CSS 204: Applied Statistical Methods in Criminology and Security Studies

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. discuss logic of statistical analysis in criminology and security studies;
2. explain the computation of descriptive and central tendency statistics;
3. identify statistical analysis most appropriate for different levels of measurement;
4. compute central tendency and descriptive statistics;
5. demonstrate understanding of the underlying principles of hypothesis testing, tests of association, correlation and covariation;
6. interpret research reports in which descriptive statistics, measures of association, correlation and co-variation are applied; and
7. undertake statistical analysis using a statistical software.

Course Contents

Logic of statistical methods in criminology and security studies. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies (frequencies, mean, median, range, mode, mean) that summarise the characteristics of a population and sample. Inferential statistics (estimates from sample) used to infer characteristics of population. Statistic parameters and estimations; correlation (bivariate, multivariate). Tests for data at different levels of measurement (categorical/nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio). Tests of association for nominal, ordinal levels of measures most often used in Criminology and security studies.

Pearson correlation and Spearman rank order correlation, regression analysis, analysis of variance, factor analysis, hypothesis testing, parametric and non-parametric tests. Statistical analysis software commonly used in social sciences (such as, SPSS).