Postgraduate Course: Core quantitative data analysis for social research: part 1 (PGSP11078)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Social and Political Science |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
This web-based course aims to give postgraduate students an understanding of core statistical concepts and methods for social research. The course is designed for students who have little or no previous experience or knowledge of statistics, or for those who feel they need a refresher course on the subject. In particular, and in line with ESRC postgraduate training guidelines, the course aims to ensure that all students completing the course are able to demonstrate proficiency in certain key methods, and in the use, interpretation and presentation of techniques for the analysis of quantitative data.
The course will explore descriptive and exploratory data analysis and data management and analysis using statistical software (SPSS). Course content will include: the structure of social science data - cases, variables, values, data sets and missing data; levels of measurement; frequency distributions; graphical representation of data; measures of central tendency, dispersion and shape; normal distribution, standard scores and regrouping of variables.
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Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
Semester 1 weeks 1-6 Introductory lecture only then computer based workshops when taken as 10 credit option. Students taking parts 1 & 2 should register for P02137 |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will:
o Understand the significance of links between theory and method and understand the epistemological implications of particular methodological approaches
o Be able to understand and apply a range of quantitative methods and tools
o Know how to interpret basic statistics
o Have a thorough grounding in descriptive and exploratory data analysis techniques
o Have experience of working with large data sets at different levels of aggregation
o Understand how to access information about data sources
o Have experience of utilising web-based resources for learning
o Be able to efficiently access IT resources
o Have an understanding of how to use computer software for descriptive and exploratory statistical analysis
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Assessment Information
| One multiple choice exam. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr John Macinnes
Tel: (0131 6)50 3867
Email: john.macinnes@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Gillian Macdonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 3244
Email: gillian.macdonald@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh -
31 January 2011 8:10 am
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