2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences38:Statistics
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Aguru Ishibashi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Wed (J2-203(J221))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S434
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Social issues and their solutions are often discussed on the basis of evidence that supports particular claims. Such evidence may include social surveys and official statistical data. However, without the ability to judge whether this evidence is appropriate, it is difficult to understand these discussions. This course therefore covers the fundamentals of statistics in the social sciences and how to interpret survey findings and statistical materials.
The aim of this course is to cultivate the ability to understand discussions of social issues and their solutions and to examine them critically.
Course description and aims
By completing this course, students will acquire the following skills:
1) Fundamental understanding of the basic concepts in social statistics
2) Comprehension and application of key statistical concepts(descriptive statistics, correlation, test, estimation)
3) Basic proficiency in statistical thinking
Keywords
Descriptive statistics, cross tabulation, correlation, spurious correlation, test, estimation, social survey
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The instructor will lecture about basics of statistics and social surveys. Students should solve some problems and submit their answers at the end of each class. At the end of term, students must submit the final report.
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 | Social survey 1: sampling |
Understand how social surveys collect data. |
| Class 3 | Social survey 2: question |
Understand how we ask the respondents questions properly. |
| Class 4 | Descriptive statistics: center and variance |
Understand descriptive statistics. |
| Class 5 | Inferential statistics: test and estimation |
Understand test and estimation. |
| Class 6 | Relation: cross tabulation and correlation |
Understand cross tabulation and correlation. |
| Class 7 | Spurious correlation: controlling variables |
Understand spurious correlation and controlling variables. |
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)
Kazuhiro Kezuka, 2022, Introduction to Statistics for Social Sciences, Kodansha. (In Japanese)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Textbooks will be specified by the instructor.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students’ course scores are based on class reports 30% and the final report 70%.
Related courses
- LAH.T101 ： Statistics A
- LAH.T201 ： Statistics B
- LAH.T301 ： Statistics C
Prerequisites
Nothing required.