Constructing and analysing social indicators (21281)
Qualification: Degree in Political and Social Sciences
Year: 1st
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 6 credits
Hours of student dedication: 150
Teaching language: Catalan in lectures and Catalan and Spanish in seminars.
1. Introduction to the course
In today's information-based society and within a context of increasing use of quantitative data across all fields, knowledge on the use of numerical information is now necessary irrespective of the discipline studied. This course aims to provide students with the ability to build and use indicators for measuring the social and political world around us in order to compare a particular phenomenon across different contexts and time. It is an applied introductory course. The prerequisites for this course are mathematics to compulsory Secondary Education level. Students who have taken the Humanities itinerary and have not taken mathematics at Baccalaureate, will be able to follow the course but might need to dedicate greater effort.
2. Competencies to be achieved
Generic:
Instrumental
1. Ability to structure and classify numeric information in a text into tables and matrixes.
2. Ability to use Excel spreadsheets to calculate functions and make graphs.
3. Ability to analyse and synthesize.
4. Ability to manage information.
Interpersonal
5. Ability to solve given cases using strategies derived by consensus.
6. Ability to present as part of a group the results of work carried out in groups.
Systemic
7. Ability to understand and analyse real situations.
8. Ability to contextualise data in relation to a set problem.
Specific competences
1. Ability to understand basic concepts of research.
2. Ability to understand texts with numeric and graphic information.
3. Ability to obtain and use numerical indicators of social reality
4. Ability to interpret results obtained from numerical data.
5. Ability to understand elementary mathematic formulations.
6. Ability to understand the concept of functions and their use in analysing political and social phenomena.
3. Contents
BLOCK 1. Numeric Indicators
§ Recognising different types of data in a text.
§ Identifying when it is better to use absolute data and when relative data to analyse events.
§ Obtaining relative data from absolute data and absolute data from initial values and percentages or rates.
§ Transforming indicators into comparable indexes.
§ Calculating weighted medians and the construction of composite indicators.
§ Using data from international sources available online.
§ Interpreting the value of indicators in substantive terms.
§ Evaluating the quality of indicators.
BLOCK 2. Measuring change
§ Graphic representation of a variable's evolution.
§ Recognising the growth model that best applies to each case.
§ Calculating growth rates and percentages from observable data. Adjusting linear and exponential models to data. Value Interpolation and extrapolation
§ Calculating estimates and predictions.
§ Adjusting tendency lines using Excel.
§ Deciding the best model by calculating the sum of errors squared.
BLOCK 3. Functions as models of social reality
§ Recognising graphics that represent functions.
§ Algebraic expression of a function defined in verbal terms.
§ Identifying the type of function from its equation and graph.
§ Graph representation of functions using Excel.
§ Operations using basic functions.
§ Solving equations of basic functions for given conditions.
4. Assessment
The course assessment will comprise of two parts:
1. Continuous assessment (60% of the final mark), which includes:
- Reports on exercises carried out in seminars (40% of the final mark).
- Exercises on topics covered in lectures (20% of the final mark).
2. Final assessment by way of an exam (40% of the final mark).
In addition, students will be able to complete and mark a series of set exercises and problems to consolidate their knowledge. While they will not count towards the final grade, they allow students to assess their own performance and the degree to which they are achieving the competences identified.
Not attending a seminars and failing to hand in the required work will be marked with a 0. Absences from seminars must be justified; otherwise the student's mark for the relevant work handed in will be reduced by 50%. All pieces of work must be handed in following the format set by the teachers. No work handed in via email will be accepted. Plagiarised work will be marked with a 0. Copying during exams will result in disciplinary action being taken. Students must obtain at least a 4 in both the continuous assessment and the final exam in order to pass the course.
5. Bibliography and other resources
5.1. Basic bibliography
BLANCO, F. (2004) Introducción a las matemáticas para las ciencias sociales. Madrid: CIS (Colección Cuadernos metodológicos 33).
OPEN UNIVERSITY-BBC TV (1990) Les funcions. Barcelona: Àncora Audiovisual [Video].
THIESSEN, H. (1997) Measuring the Real World. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.
PAULOS, J. A. (1995) Un matemático lee el periódico. Barcelona: Tusquets.
BAUM, A. M.; MILLES, S. J. and SCHULTZ, H. J. (1992) Cálculo aplicado. México: Limusa.
5.2. Other resources
Resources available via the Aula Global:
· Class material and databases used in lectures.
· Lists of exercises and their solutions.
· Exercises to consolidate each topic and their solutions.
· News articles set as readings.
6. Methodology
The course applies an inductive method. Mathematical and numerical elements will be introduced through the analysis of a set of real data provided to analyze specific cases, make predictions or taking making. Such methodology has three main stages in the process of teaching-learning: an initiation stage, a sedimentation and acquisition of abilities stage and a consolidation stage. In this sense, the teacher will, at the beginning of each topic, explain its concepts and main theoretical elements. Students will then work individually or in groups to resolve a set of exercises applying their newly acquired knowledge. This way, students will be able to internalise the theoretical contents and develop the necessary attitude and procedures for their application. Finally, in seminar sessions or tutorials, any doubts or problems will be resolved and errors clarified. The formative activities in class and at home are:
Classroom based:
· Lectures where concepts and procedures are explained.
· Seminars where individual and group work is set and discussed.
· Practical sessions held in computer labs to work with spreadsheets.
· Tutorials to resolve exercises and problems.
Non-classroom based:
· Group work based on resolving a case study.
· Individual work based on solving the exercises and problems set and preparing and writing seminar reports.
· Revising and correcting errors in the exercises set and seminar reports.