Quantitative Methods & Research Planning

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS

Level of Study

Master's

Full-time/Part-time

Full time

Teaching semester

Spring

Objectives and Content

This is a continuation of Introduction to Methodology, focussing on planning quantitative research, and the methods of analysis of quantitative data. Students learn the fundamentals of writing a quantitative master¿s thesis proposal, fundamental operations using SPSS, including preparing, screening and cleaning data, producing descriptive statistics, manipulating and transforming data, conducting reliability analysis, choosing the right statistical analysis, calculating correlations amongst variables, and conducting factor, regression, one- and two-way analysis of variance.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course the students should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student will have in-depth knowledge of:

• The requirements for the master's thesis proposal
• The appropriate use of a range of statistical methods/techniques
• The interpretation of statistical analysis

Skills:

The student has the ability to:

• Code research data into analysable data sets
• Pose study questions that can be addressed using statistical methods, e.g., hypothesis testing
• Model data using alternative approaches and decide on final approaches to an analysis
• Annotate and interpret output from statistical analyses
• Format tables and graphs that present statistical analyses
• Design a research project and write a project plan

General competencies:

• By the end of the course the student:Can think critically, reflectively and creatively about statistical analysis
• Has methodological competencies for statistics-related skills problem-solving
• Can choose appropriate statistical analyses given the nature of the study data

Required Previous Knowledge

Students must have completed GLODE302 Introduction to Methodology or the equivalent.

Access to the Course

Open to all students registered in Master's Programme in Global Development Theory and Practice.

Open to master's students registered in other relevant programmes at UiB.

Teaching Methods and Extent of Organized Teaching

The teaching methods will consist of lectures, computer laboratory sessions and feedback on SPSS analyses.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Hand in of analyses done in SPSS, plus interpretation of results.

Presentation of own research project for fellow students

All activities and assignments must be completed and approved before the student¿s individual work will be evaluated.

Forms of Assessment

Home exam (5 days, 2500 words) .

Grading Scale

A-F

Assessment Semester

Spring

Reading List

Will be made available on 1st December.

Course Evaluation

The course will be evaluated in accordance with the Faculty of Psychology's routines for participatory evaluation and the University of Bergen's Quality Assurance System.

Programme Committee

Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology

Course Coordinator

Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology.

Course Administrator

Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology.