In this course, statistics for the social sciences, I learned a variety of new statistical tests and how to input them into different computer systems. The two systems that we learned were SPSS and Rstudio. We were instructed to make a statistics manual that can be used at any time to help someone learn basic statistics.
The table of contents displays what to expect from each chapter in the manual and can be used to easily guide through the chapters. Chapter 1 consists of instructions on how to enter data into the two computer systems, SPSS and Rstudio. Chapter 2 is about recoding data into different variables using SPSS and Rstudio. Chapters 3-11 also give instructions on how to run different statistical tests through SPSS and Rstudio. They contain information on how to do these statistical tests by hand as well. The tests are measures of central tendency, measures of variability, z-scores and probability, confidence intervals, independent and dependent t-tests, analysis of variance, chi-squared tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and regression. We learned how to complete each formula the different tests had by hand and it will be used for helping someone in the future.
These skills matter because they can one day be used within our careers. I did not know that statistics would be a degree requirement for a criminal justice major, but now that I have completed the course, I understand why it matters. The skills of knowing how to do different statistical tests, convey information about statistics to different audiences, think analytically, and many other things will be helpful in the larger context. For me, this means that I will be able to read statistical research, I can analyze and report major findings, and I can use quantitative data and analyze that as well.
This will be a great tool within my career because it furthers my ability to conduct good reports on information, even when it is statistical. Program assessment is another skill I will be leaving this class with, and I believe that will also be a great skill for the career I want to be in. Evaluating programs and analyzing quantitative data in order to figure out an answer to a research question will be valid when figuring out ways to go about the criminal justice system. That being juvenile programs, adult programs, etc.
I will take what I learned from this course and apply it to my career if I ever need to do so. This will make me a well-rounded employee. I will also keep the statistics manual that I made because it holds a lot of great information. It can help me and others in the future when either reminding ourselves of things we have learned or when learning it for the first time.