Syllabus
Jun 25: Intro to course
Jun 26: Chapter 1 Discussion "What Do Schoolteachers and Sumo Wrestlers Have in Common?"
Jun 27: Research Methods
- Correlational Approach
- Experimental Approach
Jun 28: Tools in Python: Sections 1.1, 1.2, and 2.1 in Course Notes
- Reading/writing live data (from CSV files, from websites)
- Simple plotting
- Start Project 1
July 3: Chapter 2 Discussion "How is the Ku Klux Klan Like a Group of Real Estate Agents?"
July 4: Research Methods
- Quasi-experimental
- Naturalistic Observation
July 5: Tools in Python: Sections 2.2, 2.3, and Chapter 3 in Course Notes
- Multiple plots
- Iteration
- Computing averages
July 6: Tools In Python: Section 1.3 and 5.1 in Course Notes
- Comparing sequences (nucleotides, classic texts)
- Visualizing text
- Start Project 2
- TIPS ON WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR IN THE DEBATE, AND HOW WE'LL GRADE THEM.
July 10: Chapter 3 Discussion "Why do Drug Dealers Still Live with Their Moms?"
July 11: Research Methods
- Hypothesis testing
- Causation (A->B->C vs A->B and A->C)
July 12: Chapter 3 Debate
July 13: Tools in Python: Chapter 4 in Course Notes
- Compute correlations
- Random distributions: Can you prove that data are related?
- Different distributions: Uniform and normal
- Correlating between two data sets: Dow Jones and Population
July 17: Chapter 4 Discussion "Where Have All the Criminals Gone?"
July 18: Research Methods
- Inferential Statistics
- standard deviation
- t-tests
- ANOVA
July 19: Chapter 4 Debate
July 20: Tools in Python: Chapter 6 in Course Notes
- Computing standard deviation, t-tests, and ANOVA
July 24: Chapter 5 Discussion "What Makes a Perfect Parent?"
- Project 3 due (paper with some statistical analysis and interpretation)
July 25: Research Methods
July 26: Computational Tools
- Polynomial line fitting
- Mapping to Excel
July 27: Tools Lab (for Project 4)
July 31: Chapter 6 Discussion "Perfect Parenting Part II"
- Project 4 due
- Turn in a one page piece of paper with the question you're answering and who your team is for the Final Project. One piece of paper per team. Only two or three people per team. We'll let you know by the next day if it's acceptable.
- You might want to include "incentive" issues to tie back to book
- One topic might be relating faculty salaries to course evaluations, or grades given to course evaluations
Aug 1: Research Methods
- Matched Subjects Design (relevant to politician data)
Aug 2: Final Exam (in class)
Aug 3: Tools lab for Final Project
- How to Give a Good Research Talk
Aug 5: Group (2-person) presentations of Final Project