Geography 215-01
Quantitative Methods
Fall 1998
Instructor Information
Instructor: Dr. C.M. Rodrigue; Butte Hall 539; 898-4953 or -5285
Instructor's E-mail Address:
lapaloma@ecst.csuchico.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-11 a.m.; Wednesday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Course Description:
Research techniques in practical applications in the social or area
sciences, including research methods, basic statistical measures, and
other techniques for quantifying point and areal phenomena.
Prerequisites: GEOG 110 or MATH 005A or faculty permission.
Course Objectives:
Develop understanding of the scientific method in geography
Develop competence in research design
Develop skill in basic statistical and spatial analytic methods
Develop proficiency in the use of spreadsheet software
Develop familiarity with basic Internet functions
Required Course Materials:
Text: McGrew and Monroe, Statistical Problem Solving in
Geography
Calculator with statistical functions (TI-36X or comparable)
Recommended Course Materials:
Book on Excel, such as Excel 97 for Windows for Dummies
(try Tower Books downtown, Barnes and Noble at 20th St. and 99, or http://www.amazon.com)
Grading:
I grade on a modified curve, based on several 50 point exercises; a
midterm and a final, each worth 200 points; and 50 points for attendance.
Attendance is crucial in a course of this nature: if you miss something
at one point in time, it can easily prevent you from understanding
subsequent concepts -- and office hours are not intended for one-on-one
lecture makeups. Because of its importance, I will frequently take
attendance. Your attendance score will be proportionate to the number of
roll calls in which your presence has been recorded.
Tentative Course Outline:
- Introduction (M & M Ch. 1)
- Statistics and geography
Spreadsheet boot camp
- Data types (M & M Ch. 2)
- Primary and secondary data sources
Levels of measurement
Basic graphic conventions
- Descriptive statistics (M & M Ch. 3-4)
- Central tendency
Dispersion and variability
Shape and position
- Inference and research design (M & M Ch. 5-7; reserve reading)
- Hypotheses and logic
Probability distributions
Sampling methods
- Inferential statistical techniques
- Single sample tests (M & M Ch. 8)
- Means and proportions
Point and interval estimation
Point, quadrat, and area pattern analyses
- Multiple sample tests (M & M Ch. 9-13)
- Means and proportions
Contingency tests
Analysis of variance
Correlation
Regression
