APU SOCI332 2019 March All Weeks Forums Latest

SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science
Week 1 Forum
Week 1 Forum – Introduction and Choosing a Topic
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***This week’s Forum requires you to respond to both the introduction prompt (Part 1) and the project topic prompt (Part 2) to receive full credit.***
Welcome everyone!
PART 1: First, for your initial INTRODUCTION post, introduce yourself to the class and tell us who you are.  To introduce yourself, write a brief introduction about yourself using the prompts below.
1. What name would you like to use in class? 
2. Statistics can be an intimidating course for many students!  The great thing about statistics is that we engage with them every day without really realizing it (Consumer Reports data, the studies that support our physician’s health plans for us, comparison of schools in our district, and more).  How might learning basic statistics connect with your educational or career goals (share your major and/or career field with us)?
3. Read the Syllabus for this course.  Please state that you have read the syllabus and understand the course policies, expectations, and due dates.
PART 2: Be sure to read the Lesson for Week 1 prior to responding.
Choosing a topic: There are so many things around us that it can be difficult to focus on just one for a research project. Here are a few things to think about to find yours. First, we are in a sociology class, so your topic has to be sociological in nature. Wondering if a new diet helps people lose weight, for instance, wouldn’t work. Instead, think back on some of the topics you covered in other sociology classes (Intro Soc, Marriage and the Family, Soc Theory, etc.). Was there something in there that sparked your interest? You can also build on previous research that you have completed for a former class in theprogram or closely related field. This project will be the focus of your discussions for the next several weeks. It is highly recommended that you choose something that is of interest to you and can keep your attention for that long.
We will be using General Social Survey (GSS) 2016 data set for Weekly Discussions, Assignment 1 and the Final Project (paper and presentation). You should NOT collect your own data. All variables and data are required to be from GSS 2016 data set. To know more about GSS, you may visit its main website by clicking here.  You can find GSS variables online via GSS Data Explorer (https://gssdataexplorer.norc.org/). Make good use of the attachment at the end of the grading rubrics to select relevant variables for your project.
The point of the discussion is that other students will ask you questions or make suggestions that may help you define your project better. Your instructor will also interact with each of you individually in this module and the next to help you refine your topic. Which means, remember to check your thread regularly!
As you present your topic in this discussion, think about how you would study it.  What is your research question and your theory behind it?  After writing your introduction, tell the class what your topic is, phrasing it as a research question. Your research question should preferably be more general and open-ended than a hypothesis. Then, identify variables which you have found in the GSS 2016 dataset. Be sure to identify the variable name AND the question asked in the survey. See screenshots tutorial for more details. Wrap up by explaining why you chose these variables for your project and why you think there is a correlation or a relationship. You are choosing one independent variable and one dependent variable.
In your replies to at least two posts from your classmates, think critically about what they are trying to do with their project, and offer them constructive feedback. This can be asking for clarification about their proposed topic, suggesting a direction for their research, suggesting sources they may want to check, or contributing your personal experience about this topic. Be sure to also answer at least one peer who responded to your initial post (and interact with the instructor as needed).
For your Week 1 “Choose a topic” initial posting, please list everything in the following list:
1. Describe what your topic is, phrasing it as a research question.
2. Identify variables (one DV, at least one IV) which you have found in the GSS dataset (see the attachment below).
a. identify variable names; for example, “childs” is a variable name. It stands for “Number of children.”
b. identify the question related to this variable that was asked in the survey (in verbatim). For example, GSS survey question for variable “childs” is as follows (in verbatim):
How many children have you ever had? Please count all that were born alive at any time (including any you had from a previous marriage).
3. Explain why you chose these variables for your project;
4. Explain why you think there is a correlation or a relationship.
Reiteration: we will be using the 2016 data set for our project. All variables in your project HAVE to come from this 2016 data set. The first announcement in the course tells you how to download both the SPSS software and the full 2016 GSS dataset to be uploaded into SPSS.
Forum Instructions: Each forum week, learners will post one initial post and three peer responses.  This post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials and the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers throughout the learning week.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or if necessary, used sparingly.  If you quote a source, quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided.
For weeks when the Forum is only text based, 250+ words are required for the initial post. For weeks when the Forum includes a text answer and statistical output, 150+ words are required.
 
SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science
Week 2 Forum
Week 2 Forum- Frequency Tables and Charts
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This week’s main Forum requires you to complete THREE tasks.
Task I: Frequency table
Now that you have imported GSS 2016 dataset into your SPSS and have learned how to use GSS data explorer to find out GSS variable information, you are going to create and post a frequency table of your variables.  Complete the following steps:
Give your forum title a unique label specific to your study/variables.  Post a brief explanation of your topic which includes a bit of information about your variables: level of measurement, answer categories (yes/no, strongly agree, disagree, etc.), as well as the survey question used to collect data for this particular variable (refer to Forum 1 discussion). Include a frequency table for each of your variables. If you have one DV and one IV, you need to run frequency table for BOTH of your variables. If you have one DV and 2 IVs, you need to run three frequency tables. When you are done, explain your outputs in no more than 5 sentences for each variable. Cite numbers in the outputs to support your conclusion. When you cite %, use the % reported in “valid percent” column. This column deletes all missing values, thus is “clean.”
To create a frequency table in SPSS
1.       Open SPSS and open your GSS data file
2.       Click Analyze
3.       Click Descriptive Statistics
4.       Click Frequencies
5.       click open Statistics
6.       Make sure that mean, median, mode, standards deviation, and variance are chosen and click “Continue”
7.       ?Choose the variable that you want to make a frequency table of and click the arrow (this will move it into the right ‘Variable’ box)
8.       Click OK
Task II. Describe the measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and dispersion (variance, standard deviation) for each of your variables.
Based on what you have learned in the readings and lessons this week, identify the measures for each variable and explain what they tell us. Keep in mind that the mean is more meaningful for interval/ratio variables, the median or mode for ordinal variables, and the mode for nominal variables. What do these measures summarize for us about the variable’s data?
Task III. Create charts (bar chart, pie chart, or histogram depending on your variables’ level of measurement)
Presenting your data in graphic form is also important when conducting quantitative research. Based on what you have learned from the reading and the weekly lesson, create a graphic representation of your data. Your choice of graphing tool is purely based on a variable’s level of measurement. When you are done, explain your outputs in no more than 5 sentences for each variable. It is OK if your explanation is similar to the frequency table interpretation, since chart is a different data presentation on the SAME variable. Cite numbers in the outputs to support your conclusion.
Basic rules:
Nominal: bar chart or pie chart
Ordinal: bar chart or pie chart
Interval/Ratio: histogram or line chart
To Create a Chart
1.       Follow steps 1-4 above (without worrying about the statistics).
2.       Click Charts
3.       Click choice of format (depending on your variable’s level of measurement)
4.       Click OK
5.       Continue with steps 5-6
Copy all of the frequency tables and charts by copy and pasting them into a document (PDF, MS Word) and attach to forum discussion. If your table/chart does not fit to the page, choose “copy special” and then “images.” Paste images to the word document and the problem will be solved.
If you need further guidance, refer to the step-by-step screenshots attached at the end of the rubrics.
Forum Instructions: Each forum week, learners will post one initial post and three peer responses.  This
post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials and the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers throughout the learning week.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or if necessary, used sparingly.  If you quote a source, quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided.
For weeks when the Forum is only text based, 250+ words are required for the initial post. For weeks when the Forum includes a text answer and statistical output, 150+ words are required.
 
 
 
SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science
Week 3 Forum
Week 3 Forum (Optional-not for credit)
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Because you have an assignment due this week, you will have no required forum response. Utilize this forum to ask questions about Assignment 1 and/or your research topic/project. You can also utilize this forum to practice SPSS functions, such as recoding described below.
You will have completed most of the steps for Assignment 1 in Forums 1 and 2. The exception is recoding. Recoding allows you to take numeric variables and group the responses into categories or take the responses to categorical variables and group them into fewer categories. For example, take the variable “age” (age of respondent) for which participants answer with their numeric age. Let’s say you want to group ages into categories.
Here’s one way age is typically categorized:
•    18-24 years old
•    25-34 years old
•    35-44 years old
•    45-54 years old
•    55-64 years old
•    65-74 years old
•    75 years or older
To perform a recode in SPSS, after you have imported in the GSS data file, you use the TRANFORM function. Click on Transform – Recode into different variable.  On the left-hand side, click on the variable “age of respondent [age]” and move it over to the right. Under Output Variable, you will give your new recoded variable a name and label, and click Change. (I would call it “ager” and label it “recode of age
into categories.”) When you recode a numeric (interval/ratio) variable, you are telling it what the original numbers are and how you want to code (assign numbers to) the new categories.
Click on Old and New Values. I would recode it like this:
Old value (Range): 18-24     New value: 1
Old value: 25-34     New Value: 2
Old value: 35-44     New Value: 3
Old value: 45-54     New Value: 4
Old value: 55-64   New Value: 5
Old value: 65-74     New Value: 6
Old value: 75-89     New Value: 7
Old value: 98, 99      New Value: system missing
Continue – OK
Your new recoded variable will then be at the bottom of the variable list. In variable view, you can go in an assign labels to the numbers (i.e., 1 is labeled 18-24, 2 is labeled 25-34, etc.).
Another example might be a categorical variable that has too many categories and you would like to combine some of the categories that are similar to create a variable with fewer categories. Let’s take a look at the variable “denom16” – denomination in which r was raised. With a categorical variable (nominal or ordinal), the first step of recoding is to look at how the variable is coded (numbers assigned to the categories) to begin with. I like to go back to the GSS data explorer site to see this, but in SPSS you can go to ANALYZE – REPORTS – CODEBOOK and look up your variable. Denom 16 is coded like this:
 
Code    Label
10    Am baptist asso
11    Am bapt ch in usa
12    Nat bapt conv of am
13    Nat bapt conv usa
14    Southern baptist
15    Other baptists
18    Baptist-dk which
20    Afr meth episcopal
21    Afr meth ep zion
22    United methodist
23    Other methodist
28    Methodist-dk which
30    Am lutheran
31    Luth ch in america
32    Lutheran-mo synod
33    Wi evan luth synod
34    Other lutheran
35    Evangelical luth
38    Lutheran-dk which
40    Presbyterian c in us
41    United pres ch in us
42    Other presbyterian
43    Presbyterian, merged
48    Presbyterian-dk wh
50    Episcopal
60    Other
70    No denomination
98    Don’t know
99    No answer
0    Not applicable
I think it’s always best to code starting with 0 or 1 (depending on what you’re doing), so here I would start with one. In the recoding process, we will take each of the old categories and combine them into new categories and give them new codes (numbers). It’s not hard, it just needs to be precise.
In SPSS, after you have imported the GSS data file in, click on Transform – Recode into different variable. On the left-hand side, click on the variable “Denomination in which r was raised [denom16]” and move it over to the right. Under Output Variable, give it a new name and label, and click Change. (I would call it “rdenom16” and label it “recode of denom16.”)
Click on Old and New Values. I would recode it like this:
Old value: (Range) 10-18     New value: 1
Old value: 20-28     New Value: 2
Old value: 30-38     New Value: 3
Old value: 40-48     New Value: 4
Old value: 50   New Value: 5
Old value: 60     New Value: 6
Old value: 70     New Value: 0
Old value: 0      New Value: system missing
Old value: 98-99      New Value: system missing
Old value: system or user missing   New Value: system missing
Then click CONTINUE and then OK. (It will look like this…)
The new variable will be placed at the very bottom of the variable list. (You can go into the variable view in SPSS and label the new codes (numbers) with 0=no denomination, 1=baptist, 2=methodist, 3=lutheran, 4=presbyterian, 5=episcopal, 6=other.) When you run future analyses, remember that the recoded variable is at the bottom. The original variable is still there in its original place.
SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science
Week 4 Forum
Week 4 Forum – Crosstabs
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This week’s main Forum requires you to answer the question completely and correctly to receive full credit.
This week we talk about the uses of a crosstabulation (crosstabs) and the benefits of creating this “snapshot” of your data.
For this forum, provide a brief introduction to your study to remind your classmates what we are reading about here.  Include:
 1. Your overall research question
 2. The research hypothesis and null hypothesis
Next, create a crosstab for your data and include it in the post.  Be sure to explain your findings, including a description of the data, a calculation of the epsilons, and a discussion of the 10% rule. The epsilons in short are the differences between the highest and lowest column % in any given row.  As long as one epsilon makes the 10% threshold, we’ll deem two variables have “enough” going on to with each other to warrant further statistical analysis.
Special note:
When a variable is continuous (interval/ratio level of measurement), for example, age of respondent, we do not run crosstabs directly b/c it will result in a really spread-out table with lot of 0s and low frequency cells. Such a crosstab does not help us understand the data.
The correct way is to reduce the level of measurement to either ordinal level or nominal level (group the numbers into categories) and then run the cross table. You do this by recoding (See Week 3 Optional Forum). In this way, your crosstabs will help us better understand data. Here is another example of recoding in a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzQ_522F2SM
Forum Instructions: Each forum week, learners will post one initial post and three peer responses.  This post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials and the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers throughout the learning week.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or if necessary, used sparingly.  If you quote a source, quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided.
For weeks when the Forum is only text based, 250+ words are required for the initial post. For weeks when the Forum includes a text answer and statistical output, 150+ words are required.
 
SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science
Week 5 Forum
Topic FolderWeek 5 Forum (Optional-not for credit) 0 unread of 0 messages
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Because you have an assignment due this week, you will have no required forum response. Utilize this forum to ask questions about Assignment 2 and/or your research topic/project.
Be sure to look ahead to Week 6, where you will be asked to run a test of significance on your project variables, based on what you’ve learned in the readings and lessons this week. You can use this forum to practice those analyses and receive feedback.
Be sure to also look ahead to your Final Project due in Week 7. It is largely a compilation of the work you are doing in the forums, but needs to be arranged as a formal paper with a literature review of at least 3 academic (peer-reviewed sources). You are welcome to post SPSS analyses you are working on for your project here and I will comment/offer feedback. Please DO NOT post your work on Assignment 2, but feel free to ask questions.
 
 
SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science
Week 6 Forum
Week 6 Forum – Tests of Significance and Measures of Association
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This week’s main Forum requires you to respond to the prompts completely and correctly to receive full credit.
Week 6 Forum
In Week 4, we used epsilons and 10-percent-point rule to determine if a potential relationship between two variables is worth examining further. During Week 5, we studied tests of significance. In this week’s forum, we will apply these tests of significance to our project variables. We will also run measures of association to determine the strength and direction of the relationship between our variables. As we discussed previously, the levels of measurement of our variables determine which test of significance works for the research project. Here is the guideline:
1. Before-and-after design and the DV is at I/R level: Dependent Sample T-test
2. DV and IV are BOTH categorical variables (nominal/ordinal): Chi-square
*Special note for Chi-square: you should have less than 20% of the cells with an expected count of 5 or less. This information is reported automatically, right below the chi-square output table. If your chi-square test fails to meet this requirement, it is necessary to use “recoding” to combining certain answer categories together so the expected counts would increase. 
3. DV and IV are both continuous (interval/ratio) variables: regression
4. Comparison of groups (when IV is categorical – nominal/ordinal and DV is continuous – interval/ratio):
 
 a. Between 2 groups: Independent Sample T-test
 
   b. Among 3 or more groups: ANOVA
 
 
Why do we need to run tests of significance?
They allow us to see if our relationship is “statistically significant.” To be more specific, these tests tell us if a relationship observed in a sample, like your research project based on GSS 2016 data set, is generalizable to the population from which this sample was drawn (US adults).
Test results reported under “p” in the SPSS output tells us the chances that a relationship observed in the sample is not real, but rather due to factors like a sampling error. We compare this “chance” with level of significance, commonly set as .05 or .01. If this chance is smaller than level of significance, we can reject the null hypothesis, and keep the research hypothesis.
Next, we’ll use tests of “measures of association” to figure out the exact strength of a relationship between two variables. In addition, we’ll learn how to interpret SPSS outputs for measures of association tests such as lambda, gamma, and Pearson’s r, along with other possible tests. These tests are also specific to the level of measurement of your variables. Here are the guidelines:
Both DV and IV are nominal variables: Lambda (when it is not a 2X2 table)
If it is a 2X2 table: Phi
Both DV and IV are ordinal variables: Gamma
One variable ordinal AND the other variable dichotomous nominal (like Yes/No, male/female, etc.): Gamma
One variable ordinal AND the other variable nominal (not dichotomous, has more than 2 categories): Cramer’s V.
Both DV and IV are I/R variables: Pearson’s r
To interpret the output, see attached handout. Keep in mind measures of association is a statistical procedure based on Proportional Reduction of Error (PRE). Thus the format of interpretation will be: Knowing the IV will reduce error in predicting the DV by *%.
Please note: Don’t just say “IV” and “DV” in your explanation. You need to enter your variables names for IV and DV, and replace * for the exact test value from the output. If the value of Lambda is .34, then it will be interpreted as 34%.
****Ok, now it is time for you to try! For this week’s forum, be sure to perform the correct test of significance (choose one) and measure of association (choose one) on your variables for the final project. You can download the class handout attached at the bottom of the page.
 
This week in the forum discussion:
I. You will decide which test of significance you will use for your project. Use the guideline above to make your choice.
II. You will use the process for hypothesis testing which outlines five steps:
Write your research hypothesis (H1) and your null hypothesis (H0).
Identify and record your level of significance (alpha): either .05 or .01.
Complete the significance test using SPSS. (Include the output of the analysis (table) in your post.)
Identify the number under Sig. (2-tail).  This will be represented by “p.” Compare the numbers in steps 2 (alpha) and 4 (p) and apply the following rule:
If p < or = alpha, than you reject the null hypothesis Determine what to do with your null and explain this to your reader.  Be sure to go beyond the phrase "reject or fail to reject the null" and explain what that means to your research. III. You will decide which measure of association you will use for your project. Use the guideline above to make your choice. Include the output (tabe) in your post. Based on the output, describe the strength and direction of the relationship between the variables. Also explain the PRE. Forum Instructions: Each forum week, learners will post one initial post and three peer responses.  This post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials and the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers throughout the learning week.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or if necessary, used sparingly.  If you quote a source, quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided. For weeks when the Forum is only text based, 250+ words are required for the initial post. For weeks when the Forum includes a text answer and statistical output, 150+ words are required.     SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science Week 7 Forum Week 7 Forum (Optional-not for credit) View Full Description Because your final project is due this week, you will have no required forum response. Utilize this forum to ask questions about your research topic/project and presentation. ***If you would like to practice multivariate analysis using linear regression, please respond to the following prompts. While this is not for credit, it will give you some very important tools for your statistics toolbox. Choose two IVs and one DV to run your regression with. With two IVs, you surmise that both of the variables affect the DV. Please be aware of the very strict data requirement for running linear regression: your DV and IVs both have to be continuous (interval/ratio) variables. This rule is solid for the DV: if your DV is a nominal or ordinal variable, you CANNOT use it as the DV for linear regression, because the regression is no longer linear. It is a necessity that your DV is a "continuous" variable with interval/ratio level of measurement. If your project DV won't work for a regression test, please choose a "continuous" variable from the GSS 2016 data set as your temporary DV for the week in order to practice regression analysis. Some examples of "continuous" variables from GSS 2016 data: educ, conrinc, tvhours, hrs1, etc. This is practice - you don't have to include this particular regression test in your final portfolio if your DV won't work for the regression test. However, regression is also a form of significance test. Your portfolio only needs ONE significance test (i.e., T-tests, ANOVA, Chi-square, regression) and you should have already completed this last week. Here's an example of a multiple regression scenario. Let's say you are interested in understanding what affects education level, based on the variable "educ" - highest year of school completed. You surmise that one's parents' education level as well as one's personal income would influence one's own education level. So, you choose the following variables as IVs: paeduc - highest year school completed, father maeduc - highest year school completed, mother conrinc - respondent income in constant dollars   SPSS command to run linear regression: Analyze - Regression - Linear From the model summary, adjusted r squared, we know that 24% of the variation in the DV (educ) is explained by the IVs (conrinc, paeduc, maeduc). From the coefficients table, the proper way to interpret linear regression is writing the regression equation. See equation below. We use * to mark the variables that are statistically significant. Educ = 9.570 + .0000168conrinc* + .207paeduc*  + .141maeduc* Here is the fun part: prediction of respondents' highest year of school completed based on levels of the IVs. Based on this equation (since all variable relationships are significant), if the respondent has an income of $50,000 with the father's education level at 16 years and the mother's education level at 12 years: Educ = 9.570 + .0000168(50000) + .207(16)  + .141(12) = 9.57 + 0.84 + 3.312 + 1.692 = 15.414 years of school completed. (You can figure out the potential education level based on any level of income and parents' education level.) Creating dummy variables If an IV is not continuous (like race, sex), you could make things work by creating dummy variables based on these variables. For example, based on variable "sex," we can make a "male dummy variable" or a "female dummy variable." Based on variable "race," we can create a "white dummy variable" or "black dummy variable" or "other dummy variable." Dummy variables are coded 1/0, 1 to represent the presence of a characteristic and 0 to represent the absence of that characteristic. By custom, we'll name the dummy variable using the value we coded as 1. For example, if we denote "male" as 1, female as 0, we'll name this dummy as "male dummy variable." If we denote "white" as 1, then we'll name this dummy as "white dummy variable." This naming method helps readers/researchers remember/understand what dummy variables stand for in a study. You can create the dummies in the same way you recode any other variable. For sex, Click on Transform - Recode into different variable. New Variable: Male Old value: 1     New value: 1 Old value: 2    New Value: 0 Old value: user or system missing      New Value: system missing For race, Click on Transform - Recode into different variable. New Variable: White Old value: 1     New value: 1 Old value: 2    New Value: 0 Old value: 3    New Value: 0 Old value: user or system missing      New Value: system missing Also, here is a youtube video which shows the essential steps of creating dummy variables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0qc4rzr9ik SPSS command to run linear regression Analyze - Regression - Linear The proper way to interpret linear regression is writing the regression equation. See below: DV: educ (highest year of school completed, a continuous variable at I/R level) IV: male dummy variable (based on variable "sex") and white dummy variable (based on variable "race") We use * to mark the variable that is statistically significant. Educ=13.031-.054male+.696white* Here is the fun part: prediction of respondents' highest year of school completed based on their race and sex. Based on this equation: A white male by average will have 13.673 years of education: 13.031-.054*1+.696*1=13.673 A nonwhite female by average will have 13.031 years of education: 13.031-.054*0+.696*0=13.031 ******* Now, it's your turn, choose variables and practice a multiple linear regression analysis here. : )   SOCI332 Statistics for Social Science Week 8 Forum Week 8 Forum- Final Portfolio Presentation View Full Description We finally made it!  Now it is time to share with the class what you have found about your particular topic.  You've worked too hard on this project to only share its completion with your instructor -- sharing with our whole class is a positive and empowering way to end the class.  yesTake your Week 7 Final Portfolio Assignment and digest it in a presentation format.  Create a narrated multimedia presentation using either Power Point, Screencast-o-matic (http://www.screencast-o-matic.com), or Prezi.  Remember, narration with audio (not just ppt notes) is necessary.  In essence, your presentations should "play" for us.  The presentation should be no more than 5-10 minutes (about 8-10 slides).  Be sure to provide some background on the topic, discuss your variables, provide figures (tables/charts - frequencies/graphs, crosstabs, tests of significance and measures of association), and conclude by highlighting how your research fits into the existing body of literature on this topic. Lastly, take the time to view what your classmates have done and leave constructive feedback based on your review.  *If your file is too big to upload, consider posting it on YouTube and then provide the YouTube link. Forum Instructions: Each forum week, learners will post one initial post and three peer responses.  This post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials and the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers throughout the learning week.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or if necessary, used sparingly.  If you quote a source, quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided. For weeks when the Forum is only text based, 250+ words are required for the initial post. For weeks when the Forum includes a text answer and statistical output, 150+ words are required.