Research Skills in the Social Sciences: Data Analysis (P00001)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-RSDA

The course aims to train social science postgraduate students in a range of key research skills in quantitative data analysis. In particular it aims to ensure that all students completing the course are able, in the ESRC's phrase, to 'demonstrate proficiency' in certain key methods. The course will cover all the areas of quantitative research prescribed in Section E (Framework for Methods Training) in the 2001 edition of the ESRC Postgraduate Training Guidelines.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of Social and Political Studies), (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Additional Class Information : 2 hour lecture each week and 1 hour computer workshop each week

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, all students taking the course will

be competent in understanding and applying a range of research methods and tools
understand the significance of links between theory and method, and the epistemological implications of particular methodological approaches to social research

The range of research methods and tools covered will include the following quantitative methods of data analysis

descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, exploratory data analysis, sampling, inference and measures of association, the use, modelling and interpretation of multivariate data
the use of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)