Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2094: Data Analysis in Social Science III

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce you to more advanced quantitative techniques for the analysis of social data that goes beyond simple descriptive statistics. More specifically, we will study different data reduction and classification techniques, such as factor analysis and cluster analysis. After completing this module you will be able to understand and interpret the results of multivariate statistical analysis frequently reported in social science journals and policy papers, as well as independently conduct analysis using R, a statistically oriented programming language. Multivariate statistical analysis is applied for data analysis outside the academia, and employers often value these skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. interpret and explain the results of multivariate statistical analysis reported in the social science literature;
2. conduct multivariate statistical analysis using selected methods independently at the intermediate level using statistically oriented programming language, R;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. recognize research designs and data where various techniques of multivariate statistical analysis can be applied;
4. explain the results of multivariate statistical analysis in substantive terms and relate them to substantive social science problems;
Personal and Key Skills5. report the results of statistical analysis in writing in a way that would be understood by non-specialists; and
6. use general-purpose statistical software (such as R) for the analysis of social data at the intermediate level