SFF4110 Knowledge production in social sciences - quantitative methods Course description

This course provides in-depth knowledge of quantitative design and statistical analysis that can be used in the students’ master’s theses, the possibilities and limitations of different quantitative designs, knowledge of different sources of data and the social science research tradition’s quality requirements for studies based on statistical analysis. 

The course includes in-depth knowledge of cross-sectional design, time design, experiments and the survey method. Students will also acquire in-depth knowledge of the factors that can affect the validity and reliability of a study, as well as skills that are necessary to assess such factors. They will also learn and, not least, practise using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses.

The course will pay particular attention to regression analysis, and students will acquire in-depth knowledge of and skills in the use of regression-based analysis through lectures, online resources and seminars. The course aims to enable students who choose a quantitative design to use regression analysis in their master’s theses.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The students have

• in-depth knowledge of quantitative designs and which types of knowledge they can contribute
• advanced knowledge of different methods used to generate/obtain empirical material, such as surveys and register data
• in-depth knowledge of quality assessment in the quantitative tradition
• insight into the possibility of generalising the results of quantitative studies
• advanced knowledge of the dissemination of results
• in-depth knowledge of regression-based analysis/statistical analysis

Skills

The students can

• engage in methodological reflection on the relationship between research questions and design
• develop a research design for their master's thesis that is appropriate to their research question
• apply statistical analysis techniques and interpret the results they produce
• develop statistical analysis models based on theory and empirical data
• engage in methodological reflection on the relationship between research design and knowledge claims
• acquire in-depth knowledge of the methodological approach chosen for their master’s degree project
• engage in methodological and critical reflection on other research literature
• evaluate research ethics issues in connection with their master's degree project
• evaluate which questions can be empirically studied

General competence

The students

• are familiar with and able to reflect on different consequences of conducting research
• can apply ethical discretion in relation to their own role as researchers and how their participation in research can intervene in people's lives
• are familiar with and are able to comply with ethical guidelines such as correct and complete source information, informant anonymisation, confidentiality and researcher responsibility

Teaching takes place in the form of lectures, statistics program exercises, e-lectures and assignments that the students work on independently and receive supervision on via e-based resources.  

To be eligible to take the exam, the student must have submitted a project outline, which must be approved by the course supervisor. 

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by a given deadline. 

The exam in the course consists of two parts: a multiple-choice exam, and a written course paper. 

A 2-hour multiple-choice school exam. Counts for 30 per cent of the final grade.  

Semester assignment with a maximum length of 10 pages (+/- 10 percent). Font and font-size: Calibri 12 pt. Line spacing: 1.5. Tables and figures are in addition. Counts for 70 per cent of the final grade.  

All parts of the exam must be passed in order to pass the course. If one of the exam components is evaluated as not passed, the failed component may be retaken.  

School exam: No aids are allowed.  

Semester assignment: All aids are permitted, as long as source citation rules are complied with.  

Grade scale A-F. 

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the pollowing overall learning outcomes defines in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge about what characterises the Norwegian welfare state and the Nordic model in relation to the welfare states in other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and countries in southern Europe.
• knowledge about the factors that have created different characteristics of the welfare systems, highlighting class, gender and ethnicity
• advanced knowledge about the labour market, and the politics of the labour market and the Norwegian workfare policy
• thorough insight into the family's role as a support system, changes in family patterns, and different family policy measures
• thorough insight into the factors that create poverty and social exclusion for different demographic groups, including children
• advanced knowledge of how economic, demographic, political and ideological changes influence welfare policy
• thorough insight into what globalisation might mean for the development of welfare and welfare measures in Norway and other countries

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing similarities and differences between welfare measures in Norway and other countries
• analysing welfare measures in light of existing socio-political principles and ideologies
• problematising analytical categories and measurement instruments in welfare research
• applying key theories and concepts in his/her own written work
• making use of data from different sources in such contexts, such as Statistics Norway, OECD, Eurostat and Missoc
• obtaining relevant literature from electronic journals

General competence

The student is capable of

• discussing positive and negative aspects of different types of socio-political measures and dilemmas in welfare policy
• assessing how current social changes and changes in attitudes and values, influence welfare policy, and the frameworks and content of work in the health and social services