Postgraduate Course: Quantitative Data Analysis with SPSS (REDU11029)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education and Sport |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides students with practical experience of the management and analysis of quantitative data. Using examples of research in education and other fields the course explores the nature of quantitative data, the relationship between quantitative analysis and theory building, and some of the major topic areas of statistical analysis. |
| Course description |
This course will provide postgraduate students with an introduction to the main statistical concepts and techniques of analysis of quantitative data used in education and more widely in social sciences. It is addressed to students who have little or no experience of using quantitative data and it aims to enable students to develop an understanding of basic and intermediate quantitative methods and the ability to use these methods. Moreover, the course will support students in learning the statistical programme SPSS.
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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 | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
| Course Start Date |
19/09/2022 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Please contact the course secretary before enrolling students to verify spaces available
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Two additional course-specific criteria are included:
- Data presentation
- Data analysis and interpretation
These criteria aim to evaluate the ability of students to present quantitative data and to choose and carry out suitable statistical analyses (core components of the course).
Task 1
At the end of semester 1, students will carry out a short piece of research using secondary data aimed at demonstrating an understanding of the use of quantitative data in empirical research enquiry and the acquisition of basic statistical skills. This is a formative assessment in preparation for the final assessment at the end of semester 2.
(Formative assessment)
Task 2 (100 % of final coursework):
Students will be expected to write an essay on a given topic.
This assignment will consist of an original piece of research conducted by the students on secondary data provided by the tutor (or, with the tutors prior agreement, based on the student's own data). Students will formulate their own research question(s) and select the appropriate techniques of analyses to address their question(s).
The assignment will include:
(1) a commentary on which techniques were used, for which purpose and why;
(2) results of the application of the techniques;
(3) a discussion of the results which will include description and interpretation of the results and a discussion of the implications of the results for the original research question.
(Summative assessment - 3000 words; excluding tables, graphs and references) |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the links between theory and method and the potential and limits of quantitative evidence
- Master descriptive and exploratory data analysis techniques
- Be able to understand and apply a range of quantitative methods
- Be able to interpret and effectively present the results of statistical analyses
- Have experience in using the computer software SPSS for all the statistical analyses covered by the course
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Reading List
| Fielding, J. & Gilbert, N. (2006). Understanding Social Statistics. Sage. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is open to students from other schools, however, please contact the course secretary prior to enrolling your Tutee in order to verify that there is space available; students on MSc Educational Research and MSc Education have priority. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Classes are delivered fortnightly over both Semester 1 and 2.
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| Keywords | SPSS,Quantitative |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Miss Adriana Duta
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Mariana Duarte
Tel:
Email: |
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