This course began in the fall semester of 2021 as a Head Start Program research assignment to look at the relation between parent involvement as it relates to student success. The course has continued on through the spring semester 2022 where we have built on the findings from the research project to go further in depth into statistics and relations between different variables within. Since the course began, we have learned how to write literature reviews, how to conduct data and methods, as well as how to collect quantitative and qualitative findings. This semester, we have learned a variety of new skills that began with learning how to use SPSS but also becoming more experienced and confident in using RStudio.
After having a basic understanding of SPSS and RStudio, our statistics class has learned how to expand our knowledge with these computer programs through skills such as entering and downloading data into the programs. Once this was accomplished, we were able to recode variables to fit specific data statistics, find the measures of central tendency by hand and on the programs, and how to find measures of variability. Further into this semester, it was taught how to calculate z-scores and probability by hand as well as on the SPSS and RStudio programs, how to find and interpret confidence intervals and t-tests, and how to complete an Analysis of Variance test. To wrap up the end of the spring 2022 semester our statistics class was taught how to complete and interpret chi-squared tests, Pearson’s correlation tests, and regression tests.
After completing both semesters for this course, there is a notable list of multiple new skills that have been learned by each student. These skills are ones that are very beneficial moving on in life. They are beneficial for college courses in the future as well as a valuable skill set to have when in search of employment. This is especially true if the job requires an understanding of computer programs like RStudio or SPSS, or any of the tests named above. One valuable piece of material that can be taken from this course not listed above is the statistics manuals that we have been working on all semester long. These manuals contain the step by step processes to complete any of the tests or findings above, both by hand and by each computer statistics program. With these manuals, those who have taken this class will be able to use them throughout life as a guide if the need ever arises.
Another reason that this course matters in a larger context is because it has provided a better understanding for all other statistical findings. Learning how to recode and complete these tests on our own has given us an in-depth knowledge of how statistical information is found, but also where the numbers might be flawed. We learned that while things might seem to have a statistical significance, that this may only be because of the variables used or because of a limited sample size, when in actuality, there is no significance or correlation between variables. Other reasons that this statistics course has helped in the long run is because it has required us to complete these e-portfolios which we can use throughout life as part of a resume to show employers that we have the knowledge to do so. Finally, with all the knowledge that I have learned from this course, I will be able to accomplish many of the things listed above, as well as take the skills and use them in the future to help me throughout my career.