RSOC 597

Special Topics in Data Analysis

Summer 2006

Class Overview

This course deals with the application of various statistical/methodological techniques by providing instruction and practice in their use in social science data analysis.  Topics covered include: logistic regression, HLM, event history analysis, factor analysis, nonparametric statistics and others.  The course is taught by scholars with expertise in each topic area.  In each case the instructor will present an overview of the procedure and one or more in-depth examples of empirical research using the method.  Specific information on how to carry out and interpret an analysis using the technique will be emphasized.

The course can be taken for two (2) or three (3) credits.  It is open to students in any field who have had statistical training through multiple regression analysis and who wish to extend their data analysis skills.  “Sit-ins” and “audits” are welcome. 

Class Schedule

(Click on topic for reading assignment and related materials).

May 16 (Tuesday) – Review of OLS  - Bunny Willits
May 18 (Thursday) – Logistic Regression - Leif Jensen
May 23 (Tuesday) – Nonparametric Statistics - Bunny Willits
May 25 (Thursday) –  HLM – Johnelle Smith

May 30 (Tuesday) –  Event History Analysis - Diane McLaughlin
June 1 (Thursday) – Path Analysis – Johnelle Smith/ Bunny Willits
                               Structural Equation Modeling (reading)

June 6 (Tuesday) – Factor Analysis – Rex Warland/ Bunny Willits

June 8 (Thursday) – Causal Inference - Joseph L. Schafer                         

June 13 (Tuesday) – MANOVA – Ed Yoder

June 15 (Thursday) - Spatial Analysis - Kathy Brasier
June 20 (Tuesday) - TBA

ALL CLASSES WILL MEET FROM 1:00-5:00 pm in Room 215 Armsby Building.

Reading assignments will be given in advance.  Class members are expected to read the related materials in advance of the class period in which a topic is to be discussed.

Grading Policies

Grades are based on attendance and on the completion of a series of assignments requiring both computer usage and the writing of interpretive analysis.  Assignments will be graded as COMPLETE, INCOMPLETE, or NO CREDIT.  Incomplete and no credit assignments may be resubmitted without penalty as necessary until their due dates.  Due dates will be announced for each assignment and are at the discretion of the individual instructor.

For each class attended, a student will receive 2 points; for each assignment completed, he/she will receive 10 points.  If an assignment is “Incomplete” after the due date, only 5 points will be given. Of course, assignments not submitted or submitted and judged by the instructor to be “no credit,” receive no credit. Grades will be determined as follows calling into account the number of credits for which the student is enrolled: 

            Three Credits                                                          Two Credits

A = 108 points or more                                            A = 72 points or more          

            B = 96-107 points                                                     B = 64-71 points

            C = 84-95 points                                                       C = 56-63 points

            D = 72-83 points                                                       D = 48-55 points 

            F = <72 points                                                           F = <48 points

Academic Integrity    

All students are expected to act with civility; personal integrity; to respect others' dignity, rights and property; and to help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for self and others in a civil community.

Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another persons' work as one's own, tampering with the academic work of another student, facilitating other students' acts of academic dishonesty, etc.

Students charged with a breach of academic integrity will receive due process and, if the charge is found valid, academic sanctions may range, depending on the severity of the offense, from F for the assignment to F for the course.