B5776 - STATISTICA SOCIALE

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student is capable to know and apply the basic tools of quantitative analysis in the field of sociology and social service. Specifically, the student is able to: - gather information and data from statistical sources, use the basic tools of quantitative statistical analysis and read and verify the results in social research.

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules of 30 and 18 hours respectively.
The two modules may be interrelated.

The first module concerns the formal knowledge of descriptive statistics techniques. The second module will be of an application type based on applications that concern social data, their analysis and interpretation.

The topics that will be addressed in the course are simple basic tools necessary for working in the social field, also addressing quantitative aspects. They help to examine the contexts for decisions of social, economic and political actions as well as being research tools.

First module

• Introduction to statistical thought and to statistical data analysis
• Social phenomena: how to collect and analise data
• The Official Sources of Social Statistics
• Data, statistical units, population and sample.
• Statistical variables classification and type of analyses
• The univariate analysis, summarize and compare statistical distributions: central tendency and dissimilarity/ variability measures
• The bivariate analyses: frequency distributions, dependency measures
• Simple linear regression
• Social indicators and Indexes: how to measure and evaluate wellbeing, development and poverty
• Basic elements of demographic components and population development

Second module

• Introduction to the use of Excel
• Operate on data and create new variables
• Construction of graphs and their interpretation
• Calculation of key statistics and inequality measures
• Empirical analysis of the relationships between two variables
• Exercises on social and demographic data

Readings/Bibliography

Main reference: P. Corbetta, G. Gasperoni e M. Pisati, Statistica per la ricerca sociale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2001 (chapters 2 to 9).

Slides and lectures materials at disposal on Virtuale platform.

Other references:

E. Amaturo et al., Statistica per le scienze sociali, UTET Università, 2021.

S.Borra, A. Di Ciaccio, Statistica per le scienze economiche e sociali, IV edizione, McGrow Hill,2021

Teaching methods

The "SOCIAL STATISTICS" course (first semester) and the "METHODOLOGY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES" course, taught by Prof.ssa Antonella Ceccagno (second semester), make up the integrated METHODOLOGY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL STATISTICS course.

The Social Statistics course has a quantitative approach and aims at the analysis and interpretation of data relating to social phenomena. Having tools to read quantitative data is today of fundamental importance also in the field of social work and social research.

The course is easily approachable even for those who do not have a quantitative knowledge background with the right motivation

In addition to the 30 hours of the course (I module), 18 hours of workshop with Excel (II module) will be an important part of the course.

All information for the attendance of the workshop will be provided on "Virtuale" platform.

Assessment methods

The exam will take place using the Eol platform.

The test lasts approximately one hour and half and consists of a maximum of 10 questions that will be managed in a quiz mode containing multiple choices, and two open answer questions.

Particularly:

Multiple choice questions can contain both multiple options related to the result of an exercise that the student will have to obtain, and theoretical questions.

The open-ended questions may be exercises to be carried out for which the procedure and the result will be indicated. Microsoft Excel spreadsheets or other software will be used.

Very Important: participation in the exam implies registration on Alma Esami in the required time. Without such a registration, it is not possible to access the platform. Failure to register on Alma Esami therefore implies non-participation in the test.

The Integrated Course final mark is unique, it will be registered at the end of the second semester, and it is given by the average of the two marks (rounded up if the mark is 0.5 or more) obtained in the two single tests.

Teaching tools

Online materials (slides, papers, exercises).

Internet, video, software, data

Office hours

See the website of Rosella Rettaroli

See the website of Francesco Giovinazzi