82147 - Laboratory Of Quantitative Social Research 2

Learning outcomes

At the end of the seminar, the student has a basic knowledge of univariate and bivariate statistical analysis and develops the skills to use statistical software. In particular, the student will be able to: - set the collection of data through questionnaires; - Perform simple analyses on survey data using Spss or Stata; - present data in tables; - discuss the results of those analyses.

Course contents

Nowadays, in any field of research and in many professions, it is increasingly useful to know how to analyse and interpret statistical data on the evolution of social phenomena, be it data on the economy, consumption levels, political participation, immigration, registered in certain segments of the territory of a single country or in different states, or individual opinions measured through surveys. Sometimes the data are used to describe the social phenomena in question, in other cases to understand how two or more phenomena are related to each other.

The course activities are structured in two parts.

The first part proposes an in-depth itinerary concerning the following topics:

• - research design,
• - operational definition and variables,
• - data matrix;
• - data analysis (relationships among variables).

The second part aims to introduce students to data analysis by means of dedicated statistical analysis software (Spss or Stata).

Students should already be well-versed in sociological / political science methodology and basic elements of statistics.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Reference texts are the following:

P. Corbetta, La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. IV. L'analisi dei dati, Il Mulino, 2015, capp. 2 e 3.

The text can be replaced by

P. Corbetta, Metodologia e tecniche della ricerca sociale. Seconda edizione, Il Mulino, 2014, capp. 13 e 14.

Material that can be freely accessed on-line and slides used in class (which can be downloaded from "Virtuale" website).

Teaching methods

Lectures. Practical exercises on data analysis and survey guided by the teacher. Lessons will be held in computer lab and students will access to statistical software packages.

Assessment methods

Class attendance and regular participation is required for this course (number of skipped lessons not greater than 4).

Participation will be assessed in terms of attendance, active interaction, and homework fulfilment.

Assessment will take place both through a practical exercise at the end of the course and through activities and exercises throughout the course. The purpose of the practical exercise is to assess that the student has acquired the ability to carry out basic statistical analyses (monovariate and bivariate) on survey data and to present the results of these analyses through graphs and tables in connection with the acquired methodological knowledge.

The final grade is given by active participation in the lessons and the grade achieved in the final exam.

Teaching tools

Lessons will be held in computer lab and students will access to statistical software packages (Spss, Stata); PowerPoint.

Office hours

See the website of Valerio Vanelli