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SP20160: Quantitative data analysis

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 40%, EX 60%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail data for this unit is currently being updated as a change has been approved. Updated assessment information will be published here shortly.
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you must take SP10159
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:

* introduce the basic principles of quantitative data collection and analysis
* alert the participants to the broader theoretical and methodological issues that arise from (and accompany) the use of quantitative methods in social research
* demonstrate the use of a variety of statistical techniques and tests employed in descriptive and inferential statistics
* familiarise the participants with the use of the statistical package SPSS in analysing quantitative data.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students are expected to be able to:
* recognise variables according to different levels of measurement and standardise scores
* to use the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to apply simple and advanced SPSS procedures for describing and analysing quantitative data
* to explore statistically significant differences (chi square test, t-test and ANOVA) and the strength of association between continuous variables (Pearson's R)
* create models of causal relationships between variables (various forms of regression analysis and path analysis)
* understand the broader theoretical and methodological issues that arise when using quantitative methods in social research.

Skills:
Intellectual skills
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information
* To utilise problem solving skills
Professional Practical Skills
* To effectively and efficiently apply principles of sociological/social policy analysis within a variety of environments
Transferable/Key Skills
* Advanced information and computing technology skills (i.e. SPSS and other forms of computer based data analysis programmes, producing tables, spreadsheets, graphs and charts, statistical tests)
* Statistical analysis of bivariate and multivariate relationships between variables
* Team and group working skills
* To solve problems in a variety of situations
Knowledge outcomes for each programme
* Knowledge of techniques for the evaluation of policy outcomes
* Knowledge of the main sources of data about social welfare and a critical approach to the use of these Social Sciences
* Understanding of how to apply knowledge and concepts from across various social sciences disciplines
* Knowledge of the main sources of data about social issues and a critical approach to their use

Content:

* Methodological debates in quantitative social research
* Basic descriptive statistics
* Measures of central tendency and variability
* The normal distribution and z-scores
* Overview of tests for Nominal, Ordinal and Interval/Ratio variables
* Introduction to inferential statistics and sampling
* Estimates, Hypothesis testing and Predictions
* Tests of significance (the chi-square test)
* Correlation, simple and multiple regression.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP20160 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.