FORESTRY 577_501

Data Analysis

This is a Web-based course taught by Dr. Ray Darville

Instructor Contact Information 

Dr. Ray Darville Photo

Ray Darville, Ph.D.
email: rdarville@sfasu.edu
(936) 468-2256

Course Description

This graduate course in data analysis is a course in applied statistics.  The emphasis is on learning how to use SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, PC version) and how to perform basic data analysis from data input to report writing.  Students learn statistical analysis by reading and practicing their skills.  The course covers descriptive and inferential statistics as well as univariate statistics to multivariate statistics.  The goals are to not only teach data analysis, but also to prepare students for their thesis research and to become good consumers of statistical analysis.  The course is designed primarily for students in the Master of Science in Resource Interpretation program at SFA.  

Textbook and Software Requirements

  • SOC479 Data Analysis:  Course Manual.  Purchased through  Barnes and Noble Bookstore on SFA campus
  • SPSS 13.0 for Windows Student Version (ISBN: 0-13-186756-3) OR SPSS Graduate Pack 14.0 for Windows.  The package can be purchased at http://www.journeyed.com/ for about $200.  The license expires in four years.  The same software can be rented for 12 months from e-academy.com for about $140.  If you are planning on a qualitative thesis or one with very limited data analysis, the student version is probably OK to purchase.  If you are planning on a quantitative thesis such as one including a survey instrument, then you should seriously consider the Graduate Pack.
  • Microsoft Word or another standard word processing program

Course Prerequisites

Graduate standing.  An undergraduate course in data analysis or statistics is preferred. 

Course Format and Participation Requirements

The course requirements include:  exams, scheduled reading quizzes, completion of data analysis exercises, reading of and writing about professional literature, participation in discussions, email, and chats. 

On-campus or Face-to-Face Meeting Requirements

This course is entirely distance education based with no face-to-face meetings planned.

Course Assessment

Three major exams are planned, including the final.  They consists of some multiple choice questions, but the majority of the test points come from answering questions from statistical procedures and their output.  Students will be interpreting output, describing results and writing conclusions.  The final is comprehensive, covering the entire course.  Reading quizzes will be given each week on the material from the textbook.  Assignments from the end of the chapters will be given and submitted using word processing and SPSS.  

Effort Expected

This is a 3-credit-hour course.  To be successful in this course you should expect to spend about 10 to 15 hours a week on readings, assignments, discussions, and other activities. 

Before the Course Begins

F-1 Visa Holders

There are important federal regulations pertaining to distance education activity for F-1 Visa holders. All students with an F-1 Visa should follow the instructions at the following link to make sure they are in compliance.
http://www.oit.sfasu.edu/disted/facsup/f1visa.html

Technical Requirements for the Course

Other than the minimum technical requirements for any course such as access to the Internet, ability to use email, students will need a CD-ROM drive, printer (color is helpful, but not required), PowerPoint software, and Real Player software.  Students should have access to and be able to use Microsoft Word or WordPerfect.

Before the Course Begins

  • Activate mySFA username, password, and email
  • Register and pay for the course just as you would any other SFA course.
  • As soon as you are registered, please send an email message to the instructor.

    • F-1 Visa Holders

    There are important federal regulations pertaining to distance education activity for F-1 Visa holders. All students with an F-1 Visa should follow the instructions at the following link to make sure they are in compliance.
    http://www.oit.sfasu.edu/disted/facsup/f1visa.html

    RESOURCE LINKS:
     

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