Module SSI1005 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
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.
| 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. |
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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 28.5 | 121.5 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 16.5 | 11 X 1.5 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activity | 12 | 6 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 33 | course readings |
| Guided independent study | 60 | Reading for the take home exam |
| Guided independent study | 28.5 | Preparation 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 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.
