Soc 649

 

Principles of Multiple Regression

 

Winter 2004

 

Lecture:               

 

Monday and Wednesday, 3:30-4:48, AV 0110

 

Professor:             

 

Zhenchao Qian. Office is 346 Bricker Hall. My office hours are 2:30 to 3:30 on Monday and Wednesday. My telephone number is 688-8612, and my email is qian.26@sociology.osu.edu. My webpage is http://www.sociology.ohio-state.edu/zcq. Course webpage is http://class.osu.edu/.

 

Recitation (I):

 

Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30-2:18, DB 70.

 

GTA (I):

 

Michael Cardella. Office hours: TBA.

 

Recitation (II):

 

Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-3:18, DB 70.

 

GTA (II):

 

Jin Lu. Office hours: TBA.

 

Overview:

 

This is the second quarter of a two-quarter sequence (Soc 648 and Soc 649). It is a course that helps develop understanding of the logic of various statistical techniques based on linear regression models. The course emphasizes using statistics on real data. Students will learn to do regression analysis using Stata and to interpret results for a variety of regression models including multiple regressions, regressions using a variety of special functional forms, and model building strategies. The course also covers the assumptions of the regression model, the consequences of violating these assumptions, and possible solutions when assumptions are violated.

 

 

Required Text:

 

McClendon, McKee J. 2002. Multiple Regression and Causal Analysis . Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc.

 

Recommended Texts:

 

Moore, David S. and George P. McCabe. 2003. Introduction to the Practice of Statistics. Third Edition. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. The book has a website, http://bcs.whfreeman.com/ips4e/.

 

Hamilton, Lawrence C. 2003. Statistics with Stata. Duxbury.

 

Hagle, Timothy M. 1995. Basic Math For Social Scientists: Concepts. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

 

Hagle, Timothy M. 1996. Basic Math For Social Scientists: Problems and Solutions. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

 

Grade

 

1.  There will be five assignments, each worth 12% of the course grade.  Each assignment entails a computer application, the interpretation of results, and a demonstration of understanding of basic statistical principles.  Please turn in your assignment in recitation class on the due date. You should never come late to class or miss a class session in order to complete an assignment. 

 

I believe that cooperation is the basis of good learning, and I encourage you to work together on assignments.  I leave it up to your individual consciences to determine the fine line between cooperative work and mere copying from one another.  In other words, talk and consult with each other as much as you like but in the end each student is required do their own individual written work.

 

2.  There will be a take-home final examination that counts for 40% of the course grade.  The content of the examination will include the range of topics covered during the course and will include computer application and interpretation, as well as conceptual questions.  In contrast to the assignments, the exam is exclusively a test of individual work so you are not permitted to work together.

 

3.  All written materials must be typed, double-spaced.  Tables, formulas, and the like may be hand-written but they must be very neat and legible.  Always make a copy of your work (a hard copy or a backed-up copy on disk) before you turn it in.

 


Schedules:

 

I shall try to adhere to the following schedule. All readings should be done prior to the date of the class for which they are assigned.

 

 

Date

Topic and Readings

1/5

Introduction (Chapter 1)

1/7

Bivariate Regression (Chapter 2, pp. 133-157 of Chapter 4) (M&M, Chapter 10)

1/12

1/14

Trivariate and Multiple Regression (Chapter 3, pp. 157-174 of Ch 4) (M&M, Chapter 11)

1/21

1/26

1/28

2/2

Dummy Variables (Chapter 5)

2/4

2/9

Nonlinearity Relationships (Chapter 6) (M&M, Chapter 2.6)

2/11

2/16

2/18

Interactions (Chapter 7)

2/23

2/25

3/1

Violations of Assumptions (pp. 174-197 of Chapter 4)

3/3

3/8

3/10

Model Building Strategies

 

 

Students with documented disabilities are responsible for making their needs known to the instructor and seeking available assistance in a timely manner. The syllabus is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact Michelle Miller-Owens, 304 Bricker Hall, 292-9416.