SP20160: Quantitative data analysis
[Page last updated: 01 August 2022]
| Academic Year: | 2022/23 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 40%, EX 60% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | Before taking this module you must take SP10159 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Programme availability: |
SP20160 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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