From CRMDA
Social and Behavioral Sciences Methodology Minor (SBSM)
The Minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences Methodology (SBSM) is a program that provides undergraduate students a broadened and coordinated platform for advanced training in research methodology and practical research experience.
Students electing to minor in SBSM are provided with an opportunity to receive advanced training in quantitative and qualitative methods as applied in the behavioral and social sciences. This Minor allows students to develop graduate-level expertise in applied statistical methods. Students who graduate with this Minor acquire skills that will significantly enhance their career opportunities in areas related to their primary major (e.g., sociology, political science, psychology, a foreign language). For those interested in graduate school, a recent survey of 645 U.S. graduate programs found that 91.8% preferred applicants to have some background in statistics. In fact, statistics courses were preferred by psychology graduate programs more frequently than any other type of course.
Is the SBSM minor for me?
If you desire advanced training in research methodology, applied data analysis, and practical research experience, the SBSM minor is definitely for you. Students in the SBSM minor develop graduate-level expertise in applied data analysis, statistical inference, and general research methods. Undergraduates pursuing the SBSM minor receive advanced training in quantitative and qualitative methods as applied in the behavioral and social sciences. Most majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are a direct fit for this minor. Students earning degrees in the professional schools, such as business, also find this minor a good fit.
Pre-requisites for the minor
Because of the structure of the Minor requirements, students should begin pursuit of the Minor at the end of their Sophomore year or the beginning of their Junior year. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is recommended for admittance to the Minor, but this is not required.
Students must have completed a course in elementary statistics prior to pursuing the SBSM Minor (e.g., COMS 356; MATH 365, 526; POLS 306; PSYC 300; PUAD 332; SOC 510). Any equivalent course may be approved with the consent of the program director.
Point of contact
If you have any questions please e-mail us.
Requirements for the minor:
Students must complete a minimum of 18 hours of coursework and research experience (minimum 3 units of directed reading/independent study and/or research practicum). The sum of these credits is realized when the following requirements are fulfilled:
1) PSYC 650 Statistical Methods in Behavioral and Social Science Research I (4 hours).
2) Directed reading/independent study/research practicum or equivalent, mentored by a faculty member (minimum of 3 hours; most students complete 6 hours). Examples include ABSC 698, COMS 499, POLS 493, PSYC 480 or PSYC 481, PUAD 693 or PUAD 695, SPLH 499, SOC 698.
3) Additional elective 600-level offerings in a specialized methodology course (8 hours). Each 4-hour course consists of 3 hours of lecture and a 1-hour lab, offereing practice in applying the techniques. Some possible courses include:
PSYC 651 Statistical Methods in Behavioral and Social Science Research II
PSYC 679 Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods
PSYC 687 Factor Analysis
PSYC 692 Test Theory
PSYC 693 Multivariate Analysis
PSYC 694 Multilevel Modeling I
PSYC 695 Categorical Data Analysis
PSYC 696 Structural Equation Modeling I
Only one course taken to fulfill the requirements of the Minor may be used to fulfill requirements of the student's major.
After you graduate
If you want to pursue graduate study in any discipline related to the social and behavioral sciences, this minor will give you skills that will greatly enhance your graduate career opportunities. In fact, statistics experience is preferred by more graduate psychology programs in the U.S. than any other type of course (see this study if you don't believe us). Learning advanced statistcal procedures gives you a chance to demostrate your ability to master this material and gain valuable research experience that most graduate programs desire. For nonacademic careers, you will have a significant competitve edge in the job market, because you will possess analytic skills needed for interpreting and understanding complex data.
Already available courses
PSYC 650 Statistical Methods in Behavioral and Social Science Research I (4) Elementary distribution theory; t-test; simple regression and correlation; multiple regression and multiple correlation; curvilinear regression; logistic regression; general linear model. Applications across the behavioral and social sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 790 will have different course requirements. Prerequisite: a beginning course in statistics (e.g., PSYC 300, MATH 365, POLS 306, COMS 356, SOC 510, or equivalent), or consent of instructor. LEC
PSYC 651 Statistical Methods in Behavioral and Social Science Research II (4) Continuation of PSYC 651. One-way analysis of variance, linear trends, contrasts, post hoc tests; multi-way analysis of variance for crossed, blocked, nested, and incomplete designs; analysis of covariance; repeated measures analysis of variance; general linear model. Applications across the social, educational, and behavior sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 791 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor. LEC.
PSYC 692 Test Theory (4) This is an introductory course that takes a unified approach (from classical and modern test theory) to the topic of measurement in the behavioral and social sciences. Content covered includes the construction and administration of psychological tests (e.g., intelligence, achievement, and personality); practice in test construction, administration, and validation; and how to assess the reliability and generalizability of an instrument. Applications across the social and behavior sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 892 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 and 651 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor. LEC
PSYC 693 Multivariate Analysis (4) Introduction to the central methods used in the analysis of multivariate data. Includes linear transformations, multivariate analysis of variance, multivariate multiple regression, discriminant analysis, canonical correlation, factor analysis, and an introduction to methods for clustering and classification. Applications across the behavior and social sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 893 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 and 651 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor. LEC
PSYC 694 Multilevel Modeling I (4) Introduction to statistical methods for modeling multilevel (hierarchically structured) data. Topics include a review of ordinary least squares regression analysis, random effects ANOVA, intraclass correlation, multilevel regression, testing and probing interactions, maximum likelihood estimation, model assumptions, model evaluation, and the analysis of longitudinal data. Emphasis will be on the theory underlying multilevel modeling techniques and hands-on application using software. Applications across the behavioral and social sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 894 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 and 651 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor.. LEC
PSYC 695 Categorical Data Analysis (4) Introduction to multivariate analyses of count data, including error models, statistical inference, loglinear models, logit models, logistic regression, homogeneity, symmetry, and selected other topics. Applications across the behavioral and social sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 895 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 and 651 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor. LEC
PSYC 696 Structural Equation Modeling I (4) Introduction to statistical methods for modeling latent variables. Topics include a review of latent variables, covariance structures analysis, mean structures analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM), multiple group CFA, longitudinal CFA, longitudinal SEM, and hierarchical CFA. Applications across the behavioral and social sciences are emphasized. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as PSYC 896 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 and 651 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor. LEC
Courses in preparation
COMS 655 Survey of Qualitative Methods (4) Survey of methods for collecting and analyzing qualitative data, including participant observation, interviews, and, focus groups. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as COMS 855 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: COMS 356 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. LEC
POLS 691 Time Series Analysis (4) This course is a general introduction to statistical methods for analyzing time series data. The course will initially consider difference equations and basic autoregressive models, time-series cross-sectional estimation, and event history/hazard models. Additional topics, depending on student interests, may include vector autoregression, cointegration models, Poisson regression, and transfer function analysis. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as POLS 906 will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: PSYC 650 and 651 (a grade of B or better recommended), or consent of instructor. LEC
SOC 6xx Techniques of Demographic Analysis (4) This course is designed to introduce students to concepts of demographic measurement and analysis for the study of changes in size, composition and distribution of populations. Students will learn how demographers measure and analyze basic population components such as fertility, mortality, migration and health. Course consists of three hours of lecture and a required one-hour lab session where computing applications are taught. Students taking this course as SOC 8xx will have different course requirements. Prerequisites: SOC 510, or consent of instructor. LEC
Note: At an earlier time, we referred to the Minor as Quantitative Behavioral and Social Sciences (QBSS - the title that the letter writers reference); however, with the inclusion of qualitative methods, we have renamed it Social and Behavioral Sciences Methodology (SBSM).