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1. Introduction to Statistics for the Social SciencesSBS200, COMM200, GEOG200, PA200, POL200, SOC200Lecture Section 001, Fall, 2011Room 201 Physics-Atmospheric Sciences (PAS)10:00 - 10:50 Mondays & Wednesdays + Lab Session Welcome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSQJP40PcGI

2. Use this as your study guide By the end of lecture today9/7/11 Field observation/naturalistic research Time series design vs. Cross sectional design Surveys and questionnaire design Simple versus systematic random sampling Sample frame and randomization Stratified sampling, cluster sampling, judgment sampling Snowball sampling, convenience sampling Questionnaire design and evaluation

3. Homework due - (September 12th) On class website: please print and complete homework worksheet #2 Please double check – Allcell phones other electronic devices are turned off and stowed away

4. Schedule of readings • Before next exam: • Please read chapters 1 - 4 & • Appendix D & E in Lind Please read Chapters 1, 5, 6 and 13 in Plous • Chapter 1: Selective Perception Chapter 5: Plasticity Chapter 6: Effects of Question Wording and Framing Chapter 13: Anchoring and Adjustment

5. Review of Homework Worksheet

7. Interviews Interview often a survey is read to a participant either over the phone or in person Which is better: on phone or in person? Pros: Cons: Unstructured interview Structured interview Which is better: structured or unstructured? Pros: Cons: Focus group

8. Questionnaires use self-report items for measuring constructs. Constructs are operationally defined by content of items. Wording “Would you say our president is a great president or the greatest president?” The Colbert Report How might we word a question about the Iraq war if we wanted it to reflect support / not? How might we word a question about the gay marriage if we wanted it to reflect support / not? Order How satisfied are you with your relationships with your family? How satisfied are you with your relationship with your romantic partner? spouse?

9. 5 Principles of questionnaire construction 1. Make sure items match research objectives & Identify what constructs you are trying to understand (Be explicit in identifying your constructs) • 2. Responders have the answers to our questions • We are tapping into their attitudes/beliefs/ knowledge • Understand your research participants • “think like” the responders / consider their sensibilities • use appropriate, natural and familiar language (for them) 3. Use appropriate, natural and familiar language

10. 5 Principles of questionnaire construction • 3. Assessment should feel easy and clear, unthreatening • Be clear, precise and concise (short questions) • Minimize use of contingency questions • Start with most friendly (least threatening) questions first • then at the end “now a couple questions about you” (foot in the door phenomenon) • Avoid double negatives • For example: • Agree or disagree? • Teachers shouldn’t have less contact with parents • 4. Avoid ambiguity and bias in your items • Avoid “double-barreled” questions - Difficult to interpret answers • Avoid leading or loaded questions - Can introduce bias • Consider problem of acquiescence – Ask question in different ways • (careful with coding)

11. 5 Principles of questionnaire construction 5. Consider lots of different formats for responses • Consider open-ended vsclosed-ended questions - pros and cons of each - can often modify a question into a closed question • Consider complementing your questionnaire with other forms of data collection (focus group or direct observation) • Pilot – feedback – fix - pilot – analyze – fix - pilot – etc Respect process of empirical approach

12. Types of questions

13. Likert Rating scales: measure that allows for rating the level of agreement with a statement. The score reflects the sum of responses on a series of items. Rating scales: a continuum of response choices Anchored rating scales: a written description somewhere on the scale I prefer rap music to classical music Agree 1---2---3---4---5 Disagree Fully anchored rating scales: a written description for each point on the scale I prefer rap music to classical music 1---------2---------3---------4---------5 StronglyDisagree StronglyAgree Agree Disagree Neutral

14. Summated scales - miniquiz (like Cosmo - ask several questions then sum responses) - For example, several questions on political views (coded so that larger numbers mean “more liberal”) 1. The rights of the community are more important than rights of any one individual agree 1 --- 2 --- 3 --- 4 --- 5 disagree 2. Marriage should be between one man and one woman agree 1 --- 2 --- 3 --- 4 --- 5 disagree 3. Evolution has no place in public education agree 1 --- 2 --- 3 --- 4 --- 5 disagree

15. Ranking scales Rank options in ascending or descending order An apartment / house should have ___ lots of square feet ___ access to bus route ___ pleasant neighbors ___ workshop / workout area ___ big rooms ___ close to work / school Note: Options can come from open-ended questions or surveys

16. Semantic differential Create a profile of your opinion An apartment / house should be (place checkmarks) Cozy and small___ _______________roomy and large Quiet ___ _______________Active community Larger communal rooms ___ _______________Larger bedrooms Note: Options can come from open-ended questions or surveys

17. Checklist An apartment / house should have ___ lots of square feet ___ access to bus route ___ pleasant neighbors ___ workshop / workout area ___ big rooms ___ close to work / school Note: Options can come from open-ended questions or surveys

18. Questionnaires use self-report items for measuring constructs. Constructs are operationally defined by content of items. Questionnaire is a set of fixed-format, self-report items completed without supervision or time-constraint Response rate and power of random sampling Number of responders versus percentage of responders Really important regarding bias! Wording, order, balance can all affect results

19. Questionnaires use self-report items for measuring constructs. Constructs are operationally defined by content of items. As “consumers” of questionnaire data – what should we ask? Number of responders versus percentage of responders Methodology of sampling Operational definitions of constructs Wording As “composers” of questionnaire data – how should we ask? - pilot – fix - pilot – analyze – fix - pilot – all the way through your design

20. Questionnaire Homework

21. Questionnaire Homework

22. Questionnaire Homework

23. Questionnaire Homework Variable label and scale values Variable label and scale values

24. Questionnaire Homework What might you graph?

25. Thank you! See you next time!!