SOC2104 - 01 - Quantitative Methods

(QR) Quantitative Reasoning

This course teaches students, through a hands-on approach, the basics of quantitative methods for sociological research. Students will develop a sociological research question, conduct a literature review, and develop hypotheses that they will test empirically. They will put together a survey, distribute the survey, and collect and input their data into SPSS. They will learn how to calculate basic univariate statistics, as well as calculate and interpret bivariate statistics, such as correlations and cross-tabs. They will learn what statistical tests are appropriate to use when. After having explored their topic through primary data collection and analysis, students will explore their same topic through secondary data analysis, using the General Social Survey (GSS). At the end of the course, students will have completed an original sociological research project in which they have empirically tested their hypotheses using appropriate statistical tests and will formally present those findings to the class.