Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSI1006: Data Analysis in Social Science 1

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 topics:

Introduction to data analysis in the social sciences
Creating data: conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement
Describing data I: tables and figures
Describing data II: descriptive “statistics”
Correlation and dependence
Randomness and probability
Sampling and “sampling distributions”
Statistical inference: confidence intervals
Hypothesis testing: introduction
Testing the difference between two means
Using quantitative methods in politics, sociology and criminology: illustration and examples

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
26.5	123.5	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 Activities	16.5	11 x 1.5 hour sessions
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	10	10 x 1 hour computer lab sessions
Guided independent study	50	Writing up problem sets and completing lab assignments
Guided independent study	45.5	Reading and preparing for lectures and tutorials, and completing online quizzes
Guided independent study	28	Web-based activities to familiarise students with statistical software.

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
Lab assignments	8 statistical software-related activities to be complete during lab sessions	1-10	Written

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
100	0	0

...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
Problem set	40	1,500 words	1-11	Written
Data analysis essay	50	2,500 words	1-10	Written
Online quizzes	10	3-5 multiple choice questions each week X 10	1-11	Written

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
Problem set	A data analysis exercise that reinforces lecture material, from data collection to hypothesis testing (1,500 words)	1-10	August/September reassessment period
Data analysis	A data analysis essay that demonstrates that ability to analyse and effectively communicate empirical information (2,500 words)	1-10	August/September reassessment period
Online quizzes	A quiz on key data analysis techniques that reinforce the material presented in lecture, tutorials, and the reading	1-11	August/September reassessment period