Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSI1005: Introduction to Social Data

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

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:

• Introduction: What is quantitative research?

• Populations and samples

• Social surveys

• Correlation and causation

• Experiments in the social science

• Measurement. Reliability and validity in social science research

• Basic descriptive statistics and data analysis

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
28.5121.50

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity16.511 X 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activity126 x 2 hour seminars
Guided independent study33course readings
Guided independent study60Reading for the take home exam
Guided independent study28.5Preparation for the test

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

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 assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Practice quiz30 minutes1-6Online

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.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
50050

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

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Take-home exam 50Approximately 1,500 words and some data analysis1-6Written
Multiple choice test 501 hour online (ELE) test 1-6Online

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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Take-home exam (48 hours)Take-home exam (approximately 1,500 words and some data analysis)1-6August/September reassessment period
Multiple choice testMultiple choice test (1 hour, paper or online) 1-6August/September reassessment period