Basic Quantitative Analysis (BQA-1)

Building upon the univariate techniques introduced in the Foundations in Applied Statistics (FiAS) module, these sessions aim to provide students with a thorough understanding of statistical methods designed to test associations between two variables (bivariate statistics). Students will learn about the assumptions underlying each test, and will receive practical instruction on how to generate and interpret bivariate results using Stata. It introduces students to four of the most commonly used statistical tests in the social sciences: correlation, chi-square tests, t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

The module is divided between pre-recorded mini-lectures, in which you'll learn the relevant theory, and hands-on live practical sessions in Zoom, in which you will learn how to apply these techniques to analyse real data using the statistical package, Stata.

You will learn the following techniques:

• Cross-tabulations
• Scatterplots
• Covariance and correlation
• Nonparametric methods
• Two-sample t-tests
• ANOVA

As well as viewing the pre-recorded mini lectures via Moodle and attending the live lab sessions, students are expected to do a few hours of independent study each week.

• University Students from Tier 1 Departments
• Further details regarding eligibility criteria are available here

Students wishing to take this modules should have:

either successfully completed Foundations in Applied Statistics (FiAS), including the end-of-module test

or have had previous training in introductory level statistics (verified by the Skill Check)

Students will also need a basic knowledge of Stata. If you have not taken FiAS, and have not learned Stata elsewhere, there are two options:

Download the materials from "90-minute Stata" and work through them yourself; Email the SSRMC Administrator to ask whether a space is available for the first of the FiAS lab sessions, where Stata is introduced.

Number of sessions: 4

This module is very popular, so we repeat it several times (as five "series"). Each series covers exactly the same material, and is at the same level.

Each series runs over two sessions.

A pre-recorded series of mini-lectures will be available for all students on Wednesday 24th November for Session 1 (totalling two hours), and on Wednesday 11th November for Session 2 (totalling 2 hours).

The live two-hour Zoom lab sessions take place in the afternoon a week apart, whereas the intensive series runs over a single day:

• BQA 1: 2-4pm on Mons 9th (Session 1) and 16th November 2020 (Session 2)
• BQA 2: 4-6pm on Mons 9th (Session 1) and 16th November 2020 (Session 2)
• BQA 3: 2-4pm on Weds 11th (Session 1) and 18th November 2020 (Session 2)
• BQA 4: 4-6pm on Weds 11th (Session 1) and 18th November 2020 (Session 2)
• BQA Int: 10-12am (Session 1) and 2-4pm (Session 2); date to be confirmed

The module uses the statistical package Stata; this is free to download. Instructions will be provided.

An end-of-module assessment (open-book online test). Weekly online quizzes are available to help you prepare.

There is no set text for this module; although recommended readings and all necessary information on the module's Moodle page which will go live on Friday 30th October.

Bookings for this module (and all other Basic Statistics Stream modules) should be requested via our dedicated BSS booking page. The page contains a booking request form which goes live each year after you have watched the SSRMP Induction Video at the start of Michaelmas Term.

Moodle is the 'Virtual Learning Environment' (VLE) that the SSRMP uses to deliver online courses.

SSRMP lecturers use Moodle to make teaching resources available before, during, and/or after classes, and to make announcements and answer questions.

For this reason, it is vital that all SSRMP students enrol onto and explore their course Moodle pages once booking their SSRMP modules via the UTBS, and that they do so before their module begins. Moodle pages for modules should go live around a week before the module commences, but some may be made visible to students, earlier.

For more information, and links to specific Moodle module pages, please visit our website: https://www.ssrmc.group.cam.ac.uk/Key-Information/moodle-vle

8 hours over 2 weeks (4 hours lectures; 4 hours lab)

1 morning lecture and 1 afternoon lab session per week, for 2 weeks

• Foundations in Applied Statistics (FiAS-6)
• Basic Quantitative Analysis (BQA-6)
• Doing Multivariate Analysis (DMA 3)
• Further Topics in Multivariate Analysis (FTMA) 2