Computing for the Social Sciences

Objectives

1. Knowledge and understanding of the operating logic of computer applications of research support in Sociology, particularly in data gathering, mathematical and statistical calculations, and graphical data processing. 2. Ability to select and to use the appropriate applications to the different research and professional tasks. 3. Understanding of their relations with the theoretical measurement and statistical techniques of data analysis. 4. Acquisition of specific skills in operationalizing the computational techniques. 5. Skills of development processes for self-training and lifelong learning regarding advanced computer processing of statistical operations.

General characterization

Code

711081077

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

José Herculano Monteiro Paulo, Sara Dalila Aguiar Cerejo Leão

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 168

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

Students must have accomplished a minimum of 48 ECTS credits and have basic computer knowledge. We recommend that students previous attend to Métodos e Técnicas de Investigação Sociológica: Amostragem e Inquérito e Análise de Dados Univariada e Bivariada, or similar.

Bibliography

Botelho, M.C., & Laureano, R. (2010). SPSS: o meu manual de consulta rápida. Sílabo. Bryman, A., & Cramer, D. (1992). Análise de dados em ciências sociais. Celta. Foddy, W. (1996). Como perguntar: teoria e prática da construção de perguntas em entrevistas e questionários. Celta. Ghiglione, R., & Matalon, B. (2001). O inquérito: teoria e prática. Celta. Laureano, R. (2011). Testes de hipóteses com o SPSS: o meu manual de consulta rápida. Sílabo. Marôco, J. (2010). Análise estatística com o PASW Statistics. Report Number. Pestana, M., & Gageiro, J. (2003). Análise de dados para as ciências sociais: a complementaridade do SPSS. Sílabo. Reis, E. (2000). Estatística descritiva. Sílabo.

Teaching method

- Lectures with theoretical content along with practical examples using real datasets; - At the end of each session, a practical exercise is carried by the students, on the subjects discussed in the current and prior sessions. The exercises are revised in class, always allowing time to clarify questions the students may have

Evaluation method

Método de avaliação - Two examination tests(100%)

Subject matter

1. Data analysis software as an instrument to support research in Social Sciences: scope and basic concepts 2. Constructing and manipulating databases in SPSS 3. Recoding and data transformation operations 4. Univariate statistical operations, graphical representation and results presentation 5. Bivariate statistical operations, hypothesis tests, association measures and correlation coefficients 6. Multivariate statistical analysis

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: