MY551 Half Unit
Introduction to Quantitative Analysis
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Jonathan Jackson COL.8.05 (LT) and Dr Indraneel Sircar COL.7.04 (MT)
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MRes/PhD in Accounting (AOI) (Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Track), MRes/PhD in Management (Employment Relations and Human Resources) and MRes/PhD in Management (Information Systems and Innovation). This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in Cities Programme, MPhil/PhD in Health Policy and Health Economics, MPhil/PhD in International Relations, MPhil/PhD in Social Policy, MPhil/PhD in Social Research Methods, MPhil/PhD in Sociology, MRes/PhD in Management (Organisational Behaviour) and MRes/PhD in Political Science. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
The course is available to all research students.
Course content
An intensive introduction to quantitative data analysis in the social sciences. The course is intended for students with no previous experience of quantitative methods or statistics. It covers the foundations of descriptive statistics and statistical estimation and inference. At the end of the course students should be able to carry out univariate and bivariate data analysis and have an appreciation of multiple linear regression. The computer exercises give hands-on training in the application of statistical techniques to real social science research problems. No prior knowledge of any statistical software is necessary.
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours per term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of virtual classes and flipped-lectures delivered as short online videos.
This course is given twice per session, starting in the first week of each of the MT and LT.
Students must either register for MY551M which is taught in Michaelmas Term, or MY551L which is taught in Lent Term.
This course has a Reading Week in Week 6 of MT and LT.
Formative coursework
Self-guided computer exercises to be completed before weekly classes for discussion.
Indicative reading
A course pack will be available for download online. Additional reading: many introductory statistics books are available. But we particularly recommend Alan Agresti and Christine Franklin (2009) Statistics: The Art and Science of Learning from Data. Pearson Education. Or Alan Agresti and Barbara Finlay (2009, 4th edition) Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. Pearson Education (note that the second book is more advanced and is particularly useful if you are planning to take MY551 and MY552).
Assessment
Take-home assessment (80%) in the ST.
Continuous assessment (20%) in the MT and LT.
(Homework and participation will constitute 20% of the final overall mark).
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Methodology
Total students 2019/20: Unavailable
Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable
Value: Half Unit
