Quantitative Methods in Social Research module (GE51013)

You will explore the ethical consideration and restrictions around data. You will use primary data collected by yourself, or secondary data already collected. You will quantitatively analyse the data to draw your conclusions. You will consider what data should be measured, not just because it can be measured.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• examine different views on the contemporary importance of quantitative social research
• increase awareness in key sources of national and international quantitative social data
• discuss and assess the status of quantitative social scientific inquiry
• learn to link theoretical consideration of key concepts with operationalisation of issues. This will have relevance to the social sciences

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• use data analysis software for conducting your own analysis. You will also be able to generate output appropriate for integrating into a research report
• design a questionnaire and input data into data analysis software system
• understand the underpinnings of effective and successful major official social studies
• explore, describe, model and interpret key patterns, trends and relationships in quantitative social data sets
• draw on a range of skills and techniques to interpret key issues in social science. This will include critical analysis of academic literature
• identify and develop research projects suitable for analysis. You will be able to do this using quantitative methods and secondary data analysis.

Assignments / assessment

Coursework (100%)

• designing a questionnaire (20%)
• creating an index measure (30%)
• survey data analysis and report writing (50%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• practical workshops