Course overview
The aim of this course is to develop student skills in research methods through the extension and application of skills developed in the regular accredited sequences. Using either R, SPSS, STATA or other statistical packages, students will be taught to apply their emerging research skills to practical research problems. Important skills will include data coding, preparation and cleaning; being able to develop research problems and apply appropriate statistical methods; and extension exercises in which students have to demonstrate their ability to learn new techniques not previously taught. An important element of this course will be a project that requires the formal involvement in a research process; this will involve the design of a project, the collection or compilation of existing data as well as data analysis and reporting.
Course learning outcomes
- Use multiple statistical packages to compile, prepare and analyse data
- Critically analyse research problems
- Engage in independent learning to develop new research methods skills
- Apply appropriate statistical tests and report outcomes
- Conduct independent data analysis