PL32206: Advanced quantitative research methods
[Page last updated: 25 April 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies |
| Credits: | 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 100 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CWRI 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Learning Outcomes: |
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of sampling, descriptive statistics, statistical inference, and basic methods for the establishment of statistical association such as cross-tabulation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression.
Identify appropriate statistical methods for the analysis of different types of data.
Implement statistical methods using statistical software.
Discuss and cleanly present the results of statistical analyses.
Critically appraise the design and methodology of quantitative social science studies. |
| Synopsis: | Develop the skills necessary to read and critically evaluate quantitative research papers, as well as plan, conduct, and analyse your own quantitative research projects.
You will learn about key tools relevant for modern social scientists, such as:
- sampling and measurement
- descriptive statistics
- statistical inference
- the establishment of statistical associations
This is an introductory unit, no prior statistical knowledge is required.
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| Content: | Political scientists, economists, and other social scientists often use quantitative methods to study important phenomena such as public opinion, elections, economic development, inflation, social movements, legislatures, or wars. This unit provides students with an introduction to foundational concepts in statistical analysis, research design, and causal inference, as well as contemporary examples of how those concepts can be applied in the real world. Following a review of the role of quantitative methods in social science research, students are introduced to sampling methodology, examining how sample data can be used to make inferences about the population from which it is drawn. The focus then turns to strategies and techniques of data analysis, starting from simply describing data, to exploring relationships, comparing means between groups, and finally, the theory and application of linear regression.
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| Skills: | Political scientists, economists, and other social scientists often use quantitative methods to study important phenomena such as public opinion, elections, economic development, inflation, social movements, legislatures, or wars. This unit provides students with an introduction to foundational concepts in statistical analysis, research design, and causal inference, as well as contemporary examples of how those concepts can be applied in the real world. Following a review of the role of quantitative methods in social science research, students are introduced to sampling methodology, examining how sample data can be used to make inferences about the population from which it is drawn. The focus then turns to strategies and techniques of data analysis, starting from simply describing data, to exploring relationships, comparing means between groups, and finally, the theory and application of linear regression. |
| Aims: | Political scientists, economists, and other social scientists often use quantitative methods to study important phenomena such as public opinion, elections, economic development, inflation, social movements, legislatures, or wars. This unit provides students with an introduction to foundational concepts in statistical analysis, research design, and causal inference, as well as contemporary examples of how those concepts can be applied in the real world. Following a review of the role of quantitative methods in social science research, students are introduced to sampling methodology, examining how sample data can be used to make inferences about the population from which it is drawn. The focus then turns to strategies and techniques of data analysis, starting from simply describing data, to exploring relationships, comparing means between groups, and finally, the theory and application of linear regression. |
| Course availability: |
PL32206 is Optional on the following courses:Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
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Notes:
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