Peer Review

Political and Social Divisons in American Society | SSRIC - Social Science Research and Instructional Council

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Oct 26, 2021 by Sociology

Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

The goal of these exercises is to introduce students to the analysis of political and social divisions in American society using the 2018 General Social Survey, a large national probability survey of adults in the U.S. The focus is on political, gender, socioeconomic, racial, religious, and geographical divisions. The first six exercises focus on two-variable analysis (i.e., bivariate analysis) and the last six on three-variable analysis (i.e., multivariate analysis). We use several statistical tools (i.e., crosstabulation, Chi Square, and measures of association). The statistical program we're using is Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA) written at UC Berkeley and freely available wherever you have an internet connection. There is a brief introduction to SDA at the end of these exercises.

Type of Material:

Series of Assignments in the use of data analysis and interpretation.

Recommended Uses:

This can be individual assignments, in class demonstrations, or team analysis and interpretation

Technical Requirements:

High speed internet and browser with use of software graphics plug ins. Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA) written at UC Berkeley and a free download.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

1. Students will have a better understanding of why individuals and groups behave differently.

2. Students will better understand why individuals have different attitudes and opinions.

3. Students will be able to accurately identify social structures that influence divisions between individuals and groups that make up that social structure.

4. Students will better understand the process of quantitative data analysis in social science research.

5. Students will better understand how social location influences division in the social structure.

Target Student Population:

Social Science, Political Science, High School, College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

This assignment might be most helpful if students have a basic introductory course in social science and a basic course in social statistics (this latter may be optional as the instructions show the student how to use the statistical package and interpretations in detail)

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

-Supplies all that is needed to complete the assignments

-Thorough description of what is being studied

-Thorough step by step use of the statistical package

-Thoughtful questions for analysis

-Illustrations to guide the students

Concerns:

None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Broad learning objectives and concepts are offered with more specific objectives defined within each assignment activity. Opportunities to connect current social issues, social locations, social science research and social science research data is built into the progressive nature of the assignments offered. An overall connection of the relationship between each concept covered in the assignments is offered in detail after all assignments have been reviewed.

The exercises increase student learning through the use of exercises which are explained in step by step manner- especially true for the leap from bi-variant to multi-variant analysis. It can be used in a variety of teaching modalities. It can also be used by students and professionals in the field as the examples could lend themselves to a variety of social issues.

Concerns:

I might recommend a rubric or assessment scoring guide to assist with the usability of the assignments as a teaching tool.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: Instruction is clear and offer specifics on how to use the database collection to gather the information needed for that assignment. Examples are given and practice is offered for each assignment activity. Microsoft accessibility checker shows no accessibility issues. It's comprehensive and well illustrated.
Concerns:: it would be more convenient if this resouorce was web based and included the statistical program within it. A more spohisticated package may have built in student feedback and evaluations.

Other Issues and Comments:: All of the social science statistical exercises written by Ed Nelson at California State University, Fresno supply students with abundant and practical learning skills for social science analysis within the public domain. You can access these resources by going to http://www.ssric.org/tr.
Creative Commons: