Influence of data collection processes on information produced. Teaches skills for critical evaluation of social science evidence presented in courses, journals, mass media. Handcock Introduction to statistical reasoning for social scientists. Progresses to questions of assessing the weight of evidence and more sophisticated models including regression-based methods. Built around cases investigating the nature and content of statistical principles and practice.
Students serve in appropriate internships.
Applied regression analysis with emphasis on interactive computer graphics techniques and interpretation. Application to typical sociological problems. Specific content varies according to recent developments in statistics and social sciences and interests of the instructor. Raftery Log-linear modeling of multidimensional contingency tables. Applications to social mobility, educational opportunity, and assortative marriage.