Quantitively Thinking

This is the first post in my new blogging series on “iTeaudemia“. Since every single class I’m taking this semester requires reflective journals, I would use this space to blog about my thought, difficulties, anxiety, and such regarding to the classes. A number of people might wonder why I release this stuff publicly, instead of keep it privately for my own sake. I know that people hate to show their weaknesses like stupidity, ignorance, and such on public space (e.g. personal blogs). 

However, I take it as a part of my learning. No one is perfect, as everyone knows. It is not just my future historical records. I hope it would help someone, at least one, to learn from my understanding and failures during my study.

My first class for Fall 06 began on two days ago with SOCI 708 Statistics for Sociologists taught by Cathy Zimmer. I am required to take two consecutive statistics classes during my coursework period. Since there is no statistics class available within my school, I decided to go with the one in Sociology department. I am taking this one because the application of statistics would be beneficial to my future research plan.

Two texts are required for this particular class. There are:

Frankfort-Nachmias, C. & Leon-Guerrero, A. (2006). Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. 4th ed. Thousand Oak: Pine Forge.

and

Allision, P. D. (1999). Multiple Regression: A Primer. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge.

I didn’t realize that both of them are published by the same publisher. Anyway, most of the class will use the first one.

After reading two chapters of the first book (later called FN+LG), I found this book is very interesting. I know it is intended to use for undergraduate class. As a person to trying to recover their statistics knowledge, I think this book very well covers the introductory and things to remember.  Also I think it would be beneficial to those who are totally new to statistics (of course! that’s what the author intended to).

My first concern about learning statistics is to catch up the content of the class.  If I somewhere lost on the way, it is quite tough  for me to keep following.  I need to get back to make sure I understand particular stuff.  Therefore, one of the features I like the most about this book is the little excerpt summarizing content each section.  It helps me a lot to remind me when I get lost (which happened to me quite often).  And definitely it save my time because I do not need to read the whole long paragraph which is full of example.