Statistics I for Social Sciences

6 ECTS credits
177 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1001294ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Sociology

Educational team

Jessy Siongers (course titular)
Canigia Mestdagh
Jana Goyvaerts
Juliette De Vestel
Florian Stegen
Aude Fieuw

Activities and contact hours

24 contact hours Lecture
39 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
114 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The course Statistics I focuses on collecting, processing, interpreting, summarizing and presenting the most important characteristics of a population. Quantitative data from a population are synthetizised in summary indices, with the aim of discovering global patterns and characteristics.

In the first part, univariate statistics, we focus on the distribution of a single characteristic. An example is the happiness score in a group of young people. We describe such a characteristic statistically through summary measures, such as a parameters of position (mean,median, mode), parameters of dispersion (standard deviation or standard deviation, variance, interquartile distance) and parameters of shape.

In the second part, bivariate statistics, we zoom in on two variables and the relationship between those two variables. An example is: what is the relationship between the happiness score among young people and their study choice? This relationship can be studied via crosstabs, in which inferential statistics are also (briefly) discussed.

Finally, the explanatory statistics is also part of the course with a focus on bivariate regression analysis and on time series.

Specifically, the course wishes to introduce the basic concepts of statistics. The following issues will be dealt with:

Aim of statistics
Measurement and scales of measurement
- What is measuring?
- How to measure?
- Scales of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio variables
Frequency distributions and graphical presentations of variables
Univariate data series: how to describe?
- Parameters of position
- Parameters of dispersion
- Parameters of form
Two-dimensional data series: how to investigate associations?
- Crosstabs and association measures for nominal and ordinal variables
- Association measures for interval and ratio variables
- Regression analysis
Time trends
Use of Excel and SPSS

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Slides Statistiek I, S. Gadeyne, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Bootcamp SPSS in 5 lessen. De snelle voorbereiding op multivariate analyses in SPSS, T. De Winter, D. Weenas, M. Van Hulle, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Oefeningen over beschrijvende statistiek, N. Deschacht, M. Dujardin, K. Van Altert, Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Inleiding multivariate analyse, Voor de sociale wetenschappen, K. Neels, Acco Uitgeverij, 9789462922518, 2017
Handbook (Recommended) : Inleiding in de statistiek voor gedragswetenschappen, Met ondersteuning van SPSS, G. Valkeneers, T. Vanhoomissen, 4de, Acco Uitgeverij, 9789464674620, 2023
Handbook (Recommended) : Trend en toeval, I. Devos, Blondé, W. Ryckbosch, 3de, Universitaire Pers Leuven, 9789462701908, 2019
Handbook (Required) : Basisboek Statistiek met SPSS, Ben Baarda - Cor van Dijkum, 6de druk, Noordhoff, 9789001895808, 2019

Additional info

This subject is taught in Dutch

The site for 'Statistiek I voor de sociale wetenschappen' on Canvas provides examples of exams as well as the formularium.

The theoretical books are advised as a support for the lectures. The books are not compulsory in the first bachelor but will – depending on the chosen program – have to be purchased during the second bachelor for the advanced statistical course(s).

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

During this course, students acquire insights in basic statistical concepts. They understand the purpose of statistics and are able to read tables and graphs in a critical way. They can describe data using the main parameters of position, dispersion and form and taking into account the measurement scale of variables. Students know how to investigate the association between two variables and how to deal with two-dimensional crosstabs and regression analysis. Finally, they know how to use Excel and SPSS.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 40% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 10% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Practical Exam with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Evaluation practical sessions with a relative weight of 10 which comprises 10% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The written exam determines 50% of the final mark,
The practical exam determines 40% of the final mark,
The evaluation during the lectures determines 10% of the final mark.

A student must pass for both examination components separately (with as score of at least 10/20). Only after passing the written and practical exam will the student pass this course unit. The result of the unsuccessful exam part is the final result.
The partial result of the exam components will be transferred to the second examination period, if the result is at least 10/20. The exam component for which the student has passed cannot be retaken in the second examination period.

The written exam consists of about 1/3 theory questions and about 2/3 exercises. The practical exam consists of a test on computer (Excel and SPSS).

During the exam (both the written and the practical exam) a formula sheet and a calculator are made available.

The test moments during the lectures cannot be retaken in the second exam period, the mark (for 10%) is taken from the first exam session.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context