2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Statistics A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Takehiro Ikeda
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (WL1-301(レクチャーシアター))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T101
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Recently, statistics have been attracting attention with emergence of big data. This is because we need statistical knowledge and sense to analyze data on people or society. This course introduces applications of statistics in the social sciences and explains research methods such as social surveys and survey experiments.
Through this course, students learn the basic concepts of statistics and nurture the ability to tackle social issues with them.
Course description and aims
By taking this course, students will be abke to:
1)Understand the fundamental nature of statistics and statistical thinking.
2)Explain the methods and characteristics of social research.
3)Interpret statistical analyses using social survey data.
Keywords
descriptive statistics, cross tabulation, correlation, spurious correlation, causal inference, social survey data, survey experiments
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The instructor will lecture about basic statistics based on the textbook. Students should solve some problems and submit their answers at the end of each class. At the end of term, a final examination will also be conducted.
The final examination is scheduled to be conducted during the seventh class session.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: statistics in social science |
Understand the idea of statistics through some applications of statistics in the social science. |
| Class 2 | Collect data: social survey |
Understand how social surveys collect data. |
| Class 3 | Understand data: How to Read and Interpret Survey Data |
Understand how to read and interpret survey data. |
| Class 4 | Caputure relationships: cross tabulation and correlation |
Understand cross tabulation and correlation. |
| Class 5 | Control variables: spurious correlation |
Understand sprious correlation and controlling variables. |
| Class 6 | Understand different types of research: survey experiments |
Understand the methods of survey experiments. |
| Class 7 | The final examination. |
The final examination. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
I will give out lecture materials at every class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials will be specified by the instructor.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students’ course scores are based on class reports 30% and the final examination 70%.
Related courses
- LAH.T201 ： Statistics B
- LAH.T301 ： Statistics C
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have a basic understanding of concepts such as the mean, variance, and standard deviation.
In this course, calculation exercises will be assigned. Although spreadsheet software such as Excel will be used, assignments can be completed at home; therefore, you do not need to bring a PC to university.
Other
Due to time constraints, make sure that I will be lecturing on basic statistical analysis using social science data and report writing methods, and will not be lecturing on advanced statistical analysis methods.