Foundations of Quantitative Research

The Foundations of Quantitative Research Methods module (SOCY08022) introduces you to quantitative research methods within the social sciences. The module is aimed at providing a firm understanding of core concepts and terms associated with quantitative methods.

Through a combination of lectures and hands-on tutorials, students will learn the following:

• Principles and theoretical backgrounds of quantitative methods, key terms and statistical concepts including: randomisation, conceptualising and operationalising social phenomena, levels of measurement
• Conceptual and technical aspects of descriptive statistics (including central tendency, variation, correlations) and statistical inference (including p-values, significance, type 1 and type 2 errors) as used in the social sciences
• Key features of experimental and observational research designs (including questionnaire design, causal effects, sampling frames, methods of sampling, sample size)
• The role of trust and ethics in producing and consuming quantitative research findings

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of the fundamental elements of quantitative research
• Demonstrate well-developed capacities for designing rigorous pieces of quantitative research
• Critically review and interpret published quantitative social science research

This is an SCQF Level 8 module, and upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 20 credits.

 

Delivery 

The module will be delivered at Paisley and Lanarkshire campuses.

The planned timetable is Thursday two-hour seminars and Friday recorded lectures.  This will be confirmed ahead of course commencement.

 

Course presenter

This module will be delivered by Dr Diarmuid McDonnell.

 

Funding

This course may be available on a fully funded basis to some delegates.  Further details, including regarding eligibility, are available under Funding Support.

If you have any questions, please contact us at cpd@uws.ac.uk. 

 

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.  If you do not meet this criteria, please enquire here.