Unit 3: Data Collection and Statistics

This unit contains the following sections:

3.1 Preface
3.2 Learning Outcomes
3.3 Data Collection, and Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
3.4 Sample Statistical Techniques
3.5 References

3.1 Preface

In every type of research endeavour, data about the topic must be collected and analysed to test the viability of the hypotheses. There is a range of statistical techniques that you can use to analyze the data you have collected, and there are many software tools (e.g., R, SPSS, Netica, TETRAD) available to run specific statistical tests. This unit reviews data collection methods, some key statistical techniques, and tools that you can use to run these statistical techniques in a computational form.

We anticipate that you will need about 7 hours (420 minutes) to complete this unit.

3.2 Learning Objectives

After completing Unit 3, you should be able to

collect data and prepare it for analysis.
analyse statistical methods for their suitability to test a given hypothesis.
apply selected statistical methods to test a given hypothesis.

3.3 Data Collection, and Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

We estimate that this segment of Unit 3 should take about 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete.

Reading Assignment 3.3.R1

This reading introduces the concept of sampling. Make certain that you follow each of the links included in the article.

Trochim, W.M.K. (2006a). Analysis. Retrieved from the website of the Research Methods Knowledge Base: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/analysis.php

Reading Assignment 3.3.R2

The following reading provides an excellent introduction to event data.

Rummel, R. J. (1979). Appendix II: Event data: bases of empirical conflict analysis. In Understanding conflict and war, Volume 4. Retrieved from http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WPP.APPENII.HTM

3.4 Sample Statistical Techniques

We estimate that this segment of Unit 3 should take about 5 hours (300 minutes) to complete.

Reading Assignment 3.4.R1

Each of the readings below describes a single statistical technique.

Analysis of variance. (2014, March 7). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Analysis_of_variance&oldid=59854022

Bayesian statistics. (2014, February 22). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bayesian_statistics&oldid=596660372

Correlation and dependence. (2014, March 4). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Correlation_and_dependence&oldid=598135286

Factor analysis. (2014, January 31). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Factor_analysis&oldid=593316569

Frost, J. (2017). Multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA). Benefits and When to Use It. Retrieved from https://statisticsbyjim.com/anova/multivariate-anova-manova-benefits-use/

Grace, J.B., Schoolmaster Jr., D.R., Guntenspergen, G.R., Little, A.M., Mitchell, B.R., Miller, K.M., & Schweiger, E.W. (2012). Guidelines for a graph-theoretic implementation of structural equation modeling. Ecosphere 3(8), article 73. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES12-00048.1

Pearson’s chi-squared test. (2014, March 5). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pearson%27s_chi-squared_test&oldid=598297116

Regression analysis. (2014, February 26). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Regression_analysis&oldid=597206361

Student’s t-test. (2014, February 28). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Student%27s_t-test&oldid=597539349

Reading Assignment 3.4.R2

The reading below offers guidelines about appropriate statistical tests for specific research questions

Molusky, H. (1995). Intuitive biostatistics: Choosing a statistical test. In Intuitive biostatistics (ch. 37). Retrieved from http://www.graphpad.com/www/Book/Choose.htm

Note that you can also refer to the online statistical textbook below.

Lane, D. M. (1993-2007). HyperStat online statistics textbook. Retrieved from http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/index.html

Assignment 1

Review Assignment 1 on the course home page, and do whatever you can at this point.

3.5 References

Analysis of variance. (2014, March 7). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Analysis_of_variance&oldid=598540228