|
Grant
Blank
Before we open the discussion
up to the larger group, I will briefly discuss how I use data in two teaching
contexts: methods and introductory sociology.
In methods data support the analytical tools. Real data always contain
various problems such as non-standard distributions, wild points, odd
clustering, and other irregular patters. By using real data and showing
students how to find and fix these problems my students are better
prepared to handle the problems when they encounter them in real research.
A continuing problem is finding real datasets that have specific problems,
are small enough so that they are easy to work with and email, and have
some substantive interest to social scientists. In introductory sociology
courses I try to present sociology as a process for obtaining knowledge
about society. The texts and readings have many facts and theories about
society. Students can easily get the impression that these are fixed and
well known. We do analysis of real data to show students how the process
leads to conclusions about society, institutions, or attitudes.
Grant Blank |