Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Methodology of Quantitative Research
Course Code
DN_019
Branch of Science
Sociology and social work
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Management Science; Sociology
LQF
Level 8
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Anda Laķe
Structure Unit Manager
Dace Bandere
Structural Unit
Department of Doctoral Studies
Contacts
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, dn@rsu.lv, +371 67409159
About Study Course
Objective
To prepare students for development of independent research work; to prepare highly qualified professionals for academic and scientific work in sociology.
Preliminary Knowledge
Not required.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.During the course the doctoral student acquires knowledge of principles for application of quantitative research methods, gets an idea of the latest trends in the development of quantitative methods.
Skills
1.The doctoral student develops skills in applying research methods and acquires data analysis skills.
Competences
1.The student will be able to use quantitative research methods and data analysis skills in development of research work.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
|
Practical assignment: development of quantitative survey questionnaire indicators, questions and data analysis plan – is evaluated in a 10-point grading system, where the evaluation is determined by compliance with the methodological guidelines for the development of a set of instruments.
The student's contribution to the improvement of the study process is the provision of meaningful feedback on the study course by filling out its evaluation questionnaire.
|
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
The course results are evaluated cumulatively: the theoretical part of the course is tested using the multiple-choice test for the first half of the course (16 questions – at least half correct) and at the end of the course (16 questions – at least half correct).
|
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Applied sociology research programme.
Organisation and planning of the research.
Identification of the research problem, object and subject.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Measurement of characteristic features of social phenomena.
Sampling types and their use in quantitative sociological research.
Specificity of questionnaire design.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Collection and analysis of the research results in quantitative research.
Descriptive statistics.
Frequency and graphical display.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Data estimation.
Data grouping and recoding.
Data selection. Normal distribution.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Normally distributed data processing methods.
Nonparametric statistics.
Survival analysis.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Factor analysis.
Data processing using computer programs SPSS and Excel.
Developing statistical reports.
Research organisation on the Internet, its advantages and disadvantages.
The main requirements for research design and execution and its defence.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Practical classes: opportunities and challenges to application of quantitative methods in development of individual students’ doctoral theses.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Practical classes: opportunities and challenges to application of quantitative methods in development of individual students’ doctoral theses.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Applied sociology research programme.
Organisation and planning of the research.
Identification of the research problem, object and subject.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Measurement of characteristic features of social phenomena.
Sampling types and their use in quantitative sociological research.
Specificity of questionnaire design.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Practical classes: opportunities and challenges to application of quantitative methods in development of individual students’ doctoral theses.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Practical classes: opportunities and challenges to application of quantitative methods in development of individual students’ doctoral theses.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
12 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Babbie, E.R. The Practice of Social Research. – Wadsworth Publishing, 2006.
2.
Bartholomew, D., Steele F., Moustaki I., Galbraith J. The Analysis and Interpretation of Multivariate Data for Social Scientists. – Chapman&Hall/CRC, 2002.
3.
Black, T.R. Doing Quantitative Research in Social Sciences: An Integrated Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics. – Corwin Press, 1999.
4.
Bryman, A. Social Research Methods. – Oxford University Press, 2001.
5.
Bryman, A., Cramer, D. Quantitative Data Analysis with SPSS Release 10 for Windows. A Guide for Social Scientists. – Routlege, 2001.
6.
Cramer, D. Advanced Qantitative Data Analysis (Understanding Social Research). – Open University Press, 2003.
7.
Creswell, J.W. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. 2nd edition.. – Sage Publications, 2003.
8.
Hair, J.F., Anderson, R.E., Tatham R.L., Black, W.C., Multivariate Data Analysis. 5th edition. – Prentice Hall, 1998.
9.
Kent, R. Data Construction and Data Analysis for Survey Research. – Palgrave, 2001.
10.
Leedy, P.D. Practical Research: Planning and Design. 6th edition. – Prentice Hall, 1997.
11.
May, T. Social Research, Issues, Methods and Process. 3rd edition, 2001.
12.
Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. 3rd edition. – Prentice Hall, 1997.
13.
Stevens, J.P. Applied Multivariate Statistics for the Social Sciences. 4th edition. – Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2002.
14.
Tufte, E.R. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. – Graphic Press, 2001.
15.
Arhipova, I., Bāliņa, S., Statistika ar MS Excel ikvienam. – Rīga: Datorzinību centrs, 1999.
16.
Krastiņš, O., Ciemiņa, I., Statistika. – Rīga: Latvijas Republikas Centrālā Statistikas Pārvalde, 2003.
17.
Teibe, U., Berķis, U., Varbūtības teorijas un matemātiskās statistikas elementi medicīnas studentiem, 2001.
18.
Ядов, В.Я. Стратегия социологического исследования: Описание, объяснение, понимание социальной реальности. – Москва: Добросвет, 2003.