Quantitative Research Methods for Information Systems and Management (Info 271B) Introduction to Social Research.

Quantitative Research Methods for Information Systems and Management (Info 271B)

Introduction to Social Research

Administrative Stuff:Administrative Stuff:

Coye CheshireCoye Cheshire Office 305AOffice 305A Office Hours Tues and Thurs 4-5:30pmOffice Hours Tues and Thurs 4-5:30pm

Course Website:Course Website:http://courses.ischool.berkeley.edu/i271b/s08/index.htmlhttp://courses.ischool.berkeley.edu/i271b/s08/index.html

Course DesignCourse Design

Part lecture, part skills developmentPart lecture, part skills development Usually one major topic per weekUsually one major topic per week Some time devoted to working with statistical Some time devoted to working with statistical

software packages (labs)software packages (labs)

Two major course sectionsTwo major course sections Research Methodology (weeks 1-5)Research Methodology (weeks 1-5) Quantitative Methods (weeks 6-15)Quantitative Methods (weeks 6-15)

Course ReadingsCourse Readings

Bernard, Russell H. Bernard, Russell H. Social Social Research Methods: Qualitative Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.and Quantitative Approaches.

Hamilton, Lawrence. Hamilton, Lawrence. Statistics Statistics with STATA 9with STATA 9. .

Statistical SoftwareStatistical Software

All course examples will use STATAAll course examples will use STATA

You can purchase a STATA license ($95) You can purchase a STATA license ($95) through the grad plan:through the grad plan:

http://stata.com/order/new/edu/gradplans/gp-campus.htmlhttp://stata.com/order/new/edu/gradplans/gp-campus.html

Software and ComputersSoftware and Computers

Bring your laptop to class if Bring your laptop to class if applicable.applicable.

We will devote class time in many We will devote class time in many sessions to working with sessions to working with statistical software.statistical software.

I encourage you to sit with I encourage you to sit with anyone who has a statistical anyone who has a statistical software package when we software package when we begin to use it in class.begin to use it in class.

Course Assignments and GradingCourse Assignments and Grading

Four “lab assigments” (40%)Four “lab assigments” (40%) Always started in class, due following weekAlways started in class, due following week Some are individual assignments, others are group Some are individual assignments, others are group

assignments.assignments.

Final Exam (50%)Final Exam (50%) Will cover major topics in classWill cover major topics in class Will allow you to use the dataset of your choice.Will allow you to use the dataset of your choice. Challenging, but will be a take-home examChallenging, but will be a take-home exam

Participation (10%)Participation (10%)

Overall Course GoalsOverall Course Goals

You will have good knowledge of common You will have good knowledge of common research methods used in quantitative research research methods used in quantitative research (surveys, experiments)(surveys, experiments)

You will understand basic univariate statistics, You will understand basic univariate statistics, bivariate statistics, and linear regressionbivariate statistics, and linear regression

You will be able to use a general purpose You will be able to use a general purpose statistical package to conduct statistical statistical package to conduct statistical analysesanalyses

Course TopicsCourse TopicsPart I: Research MethodsPart I: Research Methods

Defining and justifying research problems for quantitative Defining and justifying research problems for quantitative studiesstudies

Theory and MeasurementTheory and Measurement

Sampling, Survey Data Collection, QuestionnairesSampling, Survey Data Collection, Questionnaires

Experimental designExperimental design

Choosing methods to match research problemsChoosing methods to match research problems

Course Topics (continued)Course Topics (continued)

Part II: Quantitative MethodsPart II: Quantitative Methods

Working with structured data (recoding, error checking)Working with structured data (recoding, error checking)

Univariate statisticsUnivariate statistics

Probability and normal distributionsProbability and normal distributions

T-tests, Chi-Square, and Analysis of variance (ANOVA)T-tests, Chi-Square, and Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Linear Regression, Logistic RegressionLinear Regression, Logistic Regression

Introduction to Social Research, the Introduction to Social Research, the Research Design Process and Research Design Process and

Common TerminologyCommon Terminology

Definition of ‘Science’Definition of ‘Science’

““an an objectiveobjective, logical , and systematic , logical , and systematic methodmethod of analysis of phenomena, of analysis of phenomena, devised to permit the accumulation of devised to permit the accumulation of reliablereliable knowledge” (Lastrucci 1963:6) knowledge” (Lastrucci 1963:6)

Complications with Observation Complications with Observation in Social Sciencein Social Science

Rise of “Positivist” Social ScienceRise of “Positivist” Social Science

August Comte (1798-1857)

Experience is the foundation of knowledge

Quality of recorded observation is the key to knowledge

Logical EmpiricismLogical Empiricism

Again, knowledge is based Again, knowledge is based on experience– but on experience– but metaphysical explanations metaphysical explanations of phenomena are of phenomena are incompatibleincompatible with science. with science.

We should only attempt to We should only attempt to answer “answerable” answer “answerable” questions.questions.

Quantitative and Qualitative Quantitative and Qualitative PerspectivesPerspectives

"There's no such thing as "There's no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0“ either 1 or 0“ Fred KerlingerFred Kerlinger

"All research ultimately has "All research ultimately has a qualitative grounding“a qualitative grounding“ Donald CampbellDonald Campbell

For Thursday…For Thursday…

Catch up to reading in Catch up to reading in Bernard (Chapters 1 and 2)Bernard (Chapters 1 and 2)

We will begin with an intro to We will begin with an intro to foundational concepts in foundational concepts in social research methods and social research methods and begin to look at the ‘structure’ begin to look at the ‘structure’ of arguments.of arguments.