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PS400 Quantitative Methods. Dr. Robert D. Duval Course Introduction Presentation Notes and Slides Version of January 9, 2001. Overview of Course. P Syllabus P Texts P Grading P Assignments P Software. The First Two Weeks. P Review and Setting The Logic of Research P Logic
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PS400 Quantitative Methods • Dr. Robert D. Duval • Course Introduction • Presentation Notes and Slides • Version of January 9, 2001
Overview of Course P Syllabus P Texts P Grading P Assignments P Software
The First Two Weeks • P Review and Setting • The Logic of Research • P Logic • P Microcomputers • P Statistics
Overview of Statistics P Descriptive Statistics P Frequency Distributions P Probability P Statistical Inference P Statistical tests P Contingency Tables P Regression Analysis
The Logic of Research A quick review of the research process P Theory P Hypothesis P Observation P Analysis
Sample Theories • IR - Balance of Power • Wars erupt when there are shifts in the balance of power • Domestic Policy • The crime rate is affected by the economy
Theory Hypothesis
Theory Hypothesis Observation
Theory Analysis Hypothesis Observation
Theory Analysis Hypothesis Observation
Theory Deduction Analysis Hypothesis InductionOperationalization Observation Confirmation/ rejection
Logic A short primer on Deduction and Inference We will look at Symbolic Logic in order to examine how we employ deduction in cognition.
Logic What is Logic? • Logic • The study by which arguments are classified into good ones and bad ones. • Comprised of Statements • "Roses are red“ • "Republicans are Conservatives“
Logic Compound Statements • Conjunctions (Conjunction Junction) • Two simple statements may be connected with a conjunction • “and” • "Roses are Red and Violets are blue.“ • "Republicans are conservative and Democrats are liberal.“ • “or” • "Republicans are conservative or Republicans are moderate."
Operators • There are three main operators • And (•) • Or (v) • Not (~) • These may be used to symbolize complex statements • The other symbol of value is • Equivalence () • This is not quite the same as “equal to”.
Truth Tables • Statements have “truth value” • For example, take the statement P•Q: • This statement is true only if P and Q are both true. P Q P•Q T T T T F F F T F F F F
Truth Tables (cont) • Hence “Republicans are conservative and Democrats are liberal.” is true only if both parts are true. • On the other hand, take the statement PvQ: • This statement is true only if either P or Q are true, but not both. (Called the “exclusive or”) P Q PvQ T T F T F T F T T F F F
The Inclusive ‘or’ • Note that ‘or’ can be interpreted differently. • Both parts of the conjunction may be true in the “inclusive or”. This statement is true if either or both P or Q are true. P Q PvQ T T T T F T F T T F F F
The Inclusive ‘or’ • Note that ‘or’ can be interpreted differently. • Both parts of the conjunction may be true in the “inclusive or”. This statement is true if either or both P or Q are true. P Q PvQ T T T T F T F T T F F F
Tautologies • Note that p v ~p must be true • “Roses are red or roses are not red.” must be true. • A statement which must be true is called a tautology. • A set of statements which, if taken together, must be true is also called a tautology (or tautologous). • Note that this is not a criticism.
The Conditional • The Conditional • if a (antecedent) • then b (consequent) • It is also called the hypothetical, or implication. • This translates to: • A implies B • If A then B • A causes B
The Implication • We symbolize the implication by • We use the conditional or implication a great deal. • It is the core statement of the scientific law, and hence the hypothesis.
Equivalency of the Implication • Note that the Implication is actually equivalent to a compound statement of the simpler operators. • ~p v q • Please note that the implication has a broader interpretation than common English would suggest
Rules of Inference • In order to use these logical components, we have constructed “rules of Inference” • These rules are essentially “how we think.”
Logical Systems • Logic gives us power in our reasoning when we build complex sets of interrelated statements. • When we can apply the rules of inference to these statements to derive new propositions, we have a more powerful theory.
Tautologous systems • Systems in which all propositions are by definition true, are tautologous. • Balance of Power • Why do wars occur? Because there is a change in the balance of power. • How do you know that power is out of balance? A war will occur. • Note that this is what we typically call circular reasoning. • The problem isn’t the circularity, it is the lack of utility.
Paradoxes • P The Liars Paradox • < Epimenedes the Cretan says that all Cretans are liars.“ • P The ??? Paradox (a variant) • < The next statement is true. • < The previous statement is false.
Digital Systems • So, in the end, we can see that computers simply move ad add 0’s and 1’s. • And out of this, we can build incredibly rich and complex experiences • Such as**** • Or…
Statistics A Philosophical Overview • Methods as Theory • Methods as Language
Principle organizing concepts P The Nature of the Problem P Measurement P Standards for comparison
Mathematical notation Important mathematical notation the student needs to know. n å X • PSummation • < For instance, the sum of all Xi from {I=1} to n means: beginning with the first number in your data set, add together all n numbers. • < The 3 is a symbolic representation of the process of adding up a specified series or collection of numbers. i i = 1
Mathematical notation – (cont.) P Square Roots and Exponents P e - the base of natural logarithms P Exponential and Logarithmic Equations