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  4. Computing for the Social Sciences

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

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. Edições 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. Edições Sílabo.
Marôco, J. (2021). Análise Estatística com o SPSS Statistics. Report Number.
Pestana, M., & Gageiro, J. (2003). Análise de Dados Para as Ciências Sociais: A Complementaridade do SPSS. Edições Sílabo.
Reis, E. (2000). Estatística Descritiva. Edições Sílabo.

Teaching method

Lectures with theoretical content, always accompanied by practical examples with real databases. At the end of each session and/or in the following session, a practical exercise is carried out by the students, related to the contents taught in that session and in previous ones. The exercises are discussed and corrected in class, and there is always time to clarify doubts.

Evaluation method

Two written tests (50% each)

Subject matter

1. Computing as a tool to support research in Social Sciences: scope of application and basic concepts
2. Construction and manipulation of databases in SPSS
3. Data recoding and transformation operations
4. Data analysis in SPSS
  . Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics
  . Uni, bi and multivariate analysis - production and analysis of results
    - Measures of central tendency and dispersion; frequency analysis
    - Hypothesis testing (Chi2, residuals, correlation coefficients, t-test, Mann-Whitney test)
    - Principal Component Analysis
    - Graphic representation

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: