APPLIED DATA ANALYSIS

The course provides review and analysis of some of the most common techniques for statistical analysis employed in quantitative research in communication and social sciences with the support of relevant software packages. Based on the analysis of specific examples and on exercises drawn from actual surveys, the course familiarizes students with the basics of quantitative data analysis as well as with the interpretation of the results and their presentation, particularly for the purposes of writing a scientific text. Particular emphasis is placed on statistical tests used in most surveys designed and conducted to complete the graduate study program at the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications. The course provides also knowledge necessary to understand specific types of surveys often presented in the public discourse, like opinion polls and other kinds of quantitative research, enhancing the ability for their critical reading and interpretation.

The students practice in analyzing quantitative data derived from real research projects in a computer lab, they obtain the materials of the course through the E-learning system, they communicate with the teaching and are evaluated using ICT and the E-learning system.

20% Participation in class 30% Small scale field research 50% Term paper (1.500-2.000 words)

1. Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. W. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: Four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 10(7): 1-9. 2. Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (and sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll). London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: SAGE. 3. Leech, N. L., Barrett, K. C., & Morgan, G. A. (2005). SPSS for intermediate statistics: Use and interpretation (2nd Ed.). Mahwah, New Jersey, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 4. Morgan, G. A., Leech, N. L., Gloeckner, G. W., & Barrett, K. C. (2004). SPSS for introductory statistics. Use and interpretation (2nd Ed.). Mahwah, New Jersey, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 5. Pallant, J. (2001). SPSS survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using SPSS for Windows (Version 10). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. 6. Σειρά βίντεο εφαρμογής στατιστικών μεθόδων με τη χρήση του SPSS (http://www.how2stats.net/p/home.html). 7. Σειρά βίντεο SPSS από το London School of Economics (http://www.lse.ac.uk/methodology/tutorials/SPSS/home.aspx). 8. Βίντεο για τους βαθμούς ελευθερίας (http://creative-wisdom.com/pub/df/default.htm)