Statistics I for Social Sciences

6 ECTS credits
177 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1001294ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Sociology

Educational team

Hadewijch Vandenheede (course titular)
Canigia Mestdagh
Jana Goyvaerts
Juliette De Vestel
Florian Stegen
Aude Fieuw

Activities and contact hours

24 contact hours Lecture
39 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
114 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The course Statistics I focuses on the collection, processing, interpretation, summarization, and presentation of the most significant characteristics of a population. Quantitative data from a population are synthesized into summary indices with the aim of discovering global patterns and characteristics.

In the first part, univariate statistics, the focus is on the distribution of a single characteristic. This characteristic is statistically described through summary measures, such as parameters of position (mean, median, mode), parameters of dispersion (standard deviation or variance, interquartile range), and parameters of shape.

In the second part, bivariate statistics, attention is directed towards two variables and their relationship. An example question might be: What is the relationship between the happiness score among young people and their choice of study? This relationship can be examined through crosstabs, which also briefly cover inferential statistics.

Additionally, explanatory statistics are covered in the course, with a focus on bivariate regression analysis.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Slides Statistiek I, S. Gadeyne, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Bootcamp SPSS in 5 lessen. De snelle voorbereiding op multivariate analyses in SPSS, T. De Winter, D. Weenas, M. Van Hulle, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Oefeningen over beschrijvende statistiek, N. Deschacht, M. Dujardin, K. Van Altert, Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Inleiding multivariate analyse, Voor de sociale wetenschappen, K. Neels, Acco Uitgeverij, 9789462922518, 2017
Handbook (Recommended) : Inleiding in de statistiek voor gedragswetenschappen, Met ondersteuning van SPSS, G. Valkeneers, T. Vanhoomissen, 5de, Acco Uitgeverij, 9789464674620, 2023
Handbook (Recommended) : Trend en toeval, I. Devos, Blondé, W. Ryckbosch, 3de, Universitaire Pers Leuven, 9789462701908, 2019
Handbook (Required) : Basisboek Statistiek met SPSS, Ben Baarda - Cor van Dijkum, 6de druk, Noordhoff, 9789001895808, 2019

Additional info

This subject is taught in Dutch.

The Canvas page for 'Statistics I for Social Sciences' offers sample exams and a formula sheet.

While theoretical books are recommended as supplementary materials for the lectures, they are not mandatory for first-year bachelor students. However, depending on the chosen program, they may need to be acquired during the second bachelor for more advanced statistical courses.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

During this course, students gain insight into basic statistical concepts. They understand the purpose of statistics and can critically interpret tables and graphs. They are able to describe data using key parameters of position, dispersion, and shape, considering the measurement scale of variables. Students learn how to examine the relationship between two variables and how to analyze two-dimensional crosstabs and regression. Lastly, they acquire skills in utilizing Excel and SPSS for these techniques.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 40% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 10% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Practical Exam with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Evaluation practical sessions with a relative weight of 10 which comprises 10% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

For both the written and practical exams, a formula sheet and calculator are provided.

The final remark is determined as follows:

Written exam 45%
Practical exam (SPSS & Excel) 35%
Evaluation during class 20%

Additional information regarding evaluation

A student must pass both examination components. Only after passing both examination components, thus both the written and practical exam (SPSS/Excel), is the student deemed to have passed this course unit.

The calculation of the final result is as follows:

If the student passes both exam parts, the final result is equal to the sum of the original unrounded results of both exam parts.
If the student fails one or both examination components, then the final result is equal to the lowest score of both examination components, converted to a grade out of 20. However, if the student achieves at least 8/20 for both examination components in the same sitting, then the final result is equal to the sum of the original, unrounded results of both examination components. If this score is at least 10/20, the student is still considered to have passed this course unit.
If the student is absent for at least one of the examination components, this will result in a final result of 'AFW' (absent). The partial result of examination components is only carried forward to the resit if the result is at least 10/20.
An examination component that the student has passed cannot be retaken in the resit.
Grades of evaluation during lectures cannot be retaken in the second examination period; the grade (at 20%) is carried over from the first examination session.
Partial results of examination units are not carried over to the next academic year.

Allowed failing grade

Check the supplementary EER (Education and Examination Regulations) of your faculty to see if an allowed failing grade is possible for this course unit.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context