Tuskegee University Department of Social Work

SYLLABUS FOR

SOWK 300 Computer Applications in the Social Sciences

Fall 2011 Course Number: Course Description: SOWK 0300-02 SOWK 0300. COMPUTER APPLICATIONS. 1st and 2nd Semesters. Lect. 3, 3 credits. No prerequisites. Provide hands on introduction to real-world computer applications in the social and behavioral sciences: Word-processing, spreadsheets, management information systems, data base systems, and statistical analysis (SPSSx). Data analysis is emphasized. Students work on a local area network and the Internet. 3 Hour SOWK 300-01 Tue & Thur 8:00 am 9:30 am Ms. McArthur, MSW, Instructor (334) 727-8300 jacqueline.mcarthur@tuskegee.edu BIOE RM 44-330 Posted BIOE RM 44-330 http://tuskegee.blackboard.com

Credit Hours: Class Meets: Instructor: Telephone: E-Mail Address: Office: Office/Phone Hours: Course Website:

My signature below indicates that I have received a copy of this syllabus to keep. My signature also indicates that I understand and agree to the following: As a student enrolled in SOWK 300 I will not be allowed to take exams, quizzes or submit assignments/project/exercises or homework unless I purchase my own personal copy of the required textbooks/materials and understand that I will receive a grade of zero for the course and all assignments if I fail to purchase my own copy of the textbook(s) by the first week of class. Due Date: The date on which a document must be submitted Deadline: The last date on which a document can be submitted without penalty In SOWK 300; ALL dates and times are deadlines, which cannot be negotiated. All assignments are posted in Blackboard and the course textbook. _____________________________________ ___________ Student Signature Date Please keep a copy of this for your records, sign and date it and return it to the instructor.

Attendance Policy (SIGN AND RETURN TO INSTRUCTOR)

Updated Attendance Policy Fall 2009 -Students who experience any signs of illness (i.e. flu or flu like symptoms) please DO NOT COME TO CLASS) you will need bring a doctors note to return to class. Send a text or email or call stating that you are unable to attend class. As long as you seek professional medical help and have a doctors excuse you can return to class when you are "well". All assignments and most lectures are online, so you will not miss any assignments.

Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Absence from class, whether excused or unexcused will result in a lowered course grade, or in extreme circumstances, in the awarding of a grade of E for the course. o Each and every unexcused absence will result in (5 points) being deducted from the students final grade. o Absences will be considered unexcused when the student does not attend class, and does not offer a justifiable and documented excuse for his/her absence. o Acceptable forms of documentation will be left up to the discretion of the instructor only. o The student is responsible for providing valid documentation and any/all missed assignments to instructor within one week of the absence.After one week the absence will be considered un-excused and the work may not be made up. o Absences will be considered excused in documented cases of medical illness, death in the immediate family, court appearances, military leave, and in those instances when the student is officially representing the University off-campus. o Students may accumulate no more than (4) excused absences. A social work faculty review will be held to determine if the student should be allowed to continue in the course or administratively dropped from the course. o Or the instructor will administratively drop the student from the course. Tardiness Arriving to class on time is a sign of respect for one's fellow students and the instructor. Walking into class late, however, may be indicative of disrespect. It is certainly disruptive. Arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving early will count as an unexcused absence. University Sponsored Activities: If you plan to miss an assignment deadline because you will be an official representative of the university at a university-sponsored event, on the deadline date, please be prepared to turn in the assignment at a earlier date than scheduled. Assignments and written work must be completed on or before the deadline date in these cases. In such cases you should make arrangements to submit the assignment at the end of the previous class or submit via Blackboard no later than the deadline. INSTRUCTIONS: Please keep a copy of this attendance policy for your records, sign and date it and return it to the instructor. I have read the attendance policy for the Social Work course I am enrolled in. I understand the policy and agree to follow it. ____________________________________ Student Name ____________________________________ Student Signature& Date

Course Description and Rationale The beginning of the 21st Century is a period characterized by the rapid expansion and integration of what are called Sociotechnical Systems of Use. These combine three components, technology, information, and people, to carry out functions and tasks that would be impossible for humans to perform unaided. The Social Science perspective of this course defines those three components according to the following. Technology: This course emphasizes computer technology, various computer programs (applications), and computer networks. It should be understood that the Internet is in reality a network of networks. Tuskegee University operates a Wide Area Network (WAN) in which all of the hundreds of computers on Campus are interconnected to each other and to larger networks which comprise the Internet.. Within the Campus Network, the Department of Social Work operates a Local Area Network (LAN) which consists of about 30 computer workstations (clients), network printers, and several network servers. Students will utilize this client/server technology for various course functions. Information. This course emphasizes empirical information about social problems in a way that can lead to concrete interventions to change social policies and programs that might alleviate social problems. Students are expected to focus on problems and issues that they believe have an impact on the survival and propagation of African Americans. Students are expected to become familiar with some basic concepts of Social Science research and data analysis so that they themselves can generate knowledge about social problems and solutions. Human Users. This course seeks to develop in students a set of cognitive abilities that are common across Social Science based disciplines and professions. These have been referred to as critical thinking skills, as problem-solving skills, and as quantitative reasoning skills. For the purposes of this course, those notions were combined to form what we call the Quantitative Problem-Solving Model, which consists of four steps: 1. Problem Definition 2. Data Collection 3. Data Analysis 4. Communicating Findings In this light, the purpose of this course is to provide students with opportunities to apply Sociotechnical Systems of Use to solve real-life problems. Toward this end, the content of this course is (artificially) separated into two parts: Social Science concepts and Computer concepts. This course is designed to precede and provide a foundation for the formal research methods course in each respective Social Science discipline.

This course is taught in a user-friendly manner with emphasis on use of SPSS.

Course Outline
Topics 1. Social Science Concepts I: Problem-Solving 2. Computer Concepts I: The Basics Macintosh OS and GUI 3. Social Science Concepts II: Problem Definition Review Quantitative Problem-Solving Model Client/Server Network Technology Computer Word-processing Documents and Files APA Style Tables The Language of Variables and Causality Secondary Data Collection: www.census.gov Core Standards for Critical Evaluation of Information on the Internet Cause and Effect Creating Presentations with Power Point Week Week 1 Week 2

Week 3

4. Computer Concepts II: Using Power Point to Present Quantitative Data 5. Social Science Concepts III: Elementary Data Analysis

Week 4

6. Computer Concepts III: SPSS Basics

7. Social Science Concepts IV: The GSS Research Report

8. Social Science Concepts V: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information 9. Computer Concepts IV: SPSS Competency 10 Social Science Concepts VI: Primary Data Collection

The Language of Variables (Review) Reading Bivariate Crosstabs Constructing Hypotheses Practice Reading Crosstabs Learning SPSS Syntax GET FILE/ KEEP Running FREQUENCIES Recoding Variables Defining Variables and Values Running CROSSTABS Naming and Saving SPSS Files Summary of SPSS Syntax Reading SPSS Output Searching for Variables in PDF files with Adobe Acrobat Reader Research Report Grading Sheet Writing the Research Report: An Explanation and Example Some Common Types of Graphs Microsoft Graph Chart Types Social Science Concepts VI: The NELS:88 Research Report NELS:88 The National Education Longitudinal Study NELS:88 Variables Your Survey Questionnaire Item Construction: Whats Wrong with these Questions? Write More Effective Survey Questions Ethical Issues in Survey Research Sample Informed Consent Statement The Survey Research Report Graphing Crosstabs Draft of Survey Questionnaire and Codebook Data Coding Form Your Web Site - Creating Web Sites

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

11. Computer Concepts V: Communicating Findings in a Web Site

Week 11

Tuskegee University Department of Social Work SOWK 300: Computer Applications in the Social Sciences F.A. Taylor 08SP rev Quantitative Problem-Solving Model This course seeks to develop in students a set of cognitive abilities that are common across Social Science based disciplines and professions. These have been referred to as critical thinking skills, as problem-solving skills, and as quantitative reasoning skills. For the purposes of this course, these notions are combined to form what we call the Quantitative Problem-Solving Model, which consists of four steps: 1. Problem Definition 2. Data Collection 3. Data Analysis 4. Communicating Findings 1. Problem Definition A. Perspective, point of view, frame of reference. (e.g.Identify a problem, policy, or issue that might have an impact on the survival and propagation of African Americans.) From:Websters Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary Survive: To remain alive or in existence: live on. Propagate (a) increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers. (b) the spreading of something (as a belief) abroad or into new regions: desimination. (c) enlargment or extension (as a crack) into a solid body. B. Specify level of analysis. Primary and secondary system levels should be identified. (1) Micro Level The Cell The Organ The Individual (2) Mezzo Level The Group The Family (3) Macro Level The Organization The Community The Society (4) Global The Planet The Solar System C. Dimensions of functioning. Express driving and restraining forces affecting the problem in terms of biological, psychological, social, economic, and spiritual dimensions of functioning. D. Amenability to change. Estimate the magnitude, scope, change, disparities in the problem. E. Formulate causal research questions and hypotheses. F. Develop causal models. (diagramming, pictorial/graphic depictions of causal relationships)

2.

3.

4.

Data Collection A. Collect numerical information about the problem. (1) Primary: The researcher uses questionnaires, interviews, or other observational techniques to obtain information from a sample of respondents. a. Questionnaire item construction b. Questionnaire design and layout c. Ethical issues: Informed consent d. Ethical issues: Non-obtrusive methods (2) Secondary: The researcher obtains data that other persons or organizations have collected as primary data. a. Databases and data archives (public and private) b. SPSS data files c. Searching the Internet B. Assessing information (1) Format and usefulness (2) Validity and reliability Data Analysis A. Coding and performing other computational operations on the numerical information, i.e. specifying variables. B. Entering the data into an appropriate computer program. C. Checking the accuracy of the data entered. D. Univariate analysis. Applying statistical techniques to summarize and explore single variables. E. Bivariate analysis. Looking for causal relationships between independent and dependent variables. F. Multivariate analysis. Expanding bivariate relationships by selectively introducing (for example) race, SES, gender, age, time, and region as control variables where appropriate. Communicating Findings A. Description. Using tables, graphs, diagrams, and words to describe the results of the data analysis. B. Interpretation. Expressing the meaning of the results of the data analysis in terms of the original bio-social-economic-spiritual context. Specifying the connection between ones findings, what needs to be changed, and how it can be changed (eliminated, decreased, strengthened). C. Communicating hypotheses, findings, interpretations, and recommendations in a formal research report using narrative text, tables, and pictorial representations of quantitative information (color graphs and diagrams). D. Communicating findings in multimedia presentations (Power Point slides, Web sites, other hyperlinked documents). E. Synchronous vs. Asynchronous multimedia presentations.

Francis A. Taylor, 2008.

Course Requirements 1. The lab fee for this course is ($10.00). It covers the cost of computer paper, printing, maintenance of equipment, and many other materials handed out in class. You must also purchase a copy of Quantitative Problem Solving Methods Course Readings and Instructions from the available for purchase at the Tuskegee University Bookstore. 2. Students must adhere to the Social Work Department Computer Lab Rules and Procedures. 3. The student who is not willing or able to do the following will experience serious problems in this course: A. Read and follow written directions; consult those instructions when the need arises. B. Regularly attend class and take clear notes on oral instructions. C. Complete assignments on time, not waiting until the last minute. D. Invest an appropriate amount of time and energy in study and practice during lab hours. E. Submit all assignments electronically and as per instructions given by the instructor. Dates and Deadlines Quizzes and exams should be taken when they are scheduled. Assignments and exercises should be turned in on time; deadlines will be announced and distributed in written form in class and on the course calendar. Late assignments will not be accepted and will earn a grade of zero (0). Student Responsibilities The student is responsible for purchasing books and other required materials during the first week of class. The instructor will check to see that students have purchased his/her own personal copy the required textbook(s). Students will not be allowed to take exams , quizzes or submit assignments/homework unless they have purchased the required textbooks. The student is responsible for all material covered and assigned, for each course in which he/she is registered. Absence from class does not relieve you of the responsibility. Required Course Materials & Textbook -Course Textbook: Quantitative Problem Solving Methods Course Readings and Instructions available for purchase at the Tuskegee University Bookstore. -Purchase of domain name and website hosting through http://directnic.com -Flash Drive, or External USB Hard Drive -Blank CDs or DVDs -Student created book of all assignments for the semester -Student personal copy of SPSS there are links in Blackboard to sites where you can purchase your own personal copy of SPSS

Course Objectives Upon successful completion of the course students are expected to demonstrate: 1. A working knowledge of one major statistical program relevant to the social sciences SPSS. 2. An ability to develop reliable and valid research questions. 3. An ability to analyze data and report findings. 4. Demonstrate moderate skill in analyzing existing data using SPSS. 5. Demonstrate moderate skill in orally reporting results of student research project to colleagues. 6. Be able to use the personal computer version of SPSS to manage data and compute basic descriptive and inferential statistics, both to describe the relevant statistical characteristics of samples and to test hypotheses about associations among variables. This involves both the identification of appropriate procedures and interpretation of computer output. 7. Understand some of the ways in which statistics can be misused in social welfare and the social sciences research in a manner that perpetuates oppression and social disadvantage. 8. Develop a philosophy of honest and ethical use of statistics and reporting of research results. 9. Using SPSS, create a computer data file and produce tables, graphs, plots, and descriptive statistics of research data. Measurable Outcomes a. Students will demonstrate familiarity with statistical terminology, concepts and procedures. b. Students will be able to pose a research question from available data, select and perform appropriate statistical analyses, and provide a written interpretation of results and communicate findings. Course Website - Course materials, announcements, assignments, and grading of homework problems will be done in BlackBoard. Through BlackBoard, the syllabus and any updates are available for downloading; datasets for problems are available for downloading; homework assignments and exams will be made available and completed online; your grades on exams and homework will be available online to you; a public bulletin board and access to email is supported for reporting problems on assignments, requesting assistance, and checking for announcements. COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN YOUR COURSE TEXTBOOK. You are responsible for checking the course web site, blackboard and your Tigernet/GMAIL email account frequently for important announcements, details on assignments, and supplementary material. Some course information will be available only on the web site.

If you wait until the last minute to complete assignments, YOU WILL encounter difficulties and frustration.

Class Participation. We will be covering a lot of information in a short amount of time, so your participation in class is essential to your success in the course. I expect you to attend regularly and to take an active part in class meetings. My aim this semester is to inspire students to think, connect, create, and share. Along the way, students will learn research, writing, and teamwork. Please note that each student is required to work on his or her own to complete their own work. This does not mean you can not consult with classmates about the assignment but it does mean that everyone should do his or her own work. If you feel that someone is exerting pressure on you to provide them with assistance please come and talk to me and I will handle the situation for you. Course Format will include lecture, video lectures, student presentations and lab work. Tues are reserved for lecture and exams, and Thurs are reserved for lab work attendance is required for all class sessions. We will meet for roughly three hours a week, our time in class will be split between lectures, small group exercises, and discussions. The purpose of the lectures will be to review the major conceptual points of each new topic and to integrate the material. You are expected to have completed any reading assignments prior to class, so that our class time can be more interactive. I hope we can use our meetings to discuss points of particular interest or difficulty, and to move beyond the information presented in the text. In the lab, we will focus on learning computer-based data analysis with SPSS, a widely used statistical software package. The lab sessions offer an opportunity to reinforce class lessons and to acquire a set of very useful, marketable skills. We will divide our time between instruction and practice, giving you a chance to work on weekly assignments during lab. A lot of your learning in this course will take place outside of class. In addition to weekly assignments, you will complete projects and take home exams. Be prepared to spend at least as much time each week working on your own as we spend in class. PLAGIARISM / CHEATING / ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Falsification of client reports, documents, written reports, plagiarism, or any other form of cheating will result in an automatic E for the course. Covering for or protecting another student who cheats will also result in an E. Students plagiarizing or cheating in any form will face disciplinary action that could result in receiving an E in this course, or suspension or expulsion from the University. If a student is ever unclear as to what constitutes plagiarism or cheating regarding work on written or oral presentations, please consult the student handbook and/or consult your instructor. It is the students responsibility to know the meaning of plagiarism and when it occurs. Students suspected of academic dishonesty will be reported to the department head or dean in writing for appropriate action. Tuskegee University maintains the right to suspend or dismiss a student who has been judged guilty of academic dishonesty by committee. (Tuskegee University, Academic Regulations and Procedures Handbook for Undergraduates, pg.29)

Course Assignments -All Deadlines for Social Work 300 unless otherwise specified is 6:00 am Wed or Friday (see course calendar for SPECIFIC DEADLINES) depending on the class for which you are registered. You have plenty of time to complete each assignment if you read the instructions, practice good study habits and follow the written or video directions you will do well. Complete information on each of your assignments is in your course textbook. Video Lectures are available in the course Facebook Announcements page. Homework. There will be homework designed to let you practice the basic computer skills needed to conduct data analysis with SPSS. Homework must be completed by the deadline posted on the course calendar. Late work will not be accepted and you will earn a F grade for the assignment. Exercises. There will be exercises designed to let you practice the basic steps of data analysis with SPSS. We will review the exercise in class on Tues (or you may watch the video lecture on your own) and you must complete the assignment by the deadline posted on the course calendar. Projects. There will be multiple out-of-class projects designed to give you experience in some aspect of conducting social research. Exams. There will be exams to evaluate your comprehension of the course material. These exams will consist of essay, true false, multiple choice and other formats, so that, if you do the assignments and use your textbook, you will know in advance the material covered on the exams. The aim here is to encourage you to use the textbook and other reading materials to help you master the course concepts. The majority of exams will be online, open book and take home. Very specific instructions are posted in Blackboard for each exam. You may also take any exam early if you wish. Quizzes. There will be unannounced and announced quizzes to evaluate your comprehension of the course material. Quizzes will consist of essay, true false, multiple choice and other formats. The aim here is to encourage you to use the textbook and other reading materials to help you master the course concepts. The majority of quizzes will be online, open book and take home. Very specific instructions are posted in Blackboard for each quiz. You may also take any quiz early if you wish. You are expected to complete all requirements by the stated due dates, and any late assignment will receive a grade of F. There are no make-up opportunities for any assignment, as you will have ample time to complete each requirement outside of class. I do not give grades of "incomplete".

Instructions

Homework

Exercises Projects

Exams

Quizzes

Deadlines and Due Dates

Finally, it is not my intention to walk anyone in this class through their assignments. You are expected to do all the work. To avoid giving any one student an unfair advantage, please ask all questions about your assignments during class time or you can post them on the discussion board in Blackboard your questions may help to assist other students. Good luck! I know this course requires work but I also know that you have been given the tools and training to successfully complete it.

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Grading Scale The instructor reserves the right to change or modify the syllabus or assignments as needed. Pop Quizzes and or additional course work may be assigned by the instructor at any time.

A (93-100%) The grade 'A' means, and always has meant, excellence. It reflects the fact that a student not only knows the material (relevant facts, scholars' viewpoints, etc.) but also shows the ability to adjudicate between different views and to evaluate arguments, demonstrating critical thinking and drawing his or her own conclusions. Although correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and use of apostrophes are not nearly enough by themselves to earn an 'A', without these features an 'A' will be unattainable. A- (90-92%) This grade indicates that your work is very good, but is perhaps lacking in one of the above-mentioned areas. For example, if you show excellent knowledge of information but little ability to evaluate it, or conversely, you show original thought but are somewhat sketchy on the facts, then this is the grade you are likely to get. B+ (87-89%) This grade indicates that you show good knowledge of the material and/or thoughtfulness in tackling issues, but your knowledge/ability is lacking something in both areas. This is the highest grade one can receive on an assignment that contains MINIMAL errors of spelling and/or grammar, and/or that lacks clarity of expression. B (83-86%) This grade represents what I would consider or expect to be 'average' for students studying at college level. It still represents a decent standard of academic achievement, but does not indicate that the student has 'gone the extra mile' in terms of reading, writing and reflecting on topics covered. B- (80-82%) This grade indicates that, in terms of either the knowledge of the facts and of relevant information, or of your understanding of those facts and ability to apply what you have learned to specific questions or problems, your performance was felt to be slightly below average. C+ (77-79%) This grade indicates that in both your knowledge of relevant information and understanding thereof or reflection thereupon, your performance was below average. C and below The range of C- (70-72%) to C (73-76%) indicates that you did not cite relevant information and did not treat the topic with seriousness, professionalism, or academic rigor. If you do not indicate that you are aware of the issues raised by a particular topic, and give vague answers like "I don't know, but I feel like..." to questions posed (i.e. show no critical thinking, or interaction with different viewpoints where appropriate), you are heading for a grade in this range. This level of work and anything below it is characterized by increasing superficiality. D (below 69%) The D range of grade is reserved for those who do in fact hand in work, but perhaps should not have bothered. A 'D' means that you wrote something that was sufficiently related to the question so as to deserve a grade, but that was it. It means that you may have made an attempt to write something on the topic assigned, but you were 'unprepared' (i.e. assigned reading had not been done, or had been done superficially).

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E An 'E' or grade of zero (0) normally indicates that the work was not done at all, or if it was done, never even touched on the subject assigned. I unfortunately once had to give a failing grade on an assignment to a student who wrote very eloquently, thoughtfully and passionately about a subject entirely unrelated to the question I in fact asked - so please do read the instructions carefully!
Four (4) or more spelling or grammar errors and or a complete lack of failure on the part of the student to follow written, oral and or video instructions will result in a failing grade for the assignment. Technology failures will not allow students to turn in work late or incorrectly done. Late work will not be accepted.

Grade Weights/Final Grade Fall 2011 Your final grade for the course is based on the following: Projects 30% Exercises 30% Exams 10% Quizzes 10% Posters 5% Website 5% Portfolio 5% Homework & Additional Assignments 5% Total 100 Failure on the part of the student to submit any of their posters, website or portfolio (completed as per instructions) will result in a one letter grade reduction of the student's final grade.

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SOWK 300 Computer Applications Deadlines and Due Dates

Due Date: The date on which a document must be submitted Deadline: The last date on which a document can be submitted without penalty In SOWK 300; ALL dates and times are deadlines, which cannot be negotiated.
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Class Policies -All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the deadline indicated with the assignment. Please do not ask for time extensions, granting time extensions would not be fair to other students. 1. Assignments that do not adhere to written or oral instructions will receive a grade of zero. Please do not try to evade the length requirement by fooling around with large fonts and margins. APA style is required for all assignments. 2. Assistance on written work is limited to the instructor, library reference personnel, and pre-approved tutors. 3. Your assignments for this course must be exclusively your own and exclusively for this course. You may not submit a previously submitted paper, nor a paper simultaneously submitted for another course. 4. All assignments are to be done individually; you may not collaborate on them with classmates. Assistance on written work is limited to the instructor, library reference personnel, and pre-approved tutors. Questions about the assignment may be submitted to the Discussion Board in Blackboard. 5. I do not grant "I" grades, since they usually cause more problems than they solve. If you miss an assignment, your grade will be computed on the basis of the work you completed, with the missing assignment counted as a zero. 6. Mid-course changes in the syllabus (assignments, readings, grading policies) are sometimes necessary, though I will always try to provide sufficient advance notice of such changes. 7. Do not submit work to me as attachments via email they will not be accepted. I never accept work via email as attachments. 8. Work slipped under my office door will be considered late and therefore will receive a grade of zero. 9. Do not submit work as .docx any assignments submitted in this form will receive a grade of F Class Etiquette & Behaviors Because of the nature of this class, I will need your help to limit the number of distractions during the class. Absolutely Turn off all cell phones. Please arrive to class on time and wait until class has ended to leave. No eating in the classroom. No popping gum, rapping singing in class, or other distracting behavior. No sleeping during class. If you choose to sleep in class you will be asked to leave. Office Hours & Assistance I am happy to meet with you individually for assistance, but as Director of Field Instruction my assigned administrative work may force me to miss office hours occasionally. Making an appointment a day ahead of time is always advisable. My office is room 44-330 in Bioethics, telephone 334-727-8300. You may leave messages for me with the department secretary, Mrs. Fitzpatrick at 44-333 Bioethics. Another convenient way to have individual conferences with me

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is via e-mail. jacqueline.mcarthur@tuskegee.edu or sowk300@gmail.com I check my account daily, Monday through Friday.
Technology & Blackboard Most of the instructions for assignments will be on Blackboard. It is the responsibility of the student to access their Blackboard account. Do not slide assignments under my office door , they will not be accepted. Assignments are only accepted online in Blackboard or at the beginning of the class session as specified in the instructions for the assignment. DO NOT EMAIL ASSIGNMENTS TO ME UNLESS I REQUEST FOR YOU TO DO SO This course is almost entirely online and accessed by logging in to Tuskegees Blackboard system: http://tuskegee.blackboard.com.edu. The course will only appear in Blackboard to those who have registered for it. All course materials are distributed online via the Blackboard system. For technical assistance, contact Campus Technology or call 334-727-8040 Always put "SOWK300" and a message in the subject lines of e-mail messages sent to the me. To avoid viruses, I delete messages prior to reading them if I don't know who they are from. Backup Instructions - Always, always, always back up your work as you're working and each time you stop working on a paper! Make sure you save your work frequently. There are numerous ways to save your work; you can save it to your FlashDrive, iPod or , you can email yourself the file, or you can save a copy in your digital dropbox in Blackboard. Finally, always print out a copy of your paper before turning off your computer or leaving a computer lab. You are responsible for your work! I suggest that student have at least 1 1gb Flash drive to save their work. Additionally students can always email work to themselves or utilize their drop folder on the social work server. If you need a username and password for the social work server, please see Mrs. Fitzpatrick, the social work secretary. Email Accounts & Email Communication - It is the responsibility of the student to check her/his own personal TIGERNET Email Account on a daily basis. Official email communication will only occur within the TIGERNET email system. It is the students responsibility to check his or her email periodically for updates. All e-mails to me regarding this course MUST start the course number and include your first and last name. Microsoft Word and Google Docs -are the only word-processing software you can use to submit your work to me. Documents in other formats will not be accepted. Although every effort has been made to ensure that course materials are compatible with a variety of hardware and platforms, internet access and blackboard compatibility is the responsibility of the student. Extensions for missed deadlines due to personal computer or internet access issues will not be granted. If your computer or internet connection fails, simply go to a campus computer lab or your local library to access the course in Blackboard. iPods & Mp3 Players It is recommended that each student have a portable MP3 players such as an iPod or iPhone, additional course lectures and materials will be made freely available to students via iTunes U at Tuskegee and at various web sites. Each student is also required to have a headset that can be used in the Social Work Computer lab during class time. Personal Computers I strongly encourage students to have their own personal computer and RELIABLE internet access.

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SPSS RULES
All data sets used in this course will be available as SPSS system data files (".SAV") for downloading via the course web page in BlackBoard. PASTE When you point and click in SPSS to manipulate variables and conduct statistical analyses, you are actually writing a computer program in SPSS language (i.e., syntax). After you point and click to tell SPSS what to do, dont click on OK. Instead, click on PASTE. This will paste the SPSS commands that you have written into a syntax file that keeps a record of what you have done to the data. Within the syntax file, just select the relevant text and click on the arrow key in the top toolbar in order to run the command. TAKE NOTES Within your syntax file, take notes in your own words to label what you have done in each step. This will become particularly important as you are managing the dataset and conducting analyses for your Projects; it creates an easily understandable map of the work you have done. CHECK NEW VARIABLES When you create a new variable or transform an existing variable in some way (RECODE) , immediately check the data to make sure you have been successful. If you recode a variable, check the new variable against the old variable to make sure values have been correctly assigned. Very often, there can be a problem or glitch when variables are transformed, and checking immediately will prevent you from making more errors. SAVE OBSESSIVELY Sometimes SPSS freezes. Save your syntax file and data file after each change. You may also consider saving new versions of your data file periodically (e.g., each day that you work on the data). If you accidentally delete half your cases, get confused about what you have done to your variables (which shouldnt happen if you are PASTING!), or experience some other error you will have less backtracking to do if you have saved successive versions of your work. Save your work to your USB/Jump Drive do not save your work to the lab computer hard drives files that are save to the desktops are deleted daily. PRINT CONSERVATIVELY SPSS output makes very inefficient use of paper. In most cases, it is not necessary to print out all of the output that SPSS provides. Please do not print output just to print them; make decisions about what you will need to turn in for grading and edit (cut, copy and/or paste) output in order to print efficiently. NEVER PRINT MORE THAN THE FIRST 5 PAGES OF DATA FILES UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
(Source Adapted from http://psych.wlu.edu/Murdock/250%20Lab%20Syllabus%202007.htm)

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SOWK 300

Computer Applications
Due Date: The date on which a document must be submitted Deadline: The last date on which a document can be submitted without penalty In SOWK 300; ALL dates and times are deadlines, which cannot be negotiated.

ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY

SIGN IN USING THE PINK SHEETS Office: -- see Syllabus/Blackboard -Office Hours: -- see Syllabus/Blackboard -Course INFORMATION AND Announcements: see Syllabus/Blackboard

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Course webpage: tuskegee.blackboard.com Check frequently! Updates and messages will be posted. Students are responsible for: Anything posted on the course webpage Announcements / material in class

Course syllabus:
(especially assignment/lab/project/homework instructions)

READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! READ IT!

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Assignments:
Submitted on-line inBlackboard as a PDF AND SHARE a copy via GOOGLE DOCS Use sowk300@gmail.com to share your work. I am grading the one in Blackboard the google docs is your backup. You must submit through Blackboard and google docs. (REQUIRED) Assignment deadlines & rules are

VERY STRICT!
(see course syllabus) Read them Know them Follow them

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ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION RULES:

Blackboard & Google docs only - no other way NOT on disk NOT on paper NOT by email NOT any other way even if early or on-time No partial grade for late or incorrectly-submitted assignments.

So..
Dont be late. Verify that your submission worked properly. NO partial grade for: my car broke down (submit way ahead of time) Same for I was too busy (the whole class is busy) Same for I thought it was due later (mark it in your calendar)
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Same for the lab was full when I showed up (wait, come back, or submit from home) Same for my computer died (keep a backup, submit on campus) Same for I thought it went through okay (Blackboard lets you verify this yourself) Same for it looked fine when I checked it (I dont believe you) Same for the aliens beamed it to their mothership (A zero is the least of your problems)

Blackboard and/or computer network problems:

Will NOT be considered a valid excuse Such failures occur, but are short-lived Do not wait until the last minute Do not wait until the last hour Do not wait until the last day Submit early enough to compensate for unexpected emergencies

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Problems using Blackboard?

Its your responsibility to solve them. There are lots of sources for help: Read the Blackboard help system. See the Blackboard Tips & Blackboard Go see the folks at campus technology!

IN SHORT
Whatever issue you need to solve Do it before assignment deadlines Not during assignment deadlines Not after assignment deadlines

Submitting Assignments:
From the moment the assignment appears in Blackboard.. To the moment the deadline arrives.. You can submit any time The moment the deadline passes.. You cannot submit anymore Blackboard will not allow it I cant access any submissions until the deadline passes. I will only review drafts of your work during class time, some students have attempted to submit drafts for my comments with too short of a turn around time. This is not a good strategy for students.

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After submitting an assignment:

Always verify that the submission was successful In Blackboard: you should see a ! Verify all your assignment submissions Do it every time Do it before the assignment deadline Not during the assignment deadline Not after the assignment deadline

Partial Grading:
Example: If you finish 99% of an assignment.. and the deadline passes before you submit.. that assignment will receive zero If the assignment is incomplete, MEANING THAT you did not follow ALL the directions your grade is a zero.

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Submitting assignments from home:

Yes, it can be done HOWEVER: Do so at your own risk! If it doesnt work: Submit from on campus If it works: Submit from home, and always leave plenty of time to get to school in case one day it doesnt work. Always. Every time. (Yes, even if its April, and youve had no problems with it all term!) Plenty of time is measured in days. Example: If you finish an assignment and you submit from home and it wont submit properly and the deadline passes that assignment will receive zero.

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Different versions of software:

Your home version and the lab version may differ Its your responsibility to verify that: your assignment loads in the labs and that it looks the way you expect in the labs Example: If it looks good at home but not in the labs chances are: you'll lose ALL POINTS

Using SPSS on campus:

Most campus labs are NOT configured for SPSS Submissions from other labs will NOT be possible. Be sure to use the social work computer lab 44-319 Therefore: Don't assume it's a SPSS problem when it may just be that you're in the wrong lab.

Murphys Law:
Labs will become crowded near deadlines. Keep this in mind. Beat the rush. Submit early. ENTER AND RUN YOUR SPSS DATA EARLY

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Assignment deadlines:
Deadlines are firm Deadlines are strictly enforced Deadlines are inflexible

SOWK 300 COMPUTER LAB POLICIES:

THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF COMPUTERS IN THE LAB AND IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME THE FOLLOWING POLICIES ARE IN EFFECT. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IF YOU CANNOT FOLLOW THE POLICIES OTHER STUDENTS TRYING TO DO THEIR WORK NEED THE MACHINES NO FOOD OR DRINK NO CELL PHONES KEEP IT IN YOUR BAG NO TEXT MESSAGING NO FACEBOOK NO SHOPPING ONLINE NO DISTRACTING OTHERS NO FLASH DRIVES ON HEAVY KEY CHAINS ETC MAY BE USED THIS TEARS UP THE COMPUTERS Ipods AND MP3S are o.k. as long as you have earbuds.

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Bibliography Babbie, Earl. Observing Ourselves: Essays in Social Research. Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 1986. Bisman, Cynthia D. and David A. Hardcastle. Integrating Research Into Practice: A Model for Effective Social Work. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1999. Campbell, Patricia B. The Hidden Discriminator: Sex and Race Bias in Educational Research. Newton, Mass.: Women's Educational Equity Act Program, 1989. Craft, John. Statistics and Data Analysis for Social Workers. (Second Edition) Itasca, IL: Peacock, 1990. Geiss, Gunther R. and Narayan Viswanathan. The HumanEdge: Information Technology and Helping People. New York: Haworth Press, 1986. Gravetter, F. J. and L. B. Wallnau. Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole, 2008. Greeley, Andrew M. Ethnicity, Denomination and Inequity. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1976.Halley, Fred, Earl Babbie and Jeanne Zaino. Levin, Jack and James Alan Fox. Elementary Statistics in Social Research (Tenth Edition). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2005. Marlow, Christine. Research Methods for Generalist Social Work (Fourth edition). Belmont, CA:Wadsworth, 2005. Montcalm, Denise and David Royse. Data Analysis for Social Workers. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2002. Norusis, Marija. SPSS 11.0 Guide to Data Analysis. Chicago: SPSS, Inc., 2002. Rubin, Allen. Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice and Evaluation. Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole, 2007. Rubin, Allen and Earl Babbie. Essential Research Methods for Social Work. Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole, 2007. Twaite, J. A. and Jane A. Monroe. Introductory Statistics. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1979. Weinbach, Robert W. and Richard M. Grinnell, Jr. Statistics for Social Workers (Seventh Edition). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.

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