In SOCL 346, I learned how to find statistical values by hand, learned how to enter data into SPSS and RStudio, and how to interpret the data. Learning how to work through statistical tests and find their values by hand was not as difficult as I had anticipated. The equations looked more intimidating than they actually were. I learned how to calculate variability, z-scores, probability, t-tests, variance, chi-squared, and correlation by hand.
I learned how to enter data into SPSS and RStudio. I learned how to recode data in SPSS and RStudio. Learning how to run tests and recoding data was not hard to learn. It was more detail-oriented. I started to struggle a little with the details of the coding in RStudio, which was difficult. Learning how to interpret the data was not too hard. It is easy to figure out what the data means once I learned what a null hypothesis and a research hypothesis are. If there is no significant difference, then I would retain the null hypothesis. However, if there is a significant difference, then I would retain the research hypothesis.
In a larger context, it will help me understand future studies. It helped me during my senior capstone project. I was able to know what their tables meant when I had to analyze their data. Overall, made looking at data easier and less confusing. Being able to know what data means and how to interpret it will make it easier for us in future jobs.
In the future, I plan to use this information in future jobs. If a job needs someone to input data into SPSS or RStudio, then it will give me an advantage. Knowing that government agencies come out with a lot of crime statistics, I would be able to put data into SPSS, and tests. If I ever decide to go to graduate school, I’ll do better in my statistics classes because I will have my statistics manual. I would be able to help some people with my manual.