Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSIM906: Quantitative Dissertation

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

Module Aims

To enable you to write an extended piece of independent writing, around a topic of your own choosing using some of the quantitative data-analytic tools you became acquainted with during the programme (e.g., methods for causal inference, Bayesian econometrics, network analysis, text-mining and analysis techniques), in communication with key experts in your chosen area. It will allow you to demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge in a particular subject area of professional or intellectual interest. The dissertation will be a mark of your ability to express yourself in writing.

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 knowledge in depth of a specialised subject area (may include a specific statistical technique) 2. Design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate quantitative social science research methods 3. Collate and analyse primary or secondary data related to a subject discipline from appropriate sources.
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources, from primary or secondary data sets 5. Develop cogent argument and apply appropriate statistical techniques 6. Communicate complex information and ideas effectively in writing.
Personal and Key Skills	7. Use IT for information retrieval and presentation. 8. Manage own work

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

At least four supervision meetings per term. There is an initial meeting to plan the dissertation followed by three meetings to give academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work.

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
8	442	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	8	4 x 2hour supervision meetings
Guided Independent Study	135	Reading the relevant substantive literature to be able to write your dissertation on your chosen topic
Guided Independent Study	135	Reflecting on an drafting your research design and methodological approach
Guided independent study	90	Gathering data for preliminary analyses
Guided independent study	82	Acquiring additional experience with software and computing tools required to conduct your research

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
One draft chapter of the dissertation, or a developed introduction. Whichever the candidate feels most useful to gain feedback on progress.	one chapter or introduction	1-8

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
Dissertation	100	15,000 words	1-8	Written Feedback
	0
	0
	0
	0
	0

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
Dissertation	Dissertation (15,000 words)	1-8	Next 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.

G King, R Keohane and S Verba, Designing Social Inquiry (Princeton UP, 1994);

D Burton (ed), Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers (Sage, 2000).

S. Jackman. Bayesian Analysis for the Social Sciences (Wiley, 2000).

W. Greene. Econometric Analysis (Pearson, 2012).

Angrist, J., and Pishke, S. Mostly Harmless Econometrics (Princeton University Press, 2009).

Gelman, Andrew, and Jennifer Hill. Data analysis using regression and multilevel/hierarchical models. Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Kosuke, I.. Quantitative Social Science: An Introduction. (Princeton University Press, 2017)

Wooldridge, J. Econometric Analysis of Cross-Section and Panel Data (2010, MIT University Press).

Subject-specific reading will varying according to research topic.