POLS 310-000: Statistical Modeling (Spring 2010)

This course introduces various approaches to using statistics to study social phenomena. The course satisfies the post-freshman GER writing requirement by focusing on scientific writing. The ability to understand and use statistics is vitally important for college graduates seeking to go to graduate school or to enter the competitive job market. The course also introduces students to the use of R to conduct statistical analyses. R is sophisticated and free software that students can download and use on their own laptops with any operating system. Knowledge of R is increasingly valuable for all students, both while in college and after graduation.  Here we study how to utilize descriptive statistics, frequency tables, regression, and logistic regression, all using real data sets. There is a final paper, and students will submit various drafts of this paper during the semester so that that the instructor can offer feedback to the writing process.  You can check out the syllabus at www.courtneybrown.com (to be updated before the beginning of the term). [Click on "Student Area (Emory)" in the navigation menu. Also see the instructor's videos on the value of knowing statistics and R for today's college graduates.]