MY451      Half Unit
Introduction to Quantitative Analysis

This information is for the 2016/17 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Benjamin Lauderdale Col.8.10 and Prof Jonathan Jackson Col.8.05

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Sociology (Research). This course is available on the MSc in Comparative Politics, MSc in Conflict Studies, MSc in EU Politics, MSc in Gender (Research), MSc in Inequalities and Social Science, MSc in International Health Policy, MSc in International Health Policy (Health Economics), MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in Public Policy and Administration and MSc in Social Research Methods. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course is also available to research students as MY551.

Course content

An intensive introduction to quantitative data analysis in the social sciences. The course is intended for students with no previous experience of quantitative methods or statistics. It covers the foundations of descriptive statistics and statistical estimation and inference. At the end of the course students should be able to carry out univariate and bi-variate data analysis and have an appreciation of multiple linear regression. The computer classes give 'hands-on' training in the application of statistical techniques to real social science research problems using the SPSS computer package (no prior knowledge of SPSS is necessary).

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of computer workshops in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of computer workshops in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

There will be no lectures or computer classes in Week 6 of the term.

This course is given twice per session, starting in the first week of each of the MT and LT. Students must either register for MY451M which is taught in Michaelmas Term, or MY451L which is taught in Lent Term.

Formative coursework

Exercises from the weekly computer classes can be submitted for feedback.

Indicative reading

A course pack will be available for download online and can be purchases as a hard copy. Additional reading: many introductory statistics books are available. But we particularly recommend Alan Agresti and Christine Franklin (2009) Statistics: The Art and Science of Learning from Data. Pearson Education. Or Alan Agresti and Barbara Finlay (2009, 4th edition) Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. Pearson Education (note that the second book is more advanced and is particularly useful if you are planning to take MY451 and MY452.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

A two-hour open book unseen examination in ST.

Key facts

Department: Methodology

Total students 2015/16: Unavailable

Average class size 2015/16: Unavailable

Controlled access 2015/16: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 97%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2

Materials (Q2.3)

1.8

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2

Lectures (Q2.5)

2

Integration (Q2.6)

1.9

Contact (Q2.7)

2.2

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.9

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

61%

Maybe

30%

No

9%