Quantitative Analytical Methods in Anthropology

Catalog description

This class is an introduction to statistical analysis of anthropological and social science data. Students will learn how quantitative and statistical techniques are used in the analysis of anthropological problems and how to evaluate statistical arguments in the literature. No previous background in statistics is required. We will consider data collection, sampling and statistical populations, exploratory summaries of data, and the importance of choosing appropriate statistical techniques. All course work will emphasize anthropological interpretation through applied statistical methods. The course has a four-field focus (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics), and students will work with readings, examples, and problem assignments from each subfield.