Editing Quantitative Methods for Communication (Spring 2023) (section)

= Assignments =

Your success in this class depends most on you being engaged in the learning process. It is essential that you: (a) study the readings in advance of class; (b) attend class and stay focused on the day’s material; (c) complete all of the lecture and SPSS homework assignments, and talk to me or your TA if you have questions about these assignments, and (d) plan in advance for the completion of projects and studying for exams. In short, it is essential that you take significant responsibility for your own learning.  If you do so, you may find that Quantitative Methods is not only challenging but rewarding.

In order to encourage your learning, the course includes several types of assignments.  

== Midterm and Final Exams ==

Students will complete a midterm and a final exam.  Each exam will cover material from lectures, discussion, and readings. They will assess your knowledge of research methods and statistics, but not your use of SPSS. Review sheets will be distributed before each exam. The midterm and final exam each are worth 100 points. Please do not make travel arrangements that interfere with the scheduled exams.

== Homework/Labs ==

Students will complete 10 SPSS homework assignments over the course of the class. They will be assigned in Friday labs and are due in the next lab, when lab begins. Each SPSS homework assignment is worth 5 points, for a total of 50 points.

== SPSS Quizzes ==

There will be two quizzes pertinent to the SPSS component of the course. These quizzes will assess your ability to use SPSS and interpret the program output. They will be given during Friday lab sessions at the middle and end of the semester. Each SPSS quiz is worth 50 points. Please do not make travel arrangements that interfere with the scheduled quizzes.

== Survey Design Project ==

To build your knowledge of survey design, you will work in a group on a survey development project. The project involves developing research and survey questions; the project and your contribution to the group together are worth 50 points.

== Survey Analysis Project ==

To encourage synthesis of knowledge and skills across all of the course components, you will work in a group on the collection and analysis of data from the Survey Design Project. The project involves the collection, analysis, and “write-up” of data. Detailed descriptions of this project will be provided as the semester progresses. This project is worth 80 points.	 

== Participation ==

I expect you to be an active member of our class. This includes reading the material before class, paying attention in class, participating in activities, and being actively engaged in learning, thinking about, and trying to understand the material.

To make sure that everyone has an opportunity to participate and to encourage you to do the assignments, I will randomly select students to answer questions about the concepts from readings or to explain portions of homework assignments and labs.

Lecture classes will also typically include questions on Hotseat.

Please do not come to class if you have COVID symptoms (or symptoms of other airborne diseases!). In order to align the incentives so that people don't show up sick, we will track attendance but lecture and lab participation will be self-graded out of a total of 20 points.