Data analysis

"Is my health campaign effective?"; "Who uses which websites for health information?"; "What's the impact of peer pressure on (un)healthy behavioral conduct?": To answer these questions we need statistics!

This course introduces students to the statistical analysis of empirical data to answer driving questions and test scientific hypotheses in social sciences. The course is designed to provide students with several fundamental skills, which will be helpful for their future course work, Master thesis and/or job tasks, considering that basic data management and analysis skills are more and more requested in today’s labor market.

In particular, students will learn how to:

• Identify (research) questions that can be answered with statistical data analysis;
• Assess the appropriateness of various data-analytical techniques in response to these questions;
• Report basic descriptive statistics, including graphical representations;
• Conduct basic statistical analyses, including univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics;
• Use basic Excel functions;
• Use basic SPSS functions;
• Read and present statistical results;
• Develop their own research question and select appropriate measures and analytical procedures.

Recommended readings:

Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2012). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (9th ed). Cengage Learning.
Hayes, A. F. (2005). Statistical methods for communication science (1st ed.). New York: Routledge.