Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSI1005: Introduction to Social Data

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce you to quantitative research design,data collection and basic data analysis. More specifically, it uses data sets and research examples drawn from existing social science research to illustrate core concepts and methods in quantitative research. By introducing you to methods such as experiments and surveys, and the type of social science research that can be produced using these, this module lays the foundation for understanding quantitative methods and for your own experience in conducting quantitative studies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate basic knowledge of quantitative research design, data collection and some awareness of analytic techniques; 2. demonstrate basic understanding of what makes some quantitative research good and some bad quality (quality criterion);
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. demonstrate an understanding of quantitative research design in the social sciences at an introductory level; 4. create a relevant social science research question and hypothesis;
Personal and Key Skills	5. present quantitative data effectively and clearly; and 6. demonstrate numeracy skills which will be desirable to employers.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Practice quiz	30 minutes	1-6	Online

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	0	50

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Take-home exam	50	Approximately 1,500 words and some data analysis	1-6	Written
Multiple choice test	50	1 hour online (ELE) test	1-6	Online

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Take-home exam (48 hours)	Take-home exam (approximately 1,500 words and some data analysis)	1-6	August/September reassessment period
Multiple choice test	Multiple choice test (1 hour, paper or online)	1-6	August/September reassessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Fowler, F.J. (2014) Survey research methods. London: Sage. 5th ed.

Imai, K. (2016). A first course in quantitative social science. Princeton University Press

Raykov, T. and Marcoulides, G.A. (2012). Basic Statistics. An Introduction with R. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.