This discussion supports CO2. Please review the Week 1 Lesson Materials prior to responding.
Choose a topic that you would like to research this term. Use the GSS database to find two variables that would support your topic – one independent variable and one dependent variable. Be sure to include the topic, variable names and description in your post. Then discuss how you hope to explore the variables this term and what you hope to learn.
Example:
Does people’s education level affect their income? Independent variable (IV) is education level – the variable DEGREE. Dependent variable (DV) is income – the variable RINCOM16.
Choosing a Topic from the GSS 2018 Data Set
In this course, you will complete a project through a series of discussions and assignments. There are so many interesting attitudes and behaviors around us, it can be difficult to focus on just one for a research project. Here are a few things to think about to find yours:
First, we are in a sociology class, so your topic should be sociological in nature. Wondering if a new diet helps people lose weight, for instance, wouldn’t work. Instead, consider how perceptions of physical health affect perceptions of mental health. Second, think back on some of the topics you covered in other sociology classes (Intro Soc, Marriage and the Family, Soc Theory, etc.). Was there a topic that sparked your interest? Or is there an issue on your job or in your personal life that you would like to look into further? Since the project will be the focus of much of your work, it is highly recommended that you choose something of interest to you that can keep your attention for the duration of the course.
Once you have a general topic in mind, you will choose two variables from the GSS 2018 data set to work with. You should NOT collect your own data. Choose one independent variable (IV) and one dependent variable (DV). As explained in the Introduction to Statistics lesson this week, an IV is an influencing variable, while the DV is the influenced. In other words, we hypothesize that the DV varies based on influence of the IV. So, we will conduct a series of analyses to determine whether the IV does actually affect the DV. Does education affect income? Does political party affiliation affect opinions about women working outside the home? Does religiosity affect views on abortion? All of these are potential research questions
CO2Formulate a reasoned statistical approach to problem solving.
https://gssdataexplorer.norc.org/
Last Completed Projects
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