Overview

This module builds on and extends the foundations laid down in Research, Academic & Professional Skills and constitutes the natural progression from Qualitative Research. While focusing on the generic principles of planning, collecting and analysing data that is quantitative in nature, there is a strong emphasis on honing your own research skills. This is achieved not only through weekly exercises in the seminar, but also via an empirical group project that you will carry out together with some of your colleagues. Throughout the module, you will learn about the purpose and application of different quantitative research designs and their relevance in applied contexts, such as organisational analysis and consulting. At the end of the module you will not only be able to critically review quantitative data and understand its power as well as its limitations, but also demonstrate those skills that are crucial to generate, analyse and interpret such data in the workplace.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify different approaches to quantitative research and paradigmatic orientations underlying this methodological approach to analyse social phenomena.
• Critically evaluate data collection procedures and their impact on quantitative research designs.
• Describe and present relevant procedures for analysing data quantitatively.
• Critically assess research designs applied in published work

Learning Experience

Lecture

Core content will be presented during weekly 2-hour lectures.

Seminar

We will meet in a weekly 1-hour small-group seminar to practice and apply course concepts.

Assessment

Essay

750 word critical analysis

2000-word assignment (50%)

Examination

2-hour written examination (40%)

Preparatory Reading

• Agresti, A. & Finlay, B. (2008). Statistical methods for the social sciences (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.