AN455 Half Unit
Statistics and Causal Analysis for Social Anthropologists
This information is for the 2008/09 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Patrick Heady
Availability
MPhil/PhD Social Anthropology; MSc Social Anthropology (Research)
Course content
Piloted at UCL in 2006-2007, this course aims to provide anthropology students with proficiency in using, interpreting and presenting techniques for the analysis of quantitative data. It provides an innovative series of classes for those new to quantitative analysis, designed to complement ethnographic methods of analysis. The following areas are addressed: descriptive statistics; exploratory statistical data analysis; statistical inference and measures of association.
The objectives are to equip students
1. to understand some basic principles of statistical analysis and sampling methods,
2. to apply them appropriately in their own research,
3. to read critically anthropological texts in which these methods are applied or referred to.
Particular attention will be paid to the connections between statistical analysis and causal explanation, and the complementary use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Specific statistical tests will be taught, but most emphasis will be placed on understanding the reasoning behind them.
Practical work will be based on a range of anthropological data sets with different substantive and technical features, and will include discussion of possible applications to students’ own research plans, including the practicalities of data gathering, and hands-on training in the use of SPSS.
Teaching
Half-day workshop MT. Weekly lectures MT, weekly seminars MT.
Formative coursework
Students will be informally assessed on practical exercises undertaken in the weekly practicals and finished in their own time.
Reading List
Bernard H R 2006 Research methods in anthropology, qualitative and quantitative approaches. Fourth Edition. Oxford: Altamira
Blaikie N 2003 Analysing quantitative data. London:Sage
Marsh C 1988 Exploring Data. An introduction to data analysis for social scientists. Cambridge: Polity Press
Agresti, A & Finlay B Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. Third Edition. Prentice Hall, 1997.
Astuti,R 2007 ‘What happens after death?’ in (eds.) R Astuti, J Parry and C Stafford Questions of Anthropology Oxford: Berg
Assessment
A two-hour unseen examination (50%) and coursework (50%) consisting of weekly statistical exercises. ^
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