A Introduction to Sociology Statistics

A Introduction to Sociology Statistics Sociological research can have three distinct goals: description, explanation, and prediction. The description is always an important part of the research, but most sociologists attempt to explain and predict what they observe. The three research methods most commonly used by sociologists are observational techniques, surveys, and experiments. In each case, measurement is involved that yields a set of numbers, which are the findings, or data, produced by the research study. Sociologists and other scientists summarize data, find relationships between sets of data, and determine whether experimental manipulations have affected some variable of interest. The word statistics has two meanings: The field that applies mathematical techniques to the organizing, summarizing, and interpreting of data. The actual mathematical techniques themselves. Knowledge of statistics has many practical benefits. Even a rudimentary knowledge of statistics will make you better able to evaluate statistical claims made by reporters, weather forecasters, television advertisers, political candidates, government officials, and other persons who may use statistics in the information or arguments they present. Representation of Data Data are often represented in frequency distributions, which indicate the frequency of each score in a set of scores. Sociologists also use graphs to represent data. These include pie graphs, frequency histograms, and line graphs. Line graphs are important in representing the results of experiments because they are used to illustrate the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Descriptive Statistics Descriptive statistics summarize and organize research data. Measures of central tendency represent the typical score in a set of scores. The mode is the most frequently occurring score, the median is the middle score, and the mean is the arithmetic average of the set of scores. Measures of variability represent the degree of dispersion of scores. The range is the difference between the highest and lowest scores. The variance is the average of the squared deviations from the mean of the set of scores, and the standard deviation is the square root of the variance. Many kinds of measurements fall on a normal, or bell-shaped, curve. A certain percentage of scores fall below each point on the abscissa of the normal curve. Percentiles identify the percentage of scores that fall below a particular score. Correlational Statistics Correlational statistics assess the relationship between two or more sets of scores. A correlation may be positive or negative and vary from 0.00 to plus or minus 1.00. The existence of a correlation does not necessarily mean that one of the correlated variables causes changes in the other. Nor does the existence of a correlation preclude that possibility. Correlations are commonly graphed on scatter plots. Perhaps the most common correlational technique is Pearsons product-moment correlation. You square the Pearsons product-moment correlation to get the coefficient of determination, which will indicate the amount of variance in one variable accounted for by another variable. Inferential Statistics Inferential statistics permit social researchers to determine whether their findings can be generalized from their samples to the populations they represent. Consider a simple investigation in which an experimental group that is exposed to a condition is compared with a control group that is not. For the difference between the means of the two groups to be statistically significant, the difference must have a low probability (usually less than 5 percent) of occurring by normal random variation. Sources: McGraw Hill. (2001). Statistics Primer for Sociology. mhhe.com/socscience/sociology/statistics/stat_intro.htm

Island of Stability - Discovering Superheavy Elements

Island of Stability - Discovering Superheavy Elements The island of stability is that wondrous place where heavy isotopes of elements stick around long enough to be studied and used. The island is located within a sea of radioisotopes that decay into daughter nuclei so quickly its difficult for scientists to prove the element existed, much less use the isotope for a practical application. Key Takeaways: Island of Stability The island of stability refers to a region of the periodic table consisting of super-heavy radioactive elements that have at least one isotope with a relatively long half-life.The nuclear shell model is used to predict the location of the islands, based on maximizing the binding energy between protons and neutrons.Isotopes on the island are believed to have magic numbers of protons and neutrons that allow them to maintain some stability.Element 126, should it ever be produced, is believed to have an isotope with a long enough half-life that it can be studied and potentially used. History of the Island Glenn T. Seaborg coined the phrase island of stability in the late 1960s. Using the nuclear shell model, he proposed filling the energy levels of a given shell with the optimal number of protons and neutrons would maximize binding energy per nucleon, permitting that particular isotope to have a longer half-life than other isotopes, which did not have filled shells. Isotopes that fill nuclear shells possess what are called magic numbers of protons and neutrons. Finding the Island of Stability The location of the island of stability is predicted based on known isotope half-lives and predicted half-lives for elements that have not been observed, based on calculations relying on the elements behaving like those above them on the periodic table (congeners) and obeying equations that account for relativistic effects. The proof that the island of stability concept is sound came when physicists were synthesizing element 117. Although the isotope of 117 decayed very quickly, one of the products of its decay chain was an isotope of lawrencium that had never been observed before. This isotope, lawrencium-266, displayed a half-life of 11 hours, which is extraordinarily long for an atom of such a heavy element. Previously known isotopes of lawrencium had fewer neutrons and were much less stable. Lawrencium-266 has 103 protons and 163 neutrons, hinting at as-yet-undiscovered magic numbers that may be used to form new elements. Which configurations might possess magic numbers? The answer depends who you ask, because its a matter of calculation and theres not standard set of equations. Some scientists suggest there might be an island of stability around 108, 110, or 114 protons and 184 neutrons. Others suggest a spherical nucleus with 184 neutrons, but 114, 120, or 126 protons might work best. Unbihexium-310 (element 126) is doubly magic because its proton number (126) and neutron number (184) are both magic number. However you roll the magic dice, data obtained from the synthesis of elements 116, 117, and 118 point toward increasing half-life as the neutron number approached 184. Some researchers believe the best island of stability might exists at much larger atomic numbers, like around element number 164 (164 protons). Theorists are investigating the region where Z 106 to 108 and N is around 160-164, which appears sufficiently stable with respect to beta decay and fission. Making New Elements from the Island of Stability Although scientists might be able to form new stable isotopes of known elements, we dont have the technology to go much past 120 (work which is currently underway). Its likely a new particle accelerator will need to be constructed that would be capable of focusing onto a target with greater energy. Well also need to learn to make larger amounts of known heavy nuclides to serve as targets for making these new elements. New Atomic Nucleus Shapes The usual atomic nucleus resembles a solid ball of protons and neutrons, but atoms of elements on the island of stability may take new shapes. One possibility would be a bubble-shaped or hollow nucleus, with the protons and neutrons forming a sort of shell. Its hard to even imagine how such a configuration might affect the properties of the isotope. One thing is certain, though... there are new elements yet to be discovered, so the periodic table of the future will look very different from the one we use today.

Conduct Disorder in Young Children Research Paper

Conduct Disorder in Young Children - Research Paper Example It can, however, be extremely difficult to diagnose a mental disorder in young children because the criteria used to recognise the symptoms of disorder in children are same as those used in adults. Diagnosis becomes even more complicated because children often do not have the skill to verbally communicate their thoughts, feelings and reactions towards certain situation. The difficulty in diagnosis also arises from the normal growth and development of young children. There are several symptoms like anger ‘outbursts, irritability, sadness, shyness’ which can be considered as characteristics of emotional disorders among children but such symptoms can also be features of normal adolescent behaviour under specific circumstances (Walker & Melvin, 2010, pp.1-2). This paper focuses on conduct disorder which is a specific kind of behavioral disorder common among children and adolescents. Conduct Disorder Characteristics Conduct disorder is a common type of mental or emotional problem that happens to children and adolescents. Children who suffer from conduct disorder generally show persistency in patterns of disregard for rules and antisocial behavior for a long time. There are some typical symptoms like aggressive behavior, running away from home at night and causing destruction to property. These symptoms increase with age as children pass on to their adolescent stage (Searight et al., 2001). Conduct disorder among young children can also result in deterioration of academic performance because children suffering from the disorder can exhibit learning inabilities that apparently do not have any â€Å"intellectual, sensual or health† reasons. It becomes difficult for them to maintain normal interpersonal relationships with friends and teachers. Even in normal situation they tend to behave in abnormal manner. Moods of depression can be seen in them all the time and they show signs of disobedie nce towards parents and teachers. These children also develop a fear in relation to personal and school related problems (Behavior Disorder/Emotional Disturbances, n. d.). Young children with conduct disorder can display certain patterns in their behavior at home and schools. Negative traits are seen in them like bullying, threatening or intimidating other people. Such children can often get involved in physical fights and can use dangerous items as weapons to physically harm people and animals, something like knife, gun or a broken bottle. It is also common among these children to get engaged in stealing. Other people can be forced into sexual activity by them. Properties of others can be destroyed by these children by setting fire on them. Another trait that can be seen in them is that they can stealthily enter into other people’s houses or get into their cars. These children often show tendency to lie to obtain things they want and can also get engaged in shoplifting. The rules of schools and home are violated by them as they play truant at school or run away from home at night. (Facts for Families: Conduct Disorder, 2004, p. 1). Prevalence There are different ways to evaluate the prevalence of conduct disorder and, hence, it becomes difficult to compare results from different studies. While some studies show prevalence during a definite period of time, there are other studies which show â€Å"cumulative prevalence†. Different studies are conducted during different age ranges of children and methods also vary with each study. As a result of this, different studies produce different estimates for the prevalence of conduct disorder. The prevalence of conduct disorder generally gets enhanced among girls as they leave childhood and move into adolescent periods. This feature is not common among

Investigate the BMW Automobiles - one of the global companies Essay

Investigate the BMW Automobiles - one of the global companies - Essay Example Social media has provided a platform for marketers including BMW to have a voice as well as a way to communicate with customers. It has furthermore provided a way to personalize brands and help spread out the brand message in a conversational and relaxed mode. BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) a Germany manufacturing company that specializes in automobiles, motorcycles, as well as engine making was founded 96 years ago and has operations worldwide with divisions and manufacturing plants in more than 13 countries on all five continents (Robson, 2008). BMW and Honda are two different companies targeting very different clientele. BMW generally invests a lot in technology 85% of their investments is in technology as their target market are the affluent buyers which in turn helps BMW maintain its incredible high margins. Honda, on the other hand, is more focused on price tags and mass production of vehicles to maintain or even make profits. Furthermore, it can be said that customers of Honda can upgrade to BMW status while BMW customers very rarely downgrade to Hondas. Since BMW invests heavily in technology, with the use of their e-marketing strategy, which incorporates social network applications with the likes of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter in order to reach a high number of people at fairly low costs. BMW’s use of social media allows for multimedia as well as interactive communication with numerous customers thus allowing better marketing (Mbwette, 2013). While Honda, on the other hand, has less than 50% investment in technology but rely mostly on pricing and TV commercials to make sales in the various countries that Honda sells because the Honda company is generally reluctant on spending money especially to do with promotions. Regarding BMW, the general overall impressions are impressive their business model is great, everything

E-business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

E-business - Essay Example The development of the websites is conducted to suit separate business needs pertaining to online applications. The website developers plan out the structural patterns of the website through maintaining a collaborative interaction with other potential departments of the company pertaining to the marketing, sales and operational sectors. Designing of the websites is done to help the business achieve both short and long term business goals through the optimum utilisation of the existing organisational resources. Again in terms of development of the website content the developers are required to have an open eye to the change dynamics in both the external and internal business sphere. This focusing on the change aspects helps the developers in continuously updating the contents posted to help in generating potential information to the large range of customers. Designing of website structures and contents also requires the web developers to conduct a total survey of external market condi tions so as to render attractive features in the page developed. Innovation and sophistication enabled in the webpage developed helps the products and services of the business concern to stand apart from its potential competitors in drawing more number of consumers. The codes developed for designing the websites thus must be continuously reviewed against the changes made in business policies and objectives to render enhanced productivity in such. Through working in a collaborative business sphere with large number of market research and business expert large amounts of potential data can also be collected to evaluate the potential of rendering such changes in the web portal (Taylor, Parish & Fiden, 2007,p.63-64). Development of the contents of the website to satisfy the needs of

No fast food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

No fast food - Essay Example Eating no fast food has various benefits such as reducing body weight and consuming improved nutrition just to mention a few. However, many medical experts see reducing health risks as the major advantage of consuming no fast foods. Unlike fast food that medical practitioners associate with development of deadly ailments like high blood pressure, obesity, and heart diseases, no fast foods are well prepared thus promote a healthy life. Most of them do not contain saturated fats that ends up depositing in the blood vessels inform of cholesterols. Consumption of no fast foods that are healthy prevents obesity and leads to a healthy improved nutrition that reduces chances of developing chronic health conditions.Fast foods have a number of benefits though the most evident merit of fast food is the element of saving time. There is nothing that is as important as getting a ready meal especially in the modern fast-spaced life whereby everybody is busy with work. Despite the extreme praises t hat fresh foods get from chefs, people end up finding themselves taking fast foods like pizzas and burgers after a busy day that makes one feel exhausted and hungry. Preparing one’s meal might be a difficult and time-consuming task especially if the necessary ingredients are not readily available. This aspect makes consuming fast food get extra score compared to cooking meals for a busy person. The main disadvantage of no fast food is the issue of inconvenience and the amount of time that is consumed during their preparation

Feminism Film Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Feminism Film Art History - Essay Example Blackmail (1929) is a story of a shopkeeper’s daughter Alice and her detective fiancà ©. At a wider perspective, the plot of the film can be well viewed from a feminist perspective as well. Blackmail is also a story of a women fighting against law and the issues of deconstructing a body of a women to a mere commodity and finding an alibi of art for the gratification of sexual appetite. It is the violence that has been taken into consideration repeatedly in the film through cinematic aesthetics. Also for Modleski, the interpretation of various scenes in the film can be interpreted from various dimensions. The studio incident with Alice and her assault is viewed in the light of sexual violence inflicted upon women where as a male critic can view it from an aesthetic of a body and its intricacies. Blackmail is a story with a women and her consciousness at the central plane and a delicate problem as well as relation of a woman and law. On one hand, the film’s central projection is on the punishment of woman for the reason of subordinating the law for her own desire and also for flaunting the bond that ties her with it which is her engagement with a member of the police force. On the other plane, we are presented with a more complicated relationship between the law and woman and also its abrupt failure to accommodate an experience of lady in patriarchal society. Modleski strongly raises the issue of attempted rape and silencing of women. Modleski contends that Alice is not provided with a voice rather she is objectified. She indicates that the painting of the Jester is used deliberately to put women on the realm of an inferior sex. Jester becomes the icon, the archetypal of male dominated society representing himself as a laughing male to both Alice and her fiancà © Frank. Jester again stops Alice and condemns her from laughing at the end of the film. He also reminds Frank of his deceiving fiancà ©