Syllabus CRJU 3602 Statistics Spring 2020

If you need this document in another format, please email Stu Batchelder at Stu.batchelder@ung.edu or call 706-531-6399.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA

DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSE SYLLABUS

Spring 2020 –Statistics for Social Sciences  (CRJU 3602 - CRN 5318, 5319)

         

1. GENERAL INFORMATION 

                                                                   

         Title: Statistics for Social Sciences  (CRJU 3602

    Instructor: John Stuart Batchelder, 309 Hansford Hall , 706-864 1907 (office)

       College: Arts and Letters                             E-mail: stu.batchelder@ung.edu

    Department: Criminal Justice                         Home Phone:  706-867-8174           

 Course Number: CRJU 3601                                Cell phone:  706-531-6399

 

All Batch Classes Spring 2020

 

CRN     SUBJ   CRSE   SEC              TITLE               DAYS       TIMES          BLDG           ROOM

5316    CRJU   3601    A    Res Meth in Social Sciences    MWF    08:00am-08:50am  Newton Oakes       X013

                                        Final Exam is Monday    04 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

 

5317    CRJU   3601    B   Res Meth in Social Sciences     TR     09:30am-10:45am  Newton Oakes       X013

                                        Final Exam is Thursday  07 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

 

5318    CRJU   3602    A   Stat for Social Sciences       TR     08:00am-09:15am  Newton Oakes        X013

                                        Final Exam is Tuesday   05 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

 

5319    CRJU   3602    B   Stas for Social Sciences        MWF     09:00am-9:50am  Newton Oakes       X013

                                        Final Exam is Wednesday 06 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

 

5577    EDD    7209         Advanced Quantitative Methods  OLA  Online 

                           

Final Exam Schedule

 

CRN           Class Name                          Days                   Class Meets        Exam Day            Exam Time

5316    Res Meth in Social Sciences    MWF    08:00am-08:50am   Monday    04 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

5317    Res Meth in Social Sciences    TR     09:30am-10:45am   Thursday  07 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

5318    Stat for Social Sciences            TR     08:00am-09:15am   Tuesday   05 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

5319    Stat for Social Sciences          MWF    09:00am-09:50am   Wednesday 06 May     08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

5577    Advanced Quantitative Methods  OLA                      Online 

 

Office Hours 

 

Monday    --  1:30 to 3:00 pm 

Tuesday   --  1:30 to 3:00 pm 

Wednesday --  1:30 to 3:00 pm

Thursday  --  1:30 to 3:00 pm

Friday    --  call 706-531-6399 to arrange appointment

 

 

2.  OPTIONAL TEXT AND OTHER MATERIALS

 

Optional Text Book:  See Batch2L 

Link to Information Technology Website: http://ung.edu/information-technology/index.php

 3.  COURSE DESCRIPTION

The goal of this course is consistent with the General Education Outcomes of this institution, which are: (1) Students will demonstrate an ability to find information and to evaluate it quantitatively, qualitatively, and analytically;  (2) Students will demonstrate an ability to use mathematics and to solve problems;  and  (3) Each student should learn to observe natural phenomena and use data to test an hypothesis.

 The foundations of descriptive and inferential statistics that were learned in the prerequisites are briefly revisited to reacquaint students with the procedures and techniques of statistical analysis.  Then students learn a more specialized regimen of more advanced research and computerized data analysis skills used by social scientists.  The goal is for the students to cultivate computer skills and a foundation in the language and utilization of these research techniques as they are found in social science journal articles and research reports. Students will be able to perform statistical analysis on the computer using SPSS, and will be able to present the findings on Microsoft word.  

 This 3-hour credit course is designed to accommodate the specific research needs of majors in the social sciences. It will provide students with an overview of basic statistical principles and computer skills utilized in these disciplines.  

 

Prerequisites:    1) MATH 2400 -- Elementary Statistics 

                  2) CRJU 3601 -- Research Methods for Social Sciences  

 

4.  COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

* Formulate a testable hypothesis, and statistically test a methodology and that relates to policy and procedure in criminal justice case studies.

* Use quantitative data to make inferences about a specified population based on statistics from a sample. 

* Apply data-analysis techniques on specific populations to test hypotheses applicable to policy-formulation in the criminal justice sciences.

* Understand the ability to design a statistical test that relates to policy and procedure in criminal justice

* Apply quantitative research for scholarship, validity, and reliability

* Apply crime data to describe a specific population through the use of statistics, tables, and graphs

* Understand quantitative data techniques that are used to make inferences about a specified population based on statistics from a sample

* Evaluate natural phenomena through the use of specific procedures to test hypotheses and formulate policy decisions in the social sciences

* Understand the use of elementary and advanced statistical analysis on criminal justice data

 

5.  METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:  Lecture, Group Study, and Self Study on World Wide Web

 1) The “Exams” are an evaluation of your learning. There will be an “Evaluation” (Exam) given approximately each week including a “final exam.” They are all weighted equally. The exams consist of essay and short-answer questions taken from the lectures and readings. Points are based on the exams, attendance / participation, and presentations. Each student’s final grade will be based on the total amount of points that individual acquires throughout the semester. Missed exams cannot be made up, they will result in a grade of -0-.  Your lowest exam score will be dropped. Exception -- Final Exam score cannot be dropped.

 

No Makeup exams – You must take all exams in class, on the date they are administered -- Only rare exceptions to that policy are allowed.

 Final exam must be taken at the appointed time. Requests to take the final exam earlier or later cannot be honored. No exceptions to this university policy are made under any circumstances. If you cannot be in attendance to take the final exam at the above time, it is suggested that you drop now, and retake this course during a different semester.

 2)  The Paper assignment is to be accomplished by using peer-reviewed journal articles as source material that expresses that you understand a specific aspect or issue in reforming offenders. See rubric below. 

 The Paper assignment is based on the 5 points of Information Literacy -- Know, Access, Evaluate, and Use in an Ethical manner: 

A.  Know:  Your submitted work will have an thesis statement in the Introduction stating basically (1) what is already known on the topic, and (2) we have yet to discover. The reader should believe she or he knows status of the present knowledge, knows a reason why future exploration and growth is needed, and where this knowledge may be projected to logically follow in the future.  It states what is lacking in the research, and how this paper will fill that gap. 

B.  Access: The Literature Review demonstrates the extent to which the topic has been investigated. The reader should believe they have a complete background or history of the topic through not only an adequate number of sources, but a variety of sources that includes a balance of supporting arguments and criticisms of particular viewpoints. 

C.  Evaluate: The Methods section crystallizes how the data will be gathered. 

D.  Use:  The Summary demonstrates that an organized plan is envisioned, which re-articulates the thesis statement or research question, provides an answer to that question (findings), and why the paper constitutes a viable contribution to the overall literature. 

E.  Ethical / Legal:  The author has made use of APA citation style, avoided plagiarism, and given a summary of information without overusing quoted text. 

 I care about your future. I want to help and serve you. That is my personal goal. Please have no reservations about calling me anytime (even after hours) if you need help. Every student is strongly encouraged to visit or phone my office, or call my cell phone to obtain answers, clarification, and moral support 24/7/365.  

 

My personal goal is to help and serve students; you can call me 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, weekends and holidays included. Please have no reservations about calling me if you need help. If you call and there is no answer at my office or home phone, call my cell phone. EVERY STUDENT IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO VISIT MY OFFICE, or call my cell phone TO OBTAIN Instant ANSWERS, CLARIFICATION, AND MORAL SUPPORT -- Any Day, Any time.


Grading Rubric for Writing Assignment

 

A  (4)

B  (3)

C (2)

                                                                                                                        D/F (1/0)

Focus and main idea

Purpose is clear, presents a main idea, and supports it throughout the paper.

Shows awareness of purpose, presents a main idea, and supports it throughout some or most of the paper.

Shows limited awareness of purpose, vague sense of a main idea, and is weakly supported.

No awareness, no main idea.

Organization: Overall

Well-planned and well-thought out. Includes title, introduction, statement of main idea, discussion, and conclusion.

Good overall organization, includes the main organizational tools.

There is a sense of organization, although some of the organizational tools are used weakly or missing

No sense of organization

Content

Exceptionally well-presented and argued; ideas are detailed, well-developed, supported with specific evidence & facts, as well as examples and specific details.

Well-presented and argued; ideas are detailed, developed and supported with evidence and details, mostly specific.

Content is sound and solid; ideas are present but not particularly developed or supported; some evidence, but usually of a generalized nature.

Content is not sound

Conforms to APA Research 

Specifications

Sources are exceptionally well-integrated, supported, or argued. Quotations and Works Cited conform to APA specs.

Sources are well integrated and support the paper’s claims. There may be occasional errors, but the sources and Works Cited conform to APA specs. 

Sources support some claims made in the paper, but might not be integrated well within the paper’s argument. Some errors in APA style.

The paper does not use adequate sources or sources are not integrated, cited, or listed correctly (as per APA specs. 

Style and Grammar: Sentence structure

Sentences are clear, and grammar, spelling, syntax and punctuation are excellent.

Sentences are clear but awkward with a few punctuation, grammar, spelling, or syntax errors.

Sentences are generally clear but thoughts disconnected or several errors attributable to overall lack of proof-reading.

 

Sentences aren’t clear


6.  COURSE GRADING

 

Grades:  

                                             Points                 Grading Scale for Course

Tests                                      =  90                        A = 89.50 – 100.00

Final Paper                                =  10                        B = 79.50 -  89.49

Total Points                               =  100                       C = 69.50 -  79.49

                                                                        D = 60.00 -  69.49  

 

(1)  Attendance: The student is responsible for all material presented in class and for all announcements and assignments. Excessive absences result in withdrawal. University policy: If the total number of a student’s absences exceeds 14%, the student may be dropped from the class roll with a WF.  MFW Class meets 42 times. 14% of 45 = 7. TR Class meets 30 times. 14% of 30 = 5 classes)]. MTWR Class meets 21 times. 14% of 21 = 3. 

 

IF YOU MISS Five  (5) TR    CLASSES, YOU MUST REPEAT THE COURSE

IF YOU MISS Seven (7) MWF   CLASSES, YOU MUST REPEAT THE COURSE

IF YOU MISS Three (3) MTWR  CLASSES, YOU MUST REPEAT THE COURSE

 

(2) Class Participation: Each student is responsible for all material presented in class and for all announcements and assignments. The semester starts with all students having 100% class participation points. Points are deducted for lack of participation as the semester progresses. All students are expected to participate. Class participation score is a subjective measure that is effected by each and all of the following: (a) attendance in class, (b) presentation on material from outside sources, (c) class discussions, (d) attentiveness to what others are saying, (e) courtesy, and (f) professional conduct (as one would be expected to do in a professional setting). 

 

(3) Individual and Collaborative Work Policy: Although Students are encouraged to study together and seek assistance by studying in groups, assignments that are duplicates will receive a grade of –0-.  

 

(4) No late writing assignments will be accepted.  Please note: Computer or printer failures are not acceptable excuses for late papers.  Make sure you schedule plenty of time to complete and successfully print your assignment.

 

(5)  Students are expected to view this class as a learning experience.  Someday you will be a criminal justice professional with a supervisor. You will be expected to demonstrate your value to the organization through written reports and oral expressions. Many of these expressions end up in permanent court files, institutional files, police files, and in other files deemed as public record.  It is imperative that criminal justice professionals realize the importance that their communications play in the apprehension, trial, and confinement of offenders.  Therefore, it is important to habituate effective written and oral communication in every activity from now until the day you die.  I am here to assist in that effort.  

 

Students with special needs should see the instructor during the first week of classes for accommodations. 

 

(6)  The instructor will make every effort to follow the syllabus as printed. However, reasons beyond the instructor’s control may occur and cause some deviation from the printed syllabus. The syllabus may be subject to change without prior notice. 

 

I care about your future. I want to help and serve you. That is my personal goal. Please have no reservations about calling me anytime (even after hours) if you need help. Every student is strongly encouraged to visit or phone my office, or call my cell phone to obtain answers, clarification, and moral support 24/7/365.  

 

You can call me 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, weekends and holidays included. Please have no reservations about calling me if you need help. Call my cell phone. EVERY STUDENT IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO call my cell phone TO OBTAIN Instant ANSWERS, Or VISIT MY OFFICE, FOR CLARIFICATION, AND MORAL SUPPORT -- Any Day, Any time.  

 


7.  SUPPLEMENTAL SYLLABUS

Students are expected to refer to the Supplemental Syllabus for the following information:

Academic Exchange, Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Success Plan Program, Class Evaluations, Course Grades and Withdrawal Process, Disruptive Behavior Policy, Inclement Weather, Smoking Policy, Students with Disabilities

Link:  http://ung.edu/academic-affairs/policies-and-guidelines/supplemental-syllabus.php


9.  COURSE CALENDAR -- Fall 2019