Introduction to Social Data
| Module title | Introduction to Social Data |
|---|---|
| Module code | SSI1005 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Hannah Bunting (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 140 |
|---|
Module description
‘Women do 11 hours more housework than men’ or ‘Violent crime is down for three years in a row’. Much social science research uses quantitative research methods and statistics to investigate social phenomena ranging from employment, crime rates, health outcomes, political participation and social class. This introductory first-year module introduces you to key concepts in quantitative research design,data collection and data analysis as a basis for understanding such social phenomena
This module is suitable for all social science students and is part of the Q-Step core sequence in research methods.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to introduce you to quantitative research design,data collection and basic data analysis. More specifically, it uses data sets and research examples drawn from existing social science research to illustrate core concepts and methods in quantitative research. By introducing you to methods such as experiments and surveys, and the type of social science research that can be produced using these, this module lays the foundation for understanding quantitative methods and for your own experience in conducting quantitative studies.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate basic knowledge of quantitative research design, data collection and some awareness of analytic techniques;
- 2. Demonstrate basic understanding of what makes some quantitative research good and some bad quality (quality criterion);
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Demonstrate an understanding of quantitative research design in the social sciences at an introductory level;
- 4. Create a relevant social science research question and hypothesis;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Present quantitative data effectively and clearly; and
- 6. Demonstrate numeracy skills which will be desirable to employers.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:
• Introduction: What is quantitative research?
• Populations and samples
• Social surveys
• Correlation and causation
• Experiments in the social science
• Measurement. Reliability and validity in social science research
• Basic descriptive statistics and data analysis
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 11 | 11 X 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activity | 11 | 11 X 1 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 43 | Course readings |
| Guided independent study | 60 | Reading for the take home exam |
| Guided independent study | 25 | Preparation for the invigilated ELE test |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice quiz | 30 minutes | 1-6 | Online |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home exam | 50 | Approximately 1,500 words and some data analysis | 1-6 | Written |
| Multiple choice invigilated ELE test | 50 | 1 hour online (ELE) test | 1-6 | Online |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home exam | Take-home exam (approximately 1,500 words and some data analysis) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Multiple choice invigilated ELE test | Multiple choice test (1 hour, paper or online) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Llaudet, E. and Imai, K. (2023). Data Analysis for Social Science: A friendly and practical introduction. Princeton University Press
Fowler, F.J. (2014) Survey research methods. London: Sage. 5th ed.
Imai, K. (2016). A first course in quantitative social science. Princeton University Press
Raykov, T. and Marcoulides, G.A. (2012). Basic Statistics. An Introduction with R. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | none |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 11/12/2019 |
| Last revision date | 14/04/2023 |
