Chapter 1 introduction to quantitative analysis answers

Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning

When you hear the term statistics, what do you think about? Does this term bring good experiences to mind or does this term conjure up anxiety and apprehension? Chances are, you might be one of many students who fears statistics. Think back to when you learned to ride a bike. You were excited to remove the training wheels but were apprehensive about the balance challenge. Similar to the fear of falling from riding your bike, the fear of failing statistics is quite terrifying. But once you practice and develop your new learned skills, WOW! The thought of being taken to new heights when you reach proficiency is a great feeling.

Mastering statistics does not have to be an anxiety-driven process. This course allows you to use real world data not only to apply basic understanding of statistical methods used in quantitative research but also to test, analyze, and draw conclusions to develop your own knowledge and skill set. Your new knowledge and skills will allow you to take real world data to answer questions you always wanted to know more about but did not know the right way of getting there.

This first week of the course introduces you to quantitative reasoning and sets the stage for the rest of the course. You might have vast experience and knowledge in statistics or you might not have experienced a formal statistics course in quite some time; nonetheless, you begin this week with developing your basic understanding of statistics and quantitative reasoning in small increments.

For this week, you will examine research as it relates inference and a population of study. Also, you will examine a dataset to determine the independent and dependent variables, how they are measured, and whether a social change question can be answered.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze logic of inference related to population and sample

· Evaluate quantitative research related to error

· Evaluate quantitative research

· Analyze independent and dependent variables

· Analyze levels of measurement

· Analyze topics with social change implications

Required Readings

Frankfort-Nachmias, C., & Leon-Guerrero, A. (2018). Social statistics for a diverse society (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

· Chapter 1, “The What and the Why of Statistics” (pp. 1–21)

Wagner, W. E. (2016). Using IBM® SPSS® statistics for research methods and social science statistics (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

· Chapter 1, “Overview”

Dietz, T., & Kalof, L. (2009). Introduction to social statistics: The logic of statistical reasoning. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Introduction to Social Statistics: The Logic of Statistical Reasoning, 1st Edition by Dietz, T.; Kalof, L. Copyright 2009 by John Wiley & Sons - Books. Reprinted by permission of John Wiley & Sons - Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

· Chapter 1, “An Introduction to Quantitative Analysis” (pp. 1–31)

Dietz, T., & Kalof, L. (2009). Introduction to social statistics: The logic of statistical reasoning. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Introduction to Social Statistics: The Logic of Statistical Reasoning, 1st Edition by Dietz, T.; Kalof, L. Copyright 2009 by John Wiley & Sons - Books. Reprinted by permission of John Wiley & Sons - Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

· Chapter 2, “Some Basic Concepts” (pp. 33–63)

Introduction to Social Statistics: The Logic of Statistical Reasoning, 1st Edition by Dietz, T.; Kalof, L. Copyright 2009 by John Wiley & Sons - Books. Reprinted by permission of John Wiley & Sons - Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Walden University Library. (n.d.). Course Guide and Assignment Help for RSCH 8210. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/rsch8210

For help with this week’s research, see this Course Guide and related weekly assignment resources.

Use this IBM SPSS Software to guide you as you register, download, and install your SPSS software.

Note: You will use this software throughout this course to perform various statistical calculations.

Datasets

Walden's SPSS website: http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/SPSS

Document: Data Set 2014 General Social Survey (dataset file)

Use this dataset to complete this week’s Discussion.

Note: You will need the SPSS software to open this dataset.

Document: Data Set Afrobarometer (dataset file)

Use this dataset to complete this week’s Assignment.

Note: You will need the SPSS software to open this dataset.

Document: High School Longitudinal Study 2009 Dataset (dataset file)

Use this dataset to complete this week’s Assignment.

Note: You will need the SPSS software to open this dataset.

Required Media

Milgram, A. (2013). Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crime [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_milgram_why_smart_statistics_are_the_key_to_fighting_crime

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.

In this media program, Anne Milgram discusses how smart statistics are used to fight crime. Focus on the statement “all models are wrong, but some are useful.”

Price, M. (2015). Statistician promotes social justice and human rights [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orW01w8a4zY

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.

In this media program, statistician Megan Price explains how she uses statistics to advance social justice issues and protect human rights.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016e). Introduction and demonstration of SPSS [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

In this media program, Dr. Matt Jones introduces the software used for quantitative analysis, SPSS, and demonstrates its use.

Discussion: The Logic of Inference: The Science of Uncertainty

All models are wrong. Some models are useful.

—George E. P. Box (1919–2013)

Statistician

Describing and explaining social phenomena is a complex task. Box’s quote speaks to the point that it is a near impossible undertaking to fully explain such systems—physical or social—using a set of models. Yet even though these models contain some error, the models nevertheless assist with illuminating how the world works and advancing social change.

The competent quantitative researcher understands the balance between making statements related to theoretical understanding of relationships and recognizing that our social systems are of such complexity that we will always have some error. The key, for the rigorous researcher, is recognizing and mitigating the error as much as possible.

As a graduate student and consumer of research, you must recognize the error that might be present within your research and the research of others.

To prepare for this Discussion:

· Use the Walden Library Course Guide and Assignment Help found in this week’s Learning Resources to search for and select a quantitative article that interests you and that has social change implications.

· As you read the article, reflect on George Box’s quote in the introduction for this Discussion.

· For additional support, review the Skill Builder: Independent and Dependent Variables, which you can find by navigating back to your Blackboard Course Home Page. From there, locate the Skill Builder link in the left navigation pane.

Post a very brief description (1–3 sentences) of the article you found and address the following:

1. Describe how you think the research in the article is useful (e.g., what population is it helping? What problem is it solving?).

2. Using Y=f(X) +E notation, identify the independent and dependent variables.

3. How might the research models presented be wrong? What types of error might be present in the reported research?

Note: For your first discussion post, Just to make sure you are clear, consider the effect education might have on general knowledge. An independent variable could be level of education, expressed in terms of high school dropouts compared to students with doctorates, while the dependent variable is a measure of general knowledge. The notion of "f" in the formula "f(X)" describes the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In this case the greater your level of education the greater general knowledge you have. There is a positive relationship between education level and knowledge level. Error in this case could be some kind of bias in the exam, a person's gender, their family income, their age, or any other reason that general knowledge scores would differ, other than in relation to education level.

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Be sure to support your Main Post and Response Post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA Style.

Assignment: Variables, Measurement, and SPSS

Quantitative research consists of testing and understanding relationships between variables. Researchers construct these variables as measureable expressions of social phenomena. Modern statistics provides you with a host of resources to answer questions, but each statistical test has a set of assumptions regarding the measurement of the variables. It is therefore important to understand how variables are measured because their measurement will influence the type of analytic tools available to you.

SPSS is a statistical software program that allows you to enter these variables into a spreadsheet format and record the measurements from a sample. Additionally, SPSS allows you to perform statistical analysis. Before launching into your analyses, though, it is important to understand how the variables are measured. That understanding will help you interpret the SPSS output.

In this week’s Discussion, you considered topics with social change implications. For this Assignment, you will examine data to analyze independent and dependent variables, determine how they are measured, and decipher whether a social change question can be answered and the implications for such change.

To prepare for this Assignment:

· Review the Learning Resources as well as the SPSS resources found in this week’s Learning Resources.

· Review, download, and install the SPSS software on your computer using the IBM SPSS Installation and Registration document for PC or for MAC in this week’s Learning Resources.

· Using the SPSS software, open the Afrobarometer dataset or the High School Longitudinal Study dataset (whichever you choose) found in this week’s Learning Resources and then choose two variables that interest you.

For this Assignment:

Write a 1- to 2-page summary and include the following:

· A description of what the each of the variables measure.

· A description of the unit of analysis.

· A description and explanation of the levels of measurement for each variable (i.e., nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio).

· Explain how you might conceive these variables to be used to answer a social change question. What might be the implications for social change?

Support your summary using appropriate scholarly citations and references. Use proper APA format.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment 1: Variables, Measurement, and SPSS.

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 1 Assignment draft and review the originality report.