mathematical skills. Today’s Agenda. Class Introduction

winka
Download Presentation

PS 225 Lecture 1

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. PS 225Lecture 1 Introduction Quantitative and Qualitative Research Basic Mathematics Review

  2. Goal Prepare for the course by addressing course administration, establishing a broad context and verifying possession of requisite mathematical skills

  3. Today’s Agenda • Class Introduction • Basic Mathematics Review • Next Class

  4. Introductions • About Me: • Meghan Cherry • Master of Public Policy • Master of Industrial Engineering • Employment in Applied Statistical Analysis • Barclays Capital • University of Michigan Hospital Operations • University of Michigan Hospital Government Relations

  5. Availability • Office Hours • By Appointment - Feel free to schedule alternative meeting times! • Email • mcherry@svsu.edu • Expect day delay in answering emails • Phone • Cell: 989-413-9004 • Call between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. • Expect day delay in answering voicemail • SVSU Weather Line (989) 964-4477

  6. Course Goals • Introduce students to basic statistical methods in the social sciences • Teach students to make and respond to arguments using statistical data

  7. Communication Intensive This course will develop abilities in a range of written and oral modes of academic discourse, with an emphasis on developing the ability to construct coherent, well-documented arguments in the presence of a wide range of perspective and experiences

  8. Basic Statistical Methods • Data Types and Data Collection • Descriptive Statistics • Inferential Statistics • Bivariate Statistics

  9. Course Materials • The Essentials of Statistics: A Tool for Social Research and Student Guide • SPSS Quickstarts • A Writer’s Resource: A Handbook for Writing and Research • Basic Scientific Calculator • Software: SPSS • Available in Computer Labs • Student Version with Book

  10. Website • www.megcherry.com • All course materials posted

  11. Grading • Daily in-class assignments (20%) • Final Notebook (10%) • Quizzes (5%) • Three tests and final exam (15,15,15 and 15%) • Attendance (5%)

  12. Grade Scale 93-100% A 90-93% A- 87-89% B+ 83-86% B 80-82% B- 77-79% C+ 70-76% C 60-69% D 0-60% F

  13. Grade Calculations • You are responsible for keeping track of your own grade. • A grade calculation is the same as the calculation of a weighted mean- something you learn to do in this class!

  14. Honor Code As a student at Saginaw Valley State University: I am committed to upholding a high standard of academic integrity in all of my work, inside and outside of the classroom. Out of respect for my peers, professors, institution, and self, I will complete all tasks honestly and to the best of my ability. I am guided by my conscience as I work toward my educational and personal goals, and I expect my fellow students to practice that same moral judgment. I take pride in my academic accomplishments and therefore will not give or receive unauthorized assistance on any assignment, project, exam or other university requirement. I seek to maintain the honor of a Saginaw Valley State University degree, and I will preserve its value throughout my professional career. Don’t cheat- It isn’t worth it!

  15. Disabilities Of you have a disability that may restrict your participation in the course: • Contact the instructor immediately • Contact the Office of Disability Services in Curtis 112 for Assistance

  16. Policy Exceptions • Exceptions require documentation of circumstances • Must be handled in advance whenever possible For a more extensive treatment, refer to the syllabus

  17. Additional Resources • Writing Center, Zahnow 308

  18. Writing Center Services: • Assist with all components of writing • Identify and address grammar issues Getting Help: • Walk-ins are welcome • Online tutoring available 24/7

  19. Course Schedule • Tentative and subject to change based on class progress • Class speed is largely determined by the number and type of questions asked during the lecture portion of the course

  20. Questions

  21. What is Statistics? A numerical discipline that involves collecting, organizing, interpreting and presenting data

  22. Branches of Statistics • Descriptive statistics are used to describe the characteristics of a set of data • Inferential statistics are used to make conclusions, estimates or forecasts

  23. Goal of Statistics • Understand the world around us • Make informed decisions

  24. Everyday Statistical Statements • I’m more likely to pass this test if I start studying early • On average, I sleep six hours a night Statistics allows us to quantify these familiar ideas and understand the element of chance or randomness.

  25. Research Methods • Qualitative- analysis of words, pictures, objects and other non-numerical data • Case Studies • Interviews • Quantitative- analysis of numerical data • Physical Measurements • Statistics

  26. Goals • Qualitative- a complete description of a phenomena • Quantitative- classify, count or use mathematical models to explain phenomena

  27. Prerequisites • Qualitative- may have only partially identified what knowledge is desired from the research • Quantitative- desired knowledge is carefully and completely identified before research begins whenever possible

  28. Use • Qualitative- used independently or often in the beginning stages of a larger research project • Quantitative- used independently or often in the end stages of a larger research project

  29. Design • Qualitative- frequently modified as study progresses • Quantitative- established fully before the beginning of data collection

  30. Nature of Data • Qualitative- subjective, relying largely on the researcher’s interpretation • Quantitative- as objective as possible

  31. Researcher • Qualitative- becomes immersed in subject matter • Quantitative- attempts to maintain a separate, objective relationship to the data

  32. Strengths and Weaknesses • Qualitative • Data is ‘rich’ • Time consuming • Difficult to generalize • Quantitative • Data is very specific and difficult to contextualize • Efficient to collect • Can be used to test general hypotheses

  33. Balancing Research Methods Quantitative and qualitative research in partnership build a more comprehensive world view than either type alone Statistical analyses and data collection should be informed by qualitative research

  34. Basic Mathematics Review • Personal assessment of class readiness • Please consult the instructor immediately if you have ANY difficulties with the review

  35. Order of Operations Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally Exponent Subtraction Parentheses Division Addition Multiplication

  36. Reading For Next Class • Census Sampling Confusion http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/3_6_99/bob1.htm • Why the 2010 Census stirs up partisan politics http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1879667,00.html

More Related