SSRMC Training Programme 2014-15
(Mon 13 Oct 2014 - Fri 20 Mar 2015)
[ Back to start of the programme ]
Tuesday 24 February 2015
| 14:00 |
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. Identifying the distinct perspectives and attitudes on topics of public concern are important research objectives across the social sciences. Q is a clearly structured, systematic, and increasingly used approach for this purpose. It is aimed at exploring the subjectivity of people within a group in order to address practical matters such as acceptance of new policies or technology, increasing public participation, or aiding decision-making. Q is a semi-qualitative methodology and the data are statistically analysed using data reduction methods to discern the existing patterns of communication and thought about a subject. This course provides students with an introduction and the necessary resources to implement a Q method project independently: the research design, the data collection, the analytical process, criteria for research decisions, interpretation of results, software, and further resources. |
| 16:00 |
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. The internet is a great resource for humanities and social science data, but most information is apparently chaotic. In this course we will explore how to programmatically access information stored online, typically in html, to create neat, tabulated data ready for analysis. The course is made up of four tutorials, designed to build the tools needed to effectively collect different types of data. The uses of web scraping are diverse: in this course we will use the programming language R to first access data directly from newspapers, and secondly by accessing live data streams using APIs (YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps, Wikipedia). Collectively these sessions will give the skillsets necessary to use web scraping in students’ own research. Slides from last year’s sessions may be consulted here: http://fredheir.github.io/WebScraping |
Wednesday 25 February 2015
| 14:00 |
Multilevel Modelling
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. Students are introduced to multilevel modelling techniques (a.k.a. hierarchical linear modelling). MLM allows one to analyse how contexts influence outcomes ie do schools/neighbourhoods influence behaviour. STATA will be used during this module. No prior knowledge of STATA will be assumed. |
| 16:00 |
Introduction to Atlas.Ti
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This introductory course to Atlas.Ti CAQDAS will provide a general background to the process of qualitative analysis, situating the use of CAQDAS with reference to differing positions regarding its importance, together with a ‘hands on’ introduction to the software. The practical part of each session will familiarise students with the main functionalities of the software through a set of exercises developed with data collected through a mix of qualitative methods. Students will additionally be asked to apply the software to their own research data and to keep a reflective journal on this. |
Monday 2 March 2015
| 14:00 |
Meta Analysis
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. Students are introduced to meta-analysis, a powerful statistical technique allowing researchers to synthesize available evidence for a given research question using standardized (comparable) effect sizes across studies. The sessions teach students how to compute treatment effects, how to compute effect sizes based on correlational studies, how to address questions such as what is the association of bullying victimization with depression? The module will be useful for students who seek to draw statistical conclusions in a standardized manner from literature reviews they are conducting. |
| 16:00 |
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. The challenge of causal inference is ubiquitous in social science. Nearly every research project fundamentally is about causes and effects. This course will introduce graduate students to core issues about causal inference in quantitative social research, focusing especially on how one can move from demonstrating correlation to causation. The first lecture will define key concepts of correlates, risk factors, causes, mediators and moderators. The second lecture will discuss quasi-experimental research designs (studies without random assignment), and issues of “validity” in drawing causal conclusions. The third and fourth sessions will be lectures and practicals introducing two key analytic methods (propensity score matching and fixed effects regression models) that can be used to help identify causes. The course will focus on studies in which individual people are the basic unit of analyses, particularly longitudinal studies which follow the same people over multiple waves of assessment. |
|
Panel Data Analysis
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This module provides students with an introduction to panel data analysis (PDA). Panel data are gathered by taking repeated observations of a series of research units (eg. individuals) as they move through time. PDA therefore allows researchers to answer questions that cannot be addressed with cross-sectional data. The course begins by introducing students to key concepts in longitudinal research. Next, students are taught how to manipulate and prepare panel datasets using Stata. The final two sessions provide an overview of statistical modelling techniques for use with panel data. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on giving students hands-on experience of working with real-world data using Stata. |
|
| 17:00 |
Replication Workshop
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This module will introduce students to the process of reproducing published work. Replicating other scholars’ work is an essential tool to get familiar with methods, learn to select suitable models, and get a chance to publish early during their PhD. This replication module will therefore provide students with a deeper understanding of statistical modelling and professionalism in their field. With the right amount of value added, a replication study is publishable after the module. |
Wednesday 4 March 2015
| 14:00 |
Multilevel Modelling
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. Students are introduced to multilevel modelling techniques (a.k.a. hierarchical linear modelling). MLM allows one to analyse how contexts influence outcomes ie do schools/neighbourhoods influence behaviour. STATA will be used during this module. No prior knowledge of STATA will be assumed. |
| 16:00 |
Introduction to Atlas.Ti
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This introductory course to Atlas.Ti CAQDAS will provide a general background to the process of qualitative analysis, situating the use of CAQDAS with reference to differing positions regarding its importance, together with a ‘hands on’ introduction to the software. The practical part of each session will familiarise students with the main functionalities of the software through a set of exercises developed with data collected through a mix of qualitative methods. Students will additionally be asked to apply the software to their own research data and to keep a reflective journal on this. |
Monday 9 March 2015
| 14:00 |
Meta Analysis
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. Students are introduced to meta-analysis, a powerful statistical technique allowing researchers to synthesize available evidence for a given research question using standardized (comparable) effect sizes across studies. The sessions teach students how to compute treatment effects, how to compute effect sizes based on correlational studies, how to address questions such as what is the association of bullying victimization with depression? The module will be useful for students who seek to draw statistical conclusions in a standardized manner from literature reviews they are conducting. |
| 16:00 |
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. The challenge of causal inference is ubiquitous in social science. Nearly every research project fundamentally is about causes and effects. This course will introduce graduate students to core issues about causal inference in quantitative social research, focusing especially on how one can move from demonstrating correlation to causation. The first lecture will define key concepts of correlates, risk factors, causes, mediators and moderators. The second lecture will discuss quasi-experimental research designs (studies without random assignment), and issues of “validity” in drawing causal conclusions. The third and fourth sessions will be lectures and practicals introducing two key analytic methods (propensity score matching and fixed effects regression models) that can be used to help identify causes. The course will focus on studies in which individual people are the basic unit of analyses, particularly longitudinal studies which follow the same people over multiple waves of assessment. |
|
Panel Data Analysis
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This module provides students with an introduction to panel data analysis (PDA). Panel data are gathered by taking repeated observations of a series of research units (eg. individuals) as they move through time. PDA therefore allows researchers to answer questions that cannot be addressed with cross-sectional data. The course begins by introducing students to key concepts in longitudinal research. Next, students are taught how to manipulate and prepare panel datasets using Stata. The final two sessions provide an overview of statistical modelling techniques for use with panel data. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on giving students hands-on experience of working with real-world data using Stata. |
Tuesday 10 March 2015
| 16:00 |
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. The internet is a great resource for humanities and social science data, but most information is apparently chaotic. In this course we will explore how to programmatically access information stored online, typically in html, to create neat, tabulated data ready for analysis. The course is made up of four tutorials, designed to build the tools needed to effectively collect different types of data. The uses of web scraping are diverse: in this course we will use the programming language R to first access data directly from newspapers, and secondly by accessing live data streams using APIs (YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps, Wikipedia). Collectively these sessions will give the skillsets necessary to use web scraping in students’ own research. Slides from last year’s sessions may be consulted here: http://fredheir.github.io/WebScraping |
Wednesday 11 March 2015
| 14:00 |
Multilevel Modelling
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. Students are introduced to multilevel modelling techniques (a.k.a. hierarchical linear modelling). MLM allows one to analyse how contexts influence outcomes ie do schools/neighbourhoods influence behaviour. STATA will be used during this module. No prior knowledge of STATA will be assumed. |
| 16:00 |
Introduction to Atlas.Ti
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This introductory course to Atlas.Ti CAQDAS will provide a general background to the process of qualitative analysis, situating the use of CAQDAS with reference to differing positions regarding its importance, together with a ‘hands on’ introduction to the software. The practical part of each session will familiarise students with the main functionalities of the software through a set of exercises developed with data collected through a mix of qualitative methods. Students will additionally be asked to apply the software to their own research data and to keep a reflective journal on this. |
Monday 16 March 2015
| 09:00 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
Tuesday 17 March 2015
| 08:50 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
| 11:15 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
Wednesday 18 March 2015
| 09:00 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
Thursday 19 March 2015
| 08:50 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
| 11:15 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
| 14:00 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
Friday 20 March 2015
| 08:50 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |
| 11:15 |
Game Theory for Social Scientists
Finished
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences. This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply. REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html |