Sample Syllabus III- Quantitative Methodology

Data Analysis
Instructor: Chansu Jung

Course Description
This course covers basic statistical analysis. The purpose of this course is to help students
develop an understanding of the key concepts in data applications. This course is also intended
to help students have a theoretical and applied understanding of the fundamental statistical
methods required for empirical research in the field of public administration and management.

Course Objectives:
1. Students will become well informed about the main concepts of statistics.
2. Students will know how to describe data.
3. Students will learn how to assess causal relationships.
4. Students will become well informed about how data help us make decisions.
5. Students will learn how to use statistics program, such as STATA and SPSS, in order to
describe data and assess causal relationships.

Required Books
Agresti, Alan and Finlay, Barbara. 1997. Statistical Methods for the Social Science, 3rd edition.
Upper Saddle River, N. J.: Prentice Hall.

Class Format
● Two-hour lecture will be given for the key concepts and logics of statistics at the beginning of
every class.
● Students will learn how to use statistics program about the contents of each class by using
the computer for one hour.

Assignments
●Homework Assignment: Statistical Questions (Six or Seven Question Sets) will be given
periodically.
●Data Analysis Project Paper. The topic of the paper will be decided after talking with the
instructor.

Evaluation
●Participation: 5%
●Midterm Exam I: 25%
●Midterm Exam II: 25%
●Final Exam: 25%
●Course Project Paper: 20%

 
Attendance Policy
This course will follow an attendance policy. Students’ final participation grades will be reduced
for any unexcused absence. If a student misses more than three classes, he/she receives a grade
no higher than “B” in this course. Personal emergencies and professional obligations can be
excused. Students should talk with the instructor about such absences. Tardiness will also result
in reduction in participation grade.

Late Work and Make-up

Late work without prior approval will lead to reduced grade by 15% for each day it is late.
Make-up exams will be given for only the excused absences from class. The schedule of the
make-up exam will be discussed.

Disability Policy
If a student has any disability that can influence the ability to perform in this course, he/she
should notify the instructor of the disability so that the instructor can make reasonable
accommodations.

General University Policies

Students are required to inform themselves about Academic Honesty Policy of the University
found at the Website for the Policy. Any violations of the policy will lead to the strongest
penalty.

Class Schedule

Week 1. Introduction and Overview

Week 2. Introduction to Statistical Methodology

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 1 and 2
Estimation and Inference; Randomization and Sampling Variability

Week 3. Describing Data

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 3
Univariated Descriptive Statistics: Mean, Median, Variance, Standard Deviation
Sample Statistics and Population Parameters

Week 4. Probability Distributions

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 4
Probability Distributions for Discrete and Continuous; The Normal Probability
Distribution; Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean

Week 5. Statistical Inference I: Estimation

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 5
Point Estimation; Statistical Inference through Interval Estimation; Constructing
Confidence Intervals for Population Means and Proportions

 
Week 6. Midterm I

Week 7. Statistical Inference II: Significant Tests

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 6
Statistical Inference through Significance Tests; Testing Hypotheses about Population
Means and Proportions; Small Sample Inference; the t Distribution and the Binomial
Distribution

Week 8. Statistical Inference III: Comparison of Two Groups

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 7
Significant Tests for the Difference between Two Means and Two Proportions; Small-
Sample Inference for Comparing Means and Proportions

Week 9. Comparing Groups: Analysis of Variance Methods

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 12
One-Way Analysis of Variance; Multiple Comparisons of Means; Two-Way ANOVA;
Violations of ANOVA Assumptions

Week 10. Categorical Analysis

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 8
Analyzing Association Between Categorical Variables; Chi-Squared Test of
Independence; Measures of Association

Week 11. Midterm Exam II

Week 12. Regression and Correlation

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 9
Ordinary Least Squares Regression; Correlation; Inference for the Slope and Correlation;
Covariance and Correlation

Week 13. Introduction to Multivariate Relationships

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 10
Association and Causality; Regression Assumptions and Violations; Controlling for
Other Variables

Week 14. Multiple Regression and Correlation

Agresti and Finlay, Chapter 11
Ordinary Least Squares Regression for the Multivariate Model; Inference for Multiple
Regression Coefficients; Partial Correlation; The Difference Between Correlation and
Causation

Week 15. Final Exam