SOCI 3015 - Quantitative Research Methods in Social Sciences
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code SOCI 3015 Course Quantitative Research Methods in Social Sciences Coordinating Unit Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites SOCI 2012 or PSYCHOL 1004 or PSYCHOL 2004 Incompatible GEOG 1005, GEOG 2132, CRIM 3004, SOCI 3016 Assessment Mid-term quiz: (20%); Assignment 1 (10%), Assignment 2 (30%), Assignment 3 (10%), Final exam (30%) Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Djordje Stefanovic
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1. correctly use basic quantitative terminology
2. understand and apply basic quantitative reasoning
3. find and critically assess different quantitative data provided by Australian government
4. conduct basic data analysis of Australian General Social Survey data set
5. design a short on-line survey to resolve the problems with existing data setsUniversity Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1,2 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
2,3,4,5 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
2 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
3,4,5 Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
2 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
2,4 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
1. Statistics for People Who (Think) They Hate Statistics, by N. J. Salkind, (6th ed) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
- Hardcopies available at the Barr Smith Library, High Use area
2. Successful Surveys, (Chapters 7, 8, and 9), by Gray and Guppy, Harcourt Brace & Company
- Available via MyUni.
The course calendar, below, specifies the reading to be done before coming to class. The lectures run parallel to the textbook
readings; however, the lectures do not simply repeat the material in the textbook. The students are responsible for mastering both the lecture and the textbook material for use on the midterm exam, the assignments and the final exam. The readings are not longand it is vital to do them. Failure to keep up with the readings or to come to class would make it difficult to do well in this course.Online Learning
Lecture power point slides, Echo 360 lecture recordings, on-line quizzes, assignment instructions, and model assignments will be posted to the MyUNi course site available via MyUni link -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
No information currently available.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
1 x 3 hour lecture per week 33 hours
3 hours reading per week 33 hours
1 hour on-line quiz answering per week 11 hours
6.2 hours assignment preparation each week on average 68 hours
1 hour exam review per week 11 hours
Total (per semester) 156 hoursLearning Activities Summary
1. Introduction & Level of Measurement
2. Descriptive Stats, Crosstabs and Correlations
3. Normal Distribution and Z Scores
4. Hypothesis Testing
5. Confidence Intervals & Statistical Significance
6. Correlation and Regression
7. Multicausality
8. How to Read & Write Quant Publications
9. Survey Design: Methodology& Questions
10. Survey Design: Questionnaire & On-Line
11. Future of Quantitative AnalysisSmall Group Discovery Experience
In-class team exercises provide opportunities to put new knowledge and skills into practice in meaningful ways. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Type Weight Learning Objectives
Midterm Exam Formative &Summative 20% 2,3
Assignment One (Basic Stats with Excel) Formative &Summative 10% 1,2
Assignment Two (Sophisticated Stats with SPSS) Formative &Summative 30% 4
Assignment Three (On-line Survey Questionnaire Design) Summative 10% 5
Final Exam Summative 30% 1,2Assessment Detail
Mid Term Exam (20%): The mid-term will be multiple choice and will include the kinds of questions asked in the quizzes. It
will take place in regular class time and location. Details of this assessment will be provided in class.
Assignment One (Basic Stats with Excel)(10%): In the first assignment, you will use data collected by the Australian
government to look into certain social issues in Australia. You will use basic statistics in this assignment. The report file will be
submitted via MyUni.
Assignment Two (Sophisticated Stats with SPSS) (30%): In the second assignment, you will use data from the General Social
Survey of Australians to answer a specific research question of your choice using more sophisticated statistics. The report file will be
submitted via MyUni.
Assignment Three (On-line Survey Questionnaire Design) (10%): In the third assignment, you will identify a new research question, based on what you have learned in the second assignment. You will then design a brief survey questionnaire that could collect data to help you answer that question. The report file will be submitted via MyUni.
Final Exam (30%): You will be expected to display understanding, integration, and critical reflection on the required readingsand lectures. The examination will have a multiple choice format. Details of this assessment will be provided in class.
Note: Further very detailed information on the expectations for each assignment will be provided at the MyUni and discussed in class, on the dates specified in the Tentative Course Outline (below).Submission
No information currently available.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
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- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
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