Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 17:42:42 -0800
Reply-To: JAMES BALLARD <ballard@NEVADA.EDU>
Sender: "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From: JAMES BALLARD <ballard@NEVADA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Teaching SPSS
In-Reply-To: <5beefn$4oa@netsrv2.spss.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
I have used the Windows base system to teach intro to stats (for sociology
students) for two years and find that the windows version is far superior
to the mainframe version I used to learn SPSS. I find that I am able to
teach all that I can fit into a 16 week course with what is offered and
that the communication of the basics of SPSS is a great help to many
thinking of doing research for a senior project. In fact we match some
projects with our methods course so that students don't easily forget
stats and/or methods connections to them because they have it for two
semesters not just one.
As for the windows use - try it. You can teach it as the basics and give
them a great base for a grad level class later on. I do not have them
purchase the student package (as a department we have ten programs on a LAN
for their use) but if they are going to grad school, are refreshing their
stats before taking grad classes, or if their research will need such a
package I encourage them to buy it for home use. About 30-35 % of my
normal student report they buy the package (3-5 a semester).
Good luck
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James David Ballard
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Department of Sociology
Phone: 702.895.3322
Fax: 702.895.4800
Email: ballard@nevada.edu
Neil Young " My My Hey Hey "
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