Social Science Statistics
- Social Sciences
- 200 level
- 128 pages
- 10 units
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and applications of social science statistics. It covers descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, as well as data collection and presentation methods. Students will also learn about probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression analysis. The course aims to equip social science students with the statistical knowledge necessary for analyzing social issues and making informed decisions.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- Intermediate
- Content
- Theoretical, problem solving
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of FSS211, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
FSS211 · Module 1: Introduction, Concepts And Methods Of Statistics
Inferential statistics, going by the definition from the SAGE dictionary, is that branch of statistics which deals with generalization from samples to Differentiate between statistics as numeric values and statistics as a field of study.
What you should be able to do
- Discuss the definitions, meaning, types and importance of statistics.
- Elucidate the several approaches to data collection, their merits and limitations.
- Discuss variables, types, measurement and their relationship.
- Understand the classification of data.
- Present data using tables, graphs and charts.
- Analyze measures of central tendencies and dispersion and their usefulness in statistics.
- Explain the probability theory.
- Understand correlation and its application.
- Understand the nature, meaning and importance of regression analysis and its application.
What it prepares you for
- Data Analyst
- Market Researcher
- Social Science Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Statistician
- Government
- Healthcare
- Education
- Market Research
- Social Services
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 2: Hypothesis and Significance Testing
Requires understanding of statistical distributions and application of critical values from statistical tables.
- Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 3: Correlation
Requires understanding of the relationship between variables and the ability to interpret correlation coefficients.
- Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 4: Regression Analysis
Requires understanding of the assumptions of linear regression and the ability to interpret regression coefficients.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Introduction, Concepts And Methods Of Statistics
Unit 1: Meaning, Types, Concepts and Importance of Statistics · 3 hours
Define statistics, its types, and importance.. Differentiate between descriptive and inferential statistics.. Understand basic statistical concepts like population, sample, and variable..
- Week 2Module 1: Introduction, Concepts And Methods Of Statistics
Unit 2: Meaning Types and Classification of Statistical Symbols · 3 hours
Identify and explain alphabetical, Greek, and mathematical symbols.. Understand the functions of connectives and operators.. Practice using statistical symbols in calculations..
- Week 3Module 1: Introduction, Concepts And Methods Of Statistics
Unit 3: Variables and their Measurement · 3 hours
Define variables and their measurements.. Classify variables as quantitative or qualitative.. Differentiate between independent and dependent variables.. Understand nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales..
- Week 4Module 2: Descriptive Statistics And Probability
Unit 1: Measure of Central Tendency and Dispersion · 3 hours
Calculate the mean, median, and mode for a given data set.. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of each measure.. Calculate the range, variance, and standard deviation.. Identify outliers..
- Week 5Module 2: Descriptive Statistics And Probability
Unit 2: Data Collection and Presentation · 3 hours
Define data and its types.. Understand primary and secondary data collection methods.. Present data using tables, frequency distributions, histograms, polygons, bar charts, and pie charts..
- Week 6Module 2: Descriptive Statistics And Probability
Unit 3: Probability · 3 hours
Understand probability theory.. Differentiate between discrete and continuous probability.. Solve probability problems using binomial and Poisson distributions..
- Week 7Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 1: Sampling · 3 hours
Define sampling and its basic concepts.. Understand probability and non-probability sampling methods.. Differentiate between sampling with and without replacement.. Understand sampling error..
- Week 8Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 2: Hypothesis and Significance Testing · 3 hours
Define hypothesis and significance testing.. Understand substantive and null hypotheses.. Identify Type I and Type II errors.. Understand the level of significance and critical region..
- Week 9Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 2: Hypothesis and Significance Testing · 3 hours
Understand one-tailed and two-tailed tests.. Calculate degrees of freedom.. Perform hypothesis tests using Chi-Square and t-tests..
- Week 10Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 3: Correlation · 3 hours
Define correlation and its types.. Calculate correlation using Pearson and Spearman rank correlations.. Understand the properties of Pearson correlation.. Calculate the coefficient of determination..
- Week 11Module 3: Inferential Statistics
Unit 4: Regression Analysis · 3 hours
Define regression analysis and its uses.. Understand types of regression analysis.. Identify possible regression lines.. Understand assumptions of linear regression analysis.. Apply the least squares method..
- Week 12Course Review
Final Revision and TMA Preparation · 6 hours
Review all modules and units.. Work on assignments and TMAs.. Practice statistical calculations and problem-solving..
- Week 13Course Review
Final Revision and TMA Preparation · 6 hours
Complete all assignments and TMAs.. Focus on areas of weakness.. Practice exam questions..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a study schedule allocating specific time for each unit.
- Practice solving statistical problems from the self-assessment exercises.
- Focus on understanding the concepts of hypothesis testing and significance levels.
- Review the formulas for calculating correlation and regression coefficients.
- Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 database concepts
Questions students ask about this course
What is FSS211 about?
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and applications of social science statistics. It covers descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, as well as data collection and presentation methods. Students will also learn about probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression analysis. The course aims to equip social science students with the statistical knowledge necessary for analyzing social issues and making informed decisions.
How many units does FSS211 have?
FSS211, Social Science Statistics, has 10 units across 3 modules, over 128 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
Is FSS211 hard?
FSS211 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and problem solving work, and it has a practical component.
How long does FSS211 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.
How is FSS211 assessed?
FSS211 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with FSS211?
Data Analyst, Market Researcher, Social Science Researcher, Policy Analyst and Statistician.