Skip to main content Skip to navigation

QS903-20 Advanced Quantitative Research

Department
Politics & International Studies
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Philippe Blanchard
Credit value
20
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

QS903-20

Module web page

Module aims

This module introduces students to a selected set of advanced statistical methods that are commonly used in quantitative social research.  A further aim is to familiarise students with the key issues in the craft of applied work so that they become careful, considered and thoughtful researchers in quantitative social sciences.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1: Introduction to the module, data and software
Weeks 2-3: Topic 1
Weeks 4-5: Topic 2
Week 6: Reading Week
Weeks 7-8: Topic 3
Weeks 9-10: Revision and Data Analysis Workshops

The three topics offered might vary from year to year, depending on staff availability and student demand.  The methods covered will be announced in advance, and they are likely to be drawn from the following list:

Categorical data analysis (e.g. loglinear analysis)
Causal inferences with observational, experimental and quasi-experimental data
Event history analysis
Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Correspondence Analysis
Latent Class Analysis
Multilevel analysis
Panel data analysis
Social network analysis
Bayesian Analysis
Agent Based Simulation
Spatial Analysis

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • understand and appreciate forms of statistical analysis and advanced quantitative approaches
  • have an awareness of the value of, and practical experiecience of applying advanced quantitative analysis techniques
  • have a heightened awareness of both the technical and theoretical/conceptual dimensions of quantitative data analysis
  • carry out a range of advanced statistical analyses using statistical computing software
  • manipulate and to analyse secondary survey data using statistical computing software, and to present and interpret the results of these analyses appropriately at an advanced level
  • carry out advanced statistical analyses using statistical software
Indicative reading list

Agresti, A. (2007) An Introduction to Categorical Data Analysis. 2nd ed. Wiley.
Angrist, J.D. and Pischke, J-S. (2009) Mostly Harmless Econometrics. Princeton University Press.
Blossfeld, H-P., Golsch, K. and Rohwer, G. (2007) Event History Analysis with Stata. Mahwah.
Dean, L., et al. (2013) Exponential Random Graph Models for Social Networks. Cambridge University Press.
Firebaugh, G. (2008) Seven Rules for Social Research. Princeton University Press.
Gelman, A., ed. (2009) A Quantitative Tour of the Social Sciences. Cambridge University Press.
Gelman, A. and Hill, J. (2007) Data Analysis Using Regression and Multilevel/Hierarchical Models. Cambridge University Press.
Liberson, S. (1987) Making It Count. University of California Press.
Morgan, S.L. and Winship, C. (2007) Counterfactuals and Causal Inferences. Cambridge University Press.
Murnane, R.J. and Willett, J.B. (2011) Methods Matters. Oxford University Press.
Powers, D.A. and Xie, Y. (2008) Statistical Methods for Categorical Data Analysis. 2nd ed. Howard House.
Singer, J.D. and Willett, J.B. (2003) Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis. Oxford University Press.
Snijders, T.A.B. and Bosker, R.J. (2012) Multilevel Analysis. Sage.
Wasserman, S. and Faust, K. (1995) Social Network Analysis. Cambridge University Press.

Subject specific skills

Key Skills; Subject-Specific/Professional Skills

  • carry out a range of advanced statistical analyses using statistical computing software
  • manipulate and to analyse secondary survey data using statistical computing software, and to present and interpret the results of these analyses appropriately at an advanced level
  • carry out advanced statistical analyses using statistical software
  • provide in-depth interpretation about advanced quantitative analysis
    critique and critically engage published quantitative research
Transferable skills

Cognitive Skills

  • have a heightened awareness of both the technical and theoretical/conceptual dimensions of quantitative data analysis

Study time

Type Required
Practical classes 27 sessions of 1 hour (14%)
Private study 173 hours (86%)
Total 200 hours
Private study description

tbc

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A
Weighting Study time
Technical Report 1 (2000 words) 50%
Technical Report 2 (2000 words) 50%
Feedback on assessment

Detailed and regular feedback will be provided throughout the module.
FORMATIVE
Verbal feedback on lab and workshop work will be provided at relevant points in the lectures and workshops throughout all sessions. This will be provided by module teachers at each session. In addition, student participation will be strongly encouraged and this will include students giving each other peer feedback during classes on their own work as well.
SUMMATIVE
Detailed written feedback will be provided on summative assessments. This will be provided by tutors marking individual student work and commenting on issues and errors throughout their assignments.

Post-requisite modules

If you pass this module, you can take:

  • IM906-60 Dissertation

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • TIMS-L990 Postgraduate Big Data and Digital Futures
    • Year 1 of L990 Big Data and Digital Futures
    • Year 2 of L990 Big Data and Digital Futures
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9Q1 Postgraduate Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PV Double MA in Journalism, Politics and International Studies (with Monash University)

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PT MA in International Development
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1PA MA in International Politics and Europe
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1P3 Postgraduate Taught International Political Economy
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1P8 Postgraduate Taught International Politics and East Asia
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9P9 Postgraduate Taught International Relations
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PC Postgraduate Taught International Security
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PS Postgraduate Taught Political and Legal Theory
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PF Postgraduate Taught Public Policy
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PQ Postgraduate Taught United States Foreign Policy

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 1 of TSOA-L3PW Postgraduate Taught Social Inequalities and Research Methods
  • Year 1 of TSOA-L3PE Postgraduate Taught Social Research
  • TSOA-L3P8 Postgraduate Taught Social and Political Thought
    • Year 1 of L3P8 Social and Political Thought
    • Year 1 of L3P8 Social and Political Thought
    • Year 1 of L3P8 Social and Political Thought
    • Year 1 of L3P8 Social and Political Thought
  • TSOA-L3PD Postgraduate Taught Sociology
    • Year 1 of L3PD Sociology
    • Year 1 of L3PD Sociology

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 1 of TWSA-M9P7 Postgraduate Taught Gender and International Development