SW 243 - Intro to Social Work Stats

Credits: 4

The overall purpose of this course is to enhance students’ skills as research consumers and in performing research and statistical analyses in social work and social science. Included in the course are descriptive statistical procedures including measures of central tendency, variability, shape and distribution along with associations between two variables. In addition, inferential statistics will be covered including estimation and hypothesis testing. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: (1) critically examine existing social science literature with emphasis on issues regarding cultural diversity, gender, sexual orientation, and sensitive topics (i.e., social and economic justice, oppression, and populations at risk), (2) apply relevant social, cultural, economic and other diversity factors in the analysis and conclusions drawn in the research endeavor, (3) interpret statistical findings as they apply to generalist social work practice, (4) match appropriate statistical procedures to type of data and research questions, and (5) perform statistical calculations and analyses, including analyses using Excel. Prerequisite: None. and winter.