Undergraduate Course: Doing Survey Research (SCIL10063)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is designed to meet the needs of those students who want to develop their knowledge of survey methods, introductory statistics and quantitative data analysis. You will learn how to access and analyse extensive secondary data, to create and analyse large survey data using the leading social scientific software for the analysis of statistical data, SPSS. The course addresses issues in the understanding of different forms of data, a range of survey research issues, and in reviewing aspects of social survey research methods encourages you to critically assess theory and explore productive ways of examining aspects of human experience. You will develop your skills in a range of data analysis techniques and have an opportunity to think about the kinds of decisions you may have to make in developing your project/dissertation. The course includes an introduction to social surveys and statistics, and specific techniques of data analysis are developed by examining a number of contemporary social surveys. You will have a chance in the course for hands-on work using the most up to date computing hardware and software. |
| Course description |
Doing Survey Research comprises the latter half of the compulsory Methods courses for degrees in the Social Policy and Sociology subject areas. This course is designed to meet the needs of those students who want to access and analyse extensive secondary data, or to create and analyse survey material where it makes sense to use dedicated statistical software. It will develop your skills in a range of data analysis techniques and provides an opportunity to think about the kinds of decisions you may have to make in developing your project/dissertation. The course includes an introduction to surveys and social statistics as well as a ¿hands-on¿ introduction to survey analysis. Core texts include:
David de Vaus (2002) Surveys in Social Research, 5t h ed., London: Routledge. (Link to book on Learn)
Online Statistics Education web site, developed by David M. Lane. (URL: http://onlinestatbook.com/2/index.html)
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 2 social science courses (such as Sociology, Politics, Social Policy, Social Anthropology, etc) at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 91 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 11,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
25% One small assessment
75% One end of course assessment
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| Feedback |
Students will receive two key pieces of feedback on a small assignment (due in late February) and on an end-of-course assignment (due in late April). |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
| By the end of this course candidates will have: - a basic knowledge of research design as it relates to the selection of documentary sources, evaluation of existing data-sets, and survey research - an understanding of and ability to use basic descriptive and inferential statistics, and the use of SPSS for bivariate and multivariate analysis. - a basic understanding of the issues involved in drawing inferences and generalisations from samples to larger populations. - some familiarity with the use of software packages for analysing qualitative data.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alexander Janus
Tel: (0131 6)51 3965
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Emma Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3932
Email: |
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