220076 VO VO Introduction to Data Analysis (2019W)

The objective of this class is to make students acquaintance with basic theoretical and practical statistical and quantitative research concepts in communication research. After the completion of the class, students should be able to plan and construct most commonly needed quantitative analyses in our field based on their own quantitative research designs.

The content of the class will generically cover fundamental mathematical processes for all statistical tests. However, more emphasis will be placed on the general understanding of all necessary methodological concepts to execute quantitative empirical tests with SPSS.

Students will be proficient interpreting SPSS outputs, creating tables ready to be published in academic journals, and discussing as well as interpreting most common quantitative findings in our field.
In sum, the overall goal of the class is to provide students with the necessary conceptual and practical skills to feel comfortable collecting and analyzing data based on their own research questions and designs.

In order to do so, the following topics will be covered:

Introduction to SPSS
SPSS Data File Creation / Handling
Data Modification and File Management
Frequency, Distribution, and Graphics
Central Tendency and Split Files
Variance, Standard Deviation, and Standard Scores
Correlation
Internal Reliability
Factor Analysis
T-Test
ANOVA
Association versus Causality
Partial Correlation
Linear Regression

Attention: The courses VO Introduction to Data Analysis and UE Applied Data Analysis are linked. Phases of lecture and exercise will alternate.