Sociology 601

Objectives: This course in social science statistics concentrates on statistical inference, or the use of samples to make statements about a population. We will cover principles of estimation including confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, simple regression, maximum likelihood, and simple methods for categorical variables. We have three main objectives:

1. to develop students' abilities to critically analyze published work in the social sciences;
2. to prepare students for more advanced graduate courses in social science statistics; and
3. (more optimistically) to develop students' skills in modeling and carrying out their own research.

Prerequisites: You should have some previous course work in statistics for the social sciences or other experience with descriptive statistics. You should know (or learn quickly) basic rules of probability and basic algebra. To get a sense of the mathematical skills and symbols we will be using, check out the math refresher on the course website, http://www.vanneman.umd.edu/socy601/601refresher.pdf.

Required Text: Agresti, A., and B. Finlay. 1997. Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences, 3rd Ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
We will not be using the more recent 4th edition.

Website: Lectures, homework assignments, and other course materials will be posted online as the semester progresses. The website for class is http://www.vanneman.umd.edu/socy601/

Accommodating students with disabilities: If you have a documented disability, the Sociology Department is experienced in making accommodations. Please contact me by the end of the first week of classes, and we'll discuss those arrangements.

Students requiring religious accommodation: If you need academic accommodation by virtue of your religion (e.g. missing a class, rescheduling an examination), please see me as soon as possible to discuss your needs. In particular, anticipate the flu.

Homework: Homework will be due on most Thursdays, as shown in the outline of topics (10 assignments total.) Each homework set will receive a maximum score of 3.0 points and will be worth 3.0 percent of your grade. Homework that is late, missing, or that scores below 2.4 on the first attempt can be submitted or resubmitted at any time before the final, for a score no higher than 2.4.

Assignments involving computer statistical programs: Around the fifth week of class, we will begin to use the STATA statistical program, or SAS if you prefer. SAS and STATA are available on the shared network drive (i:/) at most computers in the Art-Sociology Building, and at several campus computer centers, such as the OACS center in 225-227-229-231 LeFrak Hall. You will need a BSOS account; if you don't already have one, let me know.

When homework includes computer work, you will need to turn in an edited computer log with your homework. Include the commands and the final output along with comments to explain what you are doing. Edit out preliminary or redundant commands and output. A log should be at most a few pages long and a summary of results for the reader, not a massive testament to your hard work.

Lectures: Lectures cover topics in the text as well as some topics not in the text. Notes for each lecture can be downloaded online.

Class participation: Don't wait to formulate some "intelligent" question. When something is not clear, just ask to go over it again.

Breaks During Lectures: Class runs from 2:00 to 3:15, which exceeds most humans' capacity for nonstop learning. We will take a three-minute break at 2:40. Be back promptly or get left behind.

Missing lectures, leaving early, arriving late: Try to anticipate any of these problems, and make arrangements for help from other students. If some event requires you to come late or leave early, plan your entry and exit so that it won't disrupt the class.

Examinations: There will be a one-hour fifteen minute midterm during a class period. The final examination will be given at the time scheduled for this class by the university. Exams will include calculations, and problems requiring the selection of appropriate techniques in realistic settings. You may bring a single sheet of notes to each examination, and you may use a calculator that doesn't store formulas.

The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu.

Grading:
30% of your grade will be based on the homework: 3% per assignment for 10 assignments.
30% of your grade will be based on the midterm examination.
40% of your grade will be based on the final exam.
100 % total

Grades will be assigned as follows:
90.0 - 100 = A or A-
80.0 - 89.9 = B+ or B or B-
70.0 - 79.9 = C+ or C or C-
60.0 - 69.9 = D+ or D or D-
0 - 59.9 = F
Plus- or Minus- grades do not affect your GPA.
If you disagree with a grade you received (on a homework or exam), please come to my office hours.

Students come to this class with a range of statistical backgrounds and aptitudes. This means that some students might work harder and improve more than others, yet still receive a lower grade. To recognize improvement, I reserve the option to slightly overweight the final and underweight the midterms for students who show improvement in their test scores.

Incompletes: University policy allows for incompletes in unusual cases where students have completed most of the class expectations, but cannot finish the class due to unforeseen circumstances. Avoid incompletes if at all possible; students who take incompletes seldom do as well as if they had completed the course on time.

The web address of this home page is http://www.vanneman.umd.edu/socy601