EH173-7-SL-CO:
Introduction to Statistics for Social Science Research with SPSS
2022/23
Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
Colchester Campus
Summer & Long Vacation
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 24 April 2023
Wednesday 04 October 2023
15
03 February 2023
Requisites for this module
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The ability to understand quantitative data and to conduct analysis by using a statistical software is increasingly important in academic research as well as in the job market. This course will provide a gentle introduction to quantitative analysis for social science research and to the statistical software SPSS. The course will cover the following topics:
(a) applications of quantitative analysis for social science research
(b) the use of statistical software in quantitative analysis
(c) data and measurement
(d) descriptive statistics
(e) assessing relationships between social phenomena
(f) simple and multiple regression analysis
(g) introduction to logistic regression
No information available.
By the end of this course you will have developed confidence to engage with quantitative analysis in your own research and to highlight the ability to conduct quantitative analysis using SPSS as part of your skills. For academic researchers who have previously engaged with different methods e.g. qualitative approaches, this course will open new possibilities of engaging with quantitative data that exist in their fields. For participants who wish to undertake this course in order to enhance their employability, this course will build up skills of engaging with real world data which are transferable to a range of organisational contexts such as survey research, policy research and market research. All participants will have developed a good understanding of SPSS which will enable them to further expand their knowledge of statistical software for social science research.
Course Prerequisites
This is an introductory level course which requires no background in quantitative analysis. On a technical side, participants are expected to have basic numeracy skills e.g. addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, experience of using a computer and basic familiarity with data entry in software such as Excel. On a substantive side, participants are expected to know what is a research question, what are the broader purposes of social science research, and to be able to distinguish between social science data and other types of data.
Representative Background Reading
European Social Survey (2012). Experiences and Expressions of Ageism: Topline Results (UK) from Round 4 on the European Social Survey. ESS Country Specific Topline Results.
Schneider, S. (2011). Measuring Educational Attainment. Survey Question Bank Topic Overview 6. Colchester: University of Essex.
Required Text (this text will be provided by ESS): Field Andy, Discovering Statistics Using SPSS, 2005 (other editions also applicable)
Module information will be made available at https://essexsummerschool.com/.
Please contact essexsummerschoolssda@essex.ac.uk and govpgquery@essex.ac.uk with any queries.
No information available.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
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Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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