MAT-22306 Quantitative Research Methodology and Statistics
Course
Credits 6.00
| Teaching method | Contact hours |
| Practical intensively supervised | 24 |
| Tutorial | 56 |
| Self-study |
| Course coordinator(s) | dr. JA Hageman |
| Lecturer(s) | dr. G Gort |
| dr. M Malosetti | |
| drs WMJG Baak | |
| dr. EJH Korendijk | |
| dr. ir. ARH Fischer | |
| dr. JA Hageman | |
| dr. G Dik | |
| Examiner(s) | dr. ir. ARH Fischer |
| dr. JA Hageman |
Language of instruction:
English
Assumed knowledge on:
MAT-14303 Basic Statistics.
Continuation courses:
AEP-21306 Econometrics and YRM-60306 Quantitative Data Analysis: Multivariate Techniques.
Contents:
Designing a quantitative research:
- types of research questions for surveys and experiments in Social Sciences;
- sampling procedures;
Statistical analysis:
- estimation, confidence intervals and testing hypothesis;
- cross-tables;
- regression analysis: introduction, meaning parameters, parameter estimation, t-test for one linear combination of the parameters, F-tests for linear restrictions;
- analysis of variance: one-way, factorial designs;
- factor analysis: scale development, loadings, interpretation;
- practical work using SPSS.
Learning outcomes:
After this course the student is expected to:
- comprehend the basic ideas of statistical inference, study design and data collection relevant to surveys and experiments that are typical for the social sciences;
- understand the backgrounds, the goals, assumptions and features of the data analysis techniques;
- be able to determine the appropriate statistical procedure, given the description of the study design, the research question and the type of data;
- be able to carry out the needed analyses for the discussed situations and interpret the results in terms of the problem;
- be able to perform independently data analysis techniques with the computer package SPSS.
Activities:
- in an introductory lecture relevant research questions from the field of social sciences will be discussed;
- during the interactive lectures problem sets are worked out and discussed;
- during the computer practical's students learn how to analyse data using SPSS;
- every week they get a home assignment, which is embedded in a case study.
Examination:
Written open book exam with open and multiple choice questions (100%).
Literature:
- book: Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics by Andy Field, 4th edition ISBN-13: 978-1-4462-4918-5.
- Study Guide (version January 2014), available at the WUR-shop.