Peer Review

Data Analysis Exercises on Tolerance

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Reviewed:: Jul 25, 2016 by Sociology

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

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Overview:: There are three exercises that use data from the 2014 General Social Survey to explore topics in tolerance. Tolerance is measured using questions that are based on the work of Samuel Stouffer in his classic book Communism, Conformity, and Civil Liberties. These exercises could be used to help students learn the principles of quantitative analysis with a focus on tolerance. Topics include tolerance, percentages, Chi Square, measures of association, two- and three-variable tables, and spuriousness. These exercises refer students to the relevant parts of an online introduction to SPSS – the software package used in the exercises. This online introduction is freely available at http://ssric.org/node/459. (Note: there is a new version of this online introduction to SPSS -- version 23 -- available at http://ssric.org/node/582.) Each exercise consists of five files – the data set in SPSS format, extended notes to the instructor, the SPSS syntax necessary to carry out the exercise, and the SPSS output for the exercise. The exercise itself is available in both in HTML and Microsoft Word (docx) format.
Type of Material:: Assignment.
Recommended Uses:: The learning object is a valuable tool for use in any undergrad social-science methods or statistics class. It would also serve as a great refresher for graduate-level students at the beginning of an intro grad quantitative methods class. It would work well as a series of out-of-class assignments either done by students individually or collectively.
Technical Requirements:: Requires SPSS (any version) and ability to read Microsoft Office docx files.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: This learning object provides comprehensive instructions that lead students through key sequential stages of describing and analyzing quantitative data. The exercises relate to the social construct of tolerance, derived from the 2014 General Social Survey. Among various quantitative skills addressed are construction of measures and reliability, and univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis with focus on determining spuriousness.
Target Student Population:: College-level; any statistics/research methods course.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic familiarity with navigation in SPSS and statistical procedures.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: The material is presented in an easy to understand format and provides prompts to assist students in critically thinking about what questions statistics can assist us answer. It provides students detailed instructions that simplify the complex task of describing and analyzing quantitative data. Helps students to understand that there is a basic logic and process that, if effectively followed, will build research competency.
Concerns:: None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: The exercise explicitly spells out learning objectives, takes students through much of the quantitative analysis process, and reinforces research concepts likely discussed in class and text. Provides real-world application through highly relevant variables based on data collected from representative sample of American adults. By identifying learning objectives, instructors can easily integrate the material into their courses.
Concerns:: None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: The exercise is clearly written, exceptionally detailed, with attainable objectives for students to accomplish. Students, who take this exercise seriously, will derive important skills and understandings about the research process. The exercises are built around a current topic of interest to students (tolerance).
Concerns:: None.

Other Issues and Comments:: These exercises can be easily incorporated into classes to highlight various sociological concepts and show how social scientists develop a research hypothesis and interpret the data. As a student, I was very much engaged with the GSS and all the questions that could be explored!
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