EC23M and EC36C and NOT SY22k Marlon Tracey

ECON2010 : Statistical Computing

Course Description The objective of this course is to aid students in carrying out effective data analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Although built on strong theoretical foundations, EC23P is an applied course. On completion of this course, students will be equipped to generate statistical formulae in SPSS and to be able to present and analyze the resulting output. Thus, students will be expected to be able to: (a) Present appropriate graphs and tables for the respective data (b) Know different tests and how to get the required output (c) Accurately interpret the output produced     Course Outline 1. Introduction 2. Review of Descriptive Statistics         Types of variables (Bryman & Cramer Chpt. 4)         Basic descriptive methods (Bryman & Cramer Chpt. 5)         Generating and interpreting descriptive statistics in SPSS (Bryman & Cramer Chpt. 5) 3. Review of Hypothesis Testing (Bryman & Cramer Chpt. 7)  Hypothesis Testing Techniques  The appropriateness of each test  Execution and Interpretation in SPSS 4. Regression and Regression Diagnostics (Bryman and Cramer Chpts. 8 & 10)  Simple Regression  Multiple Regressions  Dummy Variables  Regression Diagnostics  Execution and Interpretation in SPSS 5. Scatter plots and Correlation (Bryman & Cramer Chpt. 8)  Creation and Interpretation of Scatter plots  Correlation and its relation to scatter plots  Using the appropriate correlation test for different types of data  Execution and Interpretation of results in SPSS 6. Probits and Logits  Probit and Logit models  Execution and Interpretation in SPSS   Course Assessment This course is evaluated through course work assignments and as such there is no mid-semester or final exam. All assignments MUST be handed in on time. Late assignments will not be accepted. Students are allowed to work together on the computer but each student MUST submit his or her own written assignment. There will be three computer assignments: (a) First assignment – 20 marks (b) Second assignment – 20 marks (c) Third assignment – 60 marks The deadline for all assignments will be announced in class and posted on OURVLE. Prescribed Texts Bryman, Alan and Duncan, Cramer, Quantitative Data Analysis with SPSS for Windows, Routledge, 2005  “The Surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed”- Richard B. Sheridan