Sociology 220

1
Introduction

• Sociology 220

2
Course Objective

• This course is an introduction to statistical
  methods used by sociologists and other behavioral
  scientists.
• The objective is to provide you with the ability
  to critically evaluate the data and methods used
  by sociologists and to be discerning consumers of
  research news in the mass media.

3
Prerequisites

• There are no pre-requisites for this course. The
  course is not heavily mathematical, but you are
  expected to be capable with arithmetic.
• Success will depend more on your ability to think
  and communicate clearly.

4
Readings

• The course is based on the text Statistics,
  Concepts and Controversies by David S. Moore and
  William I. Notz, 6th edition. Required readings
  from this text are listed below in the order in
  which they will be covered in class.
• David S. Moore, William I. Notz and Darryl K.
  Nester. 2006. Statistics, Concepts and
  Controversies (6th Edition). New York W.H.
  Freeman. ISBN  0716786362.

5
Assignments Quizzes

• Eight take-home problem sets and eight short
  quizzes.
• You will have at least one week to complete each
  problem set,
• Quizzes will be given in section, and your quiz
  grade will be determined using your top six quiz
  grades (we will disregard the worst two of your
  eight quiz grades). If you skip recitation and
  miss a quiz, you will receive a grade of zero for
  that quiz, and there will be no make-up quizzes.
• Problem sets must be turned in to your TA at your
  section on or before their due date.

6
Grading

• The course grade will be based on
• problem sets (15),
• quizzes (15),
• midterm (30)
• final (40)

7
Course Web site

• http//faculty.washington.edu/samclark/Soc220.
• You will be able to find the course syllabus,
  problem sets and other course-related material on
  this web site.

8
Getting the Most from this Class

• Read each assignment before it is covered in
  lectures, and then read it again at least one
  time afterward.
• At the end of each chapter, and at the end of
  each major group of chapters, the text gives you
  a series of exercises. We recommend that you do
  the odd-numbered exercises answers are given at
  the back of the text. These exercises are
  similar to the questions that you will be asked
  in exams, so they are good practice. If you
  cant figure out how to do any of them, contact
  one of us.

9
Getting the Most from this Class

• The class website at http//faculty.washington.edu
  /samclark/Soc22 contains a course syllabus,
  problem sets and information about exams. Within
  a day of giving a lecture, I will post the
  overheads used for the lecture, and solutions to
  the problems sets will be posted the week after
  they are due. Instead of copying material from
  the overheads during the lectures, focus on
  making sure you understand the ideas being
  presented.

10
Getting the Most from this Class

• Some students are nervous about statistics. This
  class is no harder than most of the others you
  have taken. You will be able to do well if you
  keep up with the readings, lectures, homeworks
  and labs. However, unlike many classes you take
  at UW, the material in this class is cumulative.
  This means if you fall behind you will have a
  hard time catching up, and you may not be able to
  catch up at all. Solution give this course
  priority and dont fall behind.
• If you dont understand an idea presented in the
  text or lecture, come see one of us as soon as
  possible during office hours or by appointment.

11
Getting the Most from this Class

• You are expected to do your own work. Anyone
  found cheating or committing plagiary on any
  assignment or examination will receive a grade of
  X for the course and will be reported to the
  Deans office in the College of Letters and
  Science.

12
Getting the Most from this Class

• We do not give make-up examinations or quizzes
  except in the event of serious and
  well-documented emergencies.
• Almost everyone hates disruptions in class. They
  slow things down and break peoples
  concentration. If you have to be late to class,
  enter unobtrusively if you need to leave early,
  sit by the door and leave discretely. Be sure to
  silence your telephones or beepers before class
  begins. Do not talk, read newspapers, or do
  other annoying or disrespectful things in class.