Quantitative Research Methods (DL)

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use written communication skills developed through the critical interpretation and discussion of statistical results using relevant academic literature
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of survey design, questionnaire design and quantitative data analysis, including sampling, hypothesis setting and testing, correlation and confidence intervals.
• Use skills in statistical computing, handling and manipulating large datasets and using statistical software (SPSS) effectively.
• Apply statistical methods to the analysis of datasets from the Social Sciences, including the analysis of variance, simple and multiple linear regression, and logistic regression.

The module will include online lectures and practice exercises on: principles of statistical analysis and key terms; types of surveys, data collection methods, sampling frames, methods of sampling (including sample design, simple random samples, stratified and clustered sampling, multi-stage sampling, non-probability sampling), sample size, questionnaire design and survey processing; introduction to UK and international data; descriptive statistics; z-scores; confidence intervals for means and proportions and hypothesis setting and testing; power calculations; chi-square tests; t-tests and analysis of variance; correlation and simple linear regression; multiple linear regression; variable interactions and regression assumptions; logistic regression; multiple logistic regression; and mixed methods.

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching methods involve lectures, exercises, and tutorials. Learning activities include studying by listening to lectures and attending online tutorials; dialogue on the Discussion Board on Blackboard; practice exercises; and independent study. Students are expected to carry out some reading in advance of each session and also to complete the practice exercises after each session. This helps reaffirm student learning and acts as a self-check as to the level of understanding reached.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Module resources such as audio-recording and web-casts of lectures will be available on Blackboard, including PowerPoint lecture slides, readings, discussion board trigger questions, exercise coursework details, references and module updates. You will be provided with accessible datasets through Blackboard which you will manipulate for the purpose of practice exercises and the assessed assignments.

Textbooks

Foster, L., Diamond, I. and Jefferies, J. (2014). Beginning Statistics: An Introduction for Social Scientists. London: Sage.

Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics. London: Sage.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External