SIW4210 Knowledge Production in Social Sciences - Quantitative Methods Course description

This course focus on quantitative research tools, data collection and analysis. We give particular attention to methodological reflection, regression analysis, and the links between research questions and research design. The course thus connects with the thesis preparation seminar, the master's thesis design proposal and the master's thesis work process.

None.

A student who has completed the course has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The student has

• thorough knowledge of the research process
• advanced knowledge of quantitative research designs: their appropriate use as well as strengths and limitations
• thorough knowledge of important concepts such as measurement, reliability, validity, and generalization.

Skills

The student can

• relate research processes to scientific theory and ethical principles
• apply research methods in a reflective manner and appropriately choose methods that are relevant for different kinds of research questions
• use relevant methods for producing, analyzing and interpreting diverse types of empirical data (e.g. surveys or register data)
• use univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis techniques
• understand inferential statistics
• evaluate research based on quantitative methods in terms of methodological quality and appropriateness

General Competence

The students are

• familiar with, and critically reflect on various consequences of research
• able to use ethical judgement regarding one’s own position as a researcher and how participation in research can intervene in people’s lives.
• familiar with and can adhere to ethical regulations such as: correct and complete source information, informant anonymisation, confidentiality, researcher responsibility.

The course consists of lectures and seminars, where students actively participate in group work, practical exercises and group discussions.

Students must submit a work requirement assigned and to be approved by the course lecturer. Students whose papers are not approved after the first submission will be given the chance to resubmit once. Papers that are not approved after two submissions will disqualify students from taking part in the final examination.

The student's learning outcome will be assessed on the basis of an individual four-hour written school examination.

Students may use a spelling dictionary, as well as a bilingual dictionary during the written school exam.

A grade scale A-F.

The exam is graded by an internal and an external examiner.

A random selection consisting of at least 25% of the exam papers will be graded by both an internal and external examiner. This will inform the grading of the remaining exam papers.

Åsmund Hermansen