Description
This introduction to applied quantitative research aims to give you the tools to scrutinise, conduct and present basic statistical analyses in education research and beyond. The module will introduce the use of statistical concepts, questions of cause and effect, and issues surrounding the measurement of complex concepts with quantitative surveys through a wide range of research application. To apply the concepts, you will work on real survey data such as the Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) or the European Social Survey (ESS).
Teaching delivery:ÌýThis module is taught in 10 weekly lectures and 10 weekly seminars. Ìý
Indicative Topics:Ìýbased on module content in 2023/24, subject to possible changes.
- Why statistical literacy matters
- Where statistics come from
- Populations and samples
- Definitions and measurement
- Descriptive statistics (averages and standard error)
- Counts, Percentages and Cross-tabulations
- Correlation: Cause and effect
- Graphics: the good, the bad, the ugly, Doing research
Module Aims:
- To develop your skills to read, critically assess and do basic quantitative research.
- To give you the confidence to carry out quantitative research in your further studies and later career.
Recommended readings:
- de Vries, R. (2019).ÌýCritical statistics: seeing beyond the headlines / Robert de Vries.ÌýRed Globe Press.
- Muijs, Daniel. (2011).ÌýDoing quantitative research in education with SPSS / Daniel Muijs.Ìý(2nd ed.). SAGE.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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