Module Description

A vast amount of political research is quantitative, and even if you decide never to conduct quantitative analysis yourself, you will find an introductory level of knowledge in quantitative methods useful to critically engage with your discipline as a whole. Skills in data analysis are also crucial for finding employment in graduate level jobs; the Institute of Student Employers found in its 2018 report that "data analysis" is amongst the 5 most important skills employers wish graduate students to have. This module will deliver an introduction to quantitative political analysis. It is based on Reiche's typology of Quantitative Methods, and explores each of its tasks (conceptualisation and measurement, numerical data, data analysis and interpretation) at an introductory level. The module uses the software R.