RESM6304 Quantitative Methods I

Module Overview

Quantitative Methods I provides an introduction to the use of statistical methods for the analysis of quantitative data and their practical application in a range of disciplinary contexts using the statistical computer software SPSS. This will include both descriptive statistics and elementary inferential statistics.

Aims and Objectives

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the use of statistical methods for the analysis of quantitative data and their application in a range of disciplinary contexts. This will include both descriptive statistics and elementary inferential statistics. The emphasis will be on the practical application of statistical methods and the interpretation of results using the statistical computer software SPSS. The module will draw on a range of international and UK data sources.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

An introduction to the use of statistical methods for the analysis of quantitative data and their practical application

Syllabus

This module gives a broad introduction to quantitative methods of analysis. Indicative content includes: descriptive statistics, presentation of data using tables and graphs, the Normal distribution, sampling distributions and the central limit theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests for means and proportions, chi-squared test of independence, two sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, non-parametric tests, correlation and simple linear regression, effect sizes. In addition, some key international and UK data sources will be introduced.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will be through a combination of multidisciplinary lectures, tutorials, and computer workshops. Learning activities will include learning in lectures, which will cover explanations of the statistical methods and their use, discussing problems during the tutorials, as well as by independent study. The computer workshops will provide hands-on experience of the analysis of data and the application of the methods introduced in the lectures using SPSS. The course assumes no prior knowledge of statistical methods or SPSS, although pre-reading of Diamond and Jefferies (2001) or Garner (2005) would be of benefit.

Type	Hours
Independent Study	80
Teaching	20
Total study time	100

Resources & Reading list

Field, A. (2009). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS.

Diamond, I. and Jefferies, J. (2001). Beginning Statistics.

Assessment

Summative

Method	Percentage contribution
Assignment (3000 words)	100%

Referral

Method	Percentage contribution
Assignment (3000 words)	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal