Peer Review

Statistics Using SDA (Survey Documentation and Analysis)

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Reviewed:: Mar 23, 2017 by Sociology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: These exercises (15 in all) were written for instructors teaching an introductory class in statistics. They were written so each exercise is independent of the others and any one exercise can be used even if the other exercises are not used. These instructional exercises were originally written for SPSS. However, some colleges, including many community colleges, do not have a site license for SPSS. The cost of SPSS is often prohibitive, so I rewrote the exercises to run in SDA, an online statistical package written and maintained at UC Berkeley. SDA is freely available wherever you have an internet connection. I prepared a document to help you with SDA (Notes on Using SDA) which should answer some of your questions about SDA. These documents can be downloaded from the website. The data set used in this exercise is the 2014 General Social Survey. You have permission to use these exercises and to revise them to fit your needs. Each exercise has a set of keywords to give you a quick view of what is covered.
Type of Material:: Assignment, Learning object repository, Training material.
Recommended Uses:: In-class, Homework, Individual assignment.
Technical Requirements:: Internet Explorer or applicable browser.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The student will be able to apply basic statistical operations using Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA) and will be able to differentiate statistical measures using General Social Survey data sets. The student will also be able to evaluate the use of statistical measures in research.
Target Student Population:: Introductory Statistics and/or Research Methods courses, Applied and public sociology courses, Lower division students, Refresher for upper division students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Should have some basic knowledge of statistics and other computer skills.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Exercises train learners on statistical operations using survey documentation and analysis. Learners use valid, reliable data sets from the 2014 General Social Survey to explore statistical measures. Comprehensive and well paced from basic to more complex use of SDA.
Concerns:: A companion or supplemental text will enhance and reinforce learning statistical measures and data analysis.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This is an excellent guide for folks teaching statistical analysis. Can be used as is or segments taken out as needed. Self-directed (students may complete at their own pace. Each exercise aligns with basic statistical concepts required in introductory courses.
Concerns:: The link to the GSS 1972-2014 Cumulative Datafile in each exercise is not easily identifiable at a glance.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: Comprehensive and well organized. Exercises provide practical applications of statistical measures. Learners are introduced to the uses of survey documentation and data analysis.
Concerns:: Learners must orient themselves to accurately input codes and filters in the GSS 1972-2014 Cumulative Datafile to access data and analysis.

Other Issues and Comments:: Effective teaching tool for introductory statistics and research method courses using Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA).
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