SOC222H5 Chapter 1: Chapter 1-The What and Why of Stastics
Document Summary
Chapter 1 the what and why of statstics. Chapter learning objectives: understanding the research process, identifying and distinguishing between independent and dependent variables, identifying and distinguishing between three levels of measurement, understanding descriptive versus inferential statistical procedures. Statistics a set of procedures used by social scientists to organize, summarize, and communicate information. Only information represented by numbers can be the subject of statistical analysis. Data information represented by numbers, which can be the subject of statistical analysis. Researchers use statistical procedures to anlayze data to answer research questions and test theories. Research process a set of activities in which social scientists engage to answer questions, examine ideas, or test theories. The research process consists of five stages: asking the research question, formulating the hypothesis, collecting data, analyzing data, evaluating the hypotheses. Statistics is most closely tied to the data analysis stage of the research process. Empirical research research based on evidence that can be verified by using our direct experience.
