Introductory Statistics

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of statistical analysis. We will examine the principles and basic methods for analyzing quantitative data, with a focus on applications to problems in public policy, management, and the social sciences. We will begin with simple statistical techniques for describing and summarizing data and build toward the use of more sophisticated techniques for drawing inferences from data and making predictions about the social world.

The course will assume that students have little mathematical background beyond high school algebra. Students will be trained on STATA, which is supported in the SIPA computer lab. This powerful statistical package is frequently used to manage and analyze quantitative data in many organizational and institutional contexts. A practical mastery of a major statistical package will be an important proficiency for many of you down the road. You can obtain more information about your lab sticker at the SIPA lab, which is located on the 5th floor of IAB.

The formal mathematical foundation of statistics is downplayed; students who expect to make extensive and customized use of advanced statistical methods may be better served by a different course. This course also offers less practice in writing research papers using quantitative analysis than some courses (e.g., Political Science 4910). Most SIPA students, however, should benefit from our emphasis on generating and interpreting statistical results in many different practical contexts.