Applied Statistics I

Code:

C108

Acronym:

ESTA I

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Statistics

Instance: 2007/2008 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Criminology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
C	49	Oficial Study Plan LC	1	-	6	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course intends to give students a very good background in statistical methods in order to support research on criminology.

Specifically, we want that students in the end of this course:
1. Be conscientious about the importance of statistical methods in criminology applied research;
2. Be able to recognize which specific statistical measure or procedure should be applied to specific problems of research;
3. Be able to work with statistical software packages (specially SPSS software).

Program

1. Statistics as an instrument in the criminology research
1.a. The role of statistical methods in criminology and criminal justice
1.b. Validity in criminological research

2. Main definitions and concepts in statistics
2.a. Population and sample
2.b. Distributions
2.c. SPSS applied examples

3.Univariate analysis
3.a. Describing variable distributions
3.b. Understanding data distributions
3.c. Measures of central tendency
3.d. Measures of dispersion
3.e. Inferences in univariate analysis
3.f. Point estimation and confidence intervals
3.g. Hypothesis testing for one population mean
3.h. SPSS applied examples

4. Bivariate analysis: relationships between two variables
4.a. Testing hypothesis with categorical data
4.b. Testing hypothesis involving two population means or proportions
4.c. Bivariate correlation and regression
4.d. SPSS applied examples

5. Multivariate analysis
5.a. Main concepts

Mandatory literature

Pestana, Maria Helena, e João Nunes Gageiro ; Análise de Dados para as Ciências Sociais – A Complementaridade do SPSS, Edições Sílabo, 2005
Bachman, Ronet e Raymond Paternoster; Statistical Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice, McGraw-Hill, 2003. ISBN: 0-07-251844-8
Reis, Elizabeth ; Estatística Multivariada Aplicada, Edições Sílabo, 2001

Complementary Bibliography

Weisburd David; Statistics in criminal justice. ISBN: 978-0-387-34112-5

Teaching methods and learning activities

Two types of classes: Theoretical and Laboratorial applied work
Theoretical concepts are presented and explained in theoretical classes. Afterwards, those concepts are applied in laboratorial work, trying to prepare students to be able to make their own research on criminology.

Software

Microsoft Excel
SPSS

keywords

Social sciences > Criminology
Physical sciences > Mathematics > Statistics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Subject Classes	Participação presencial	60,00
	Trabalho escrito	2,00
Final Exam	Exame	2,50
Test	Exame	1,50
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

In order to complete with success the course on Applied Statistics I, students must attend an written final exam (EF) and complete an (practical) written assignment (T), with a final weighted sum of at least ten points.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final classification = 0,75xEF + 0,25xT, where EF e T.
EF and T are classified individually in a range between zero and twenty points.

Examinations or Special Assignments

According to Main Regulation of the University and of the Criminology course.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to Main Regulation of the University and of the Criminology course.

Classification improvement

According to Regulations of the University and of the Criminology course.
In order to improve grades in this course, student must repeat a written final exam and/or written assignment.