SOC241 STATISTICAL METHODS IN SOCIOLOGY I
| Course Code: | 2320241 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 4 (4.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Sociology |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Lecturer Dr. CEVRİYE AYSOY |
| Offered Semester: | Fall Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The primary purpose of this course is to establish the role of statistics and quantitative data in sociological research by focusing on the relationship between theory and empirical research. This is the first course of statistical methods in sociology that covers basic concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students are presented with an introduction to the use of statistical methods and computer applications in social sciences by focusing on both advantages and limitations of quantitative data in social research. The course also introduces students to elementary techniques of describing, visualizing and reporting quantitative data obtained in social research. Further, the course aims to familiarize students with the basic concepts of statistics like probability and sampling distributions and elementary techniques of statistical analysis of associations between variables.
Course Content
An introduction to the statistical methods and computer applications in social sciences. Topics include the discussions on purposes and limitations of statistics in social sciences. Probability, sampling distribution, estimation, causality, inferential statistics such as analysis of variance, correlation and regression are covered
Course Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to: ? gain insights into how to use statistics and quantitative data in sociological research ? explain the fundamental statistical concepts and the role of quantification in contemporary sociology covered throughout the course ? use graphical and numerical methods to visualize and summarize quantitative data ? calculate the probabilities of events under natural assumptions on the population ? use IBM SPSS and MS Office Excel programs to analyze data sets at elementary level ? learn how to make quantitative data talk, disseminate and communicate empirical evidence to the scientific community and other target audiences such as policymakers, journals, independent researchers, etc
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | To correlate sociology and other social sciences | ✔ | |||
| 2 | To interpret knowledge produced by society from a sociological perspective | ✔ | |||
| 3 | To renew and improve their accumulation by following up-to-date publications and research programs in their fields | ✔ | |||
| 4 | To be open to occupational novelties in order to understand social change | ✔ | |||
| 5 | To produce original solutions within and outside the discipline and in interdisciplinary levels | ✔ | |||
| 6 | To know and implement the ethics of sociological research | ✔ | |||
| 7 | To be aware of social, environmental, and economic effects in the areas where sociological approaches are appropriated | ✔ | |||
| 8 | To use and transfer the accumulation of sociological knowledge in an interdisciplinary way | ✔ | |||
| 9 | To understand social structures and dynamics by correlating the past, the present and the future | ✔ | |||
| 10 | To connect social theories of knowledge and social practices | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution