1. Why do my course on Quantitative Research Methods? Mike Griffiths m.griffiths@gold.ac.uk

2. A question In the course of your research into an organisation you find the following information about sickness absence in the previous year: –Men average 3.4 days –Women average 3.9 days Can you conclude that in this organisation women have more of a sickness problem than men?

3. Another question In the course of your research into an organisation you ask men and women to throw dice. Their average score is as follows: –Men average 3.4 –Women average 3.9 Can you conclude that in this organisation women are better at throwing dice than men?

4. Returning to the first question In the course of your research into an organisation you find the following information about sickness absence in the previous year: –Men average 3.4 days –Women average 3.9 days Can you conclude that in this organisation women have more of a sickness problem than men?

5. Answering the first question If you have the figures for each separate person you can use inferential statistics to make a judgement as to whether the difference between men’s and women’s sickness is so big it is unlikely to have arisen by chance i.e. is it a statistically significant difference? Part of the course is learning how to answer questions like this one

6. The course in more detail Three modules, each building on the last: 1.An understanding of quantitative research methods, their applicability and limitations. 2.Extending this, plus some inferential statistics. 3.A core set of inferential statistics.

7. Inferential statistics??? I bet that needs lots of maths. Adding and subtracting (+ and -) Multiplying and dividing (  and  ) Squaring  Multiplying a number by itself  e.g. 2 squared (2 2 ) is 4 If there is hard work to be done, we use a computer

8. Why do a quantitative course? Understanding quantitative research and knowing how to critique it Learning how to do basic quantitative research Employability

9. “While students prefer to use qualitative methods of research in their PhDs, job vacancies for academic posts indicate a need for quantitative research skills such as computer programming and handling statistics…” “Dr. Wiles also analysed 115 job advertisements for research posts in the social sciences and found that half sought applicants with quantitative skills. Only 16 per cent of posts required qualitative skills. Fourteen per cent of jobs required skills across both methods.” Times Higher Education, 14 Feb 2008 Reporting on Wiles et al., International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2007

10. When and how long? 15 two hour sessions (5 per module) –Thursday evenings, 5.30 – 7.30 –Starts this term, 29 October –Just before Reading Week because of a short term 2 this year With short weekly assignments and take-home exams if you do modules 2 and 3.

11. Eligibility for the course For some students, your department or supervisor may require you to do the course (For DTC students who have to do a quantitative course, you may do it either here or at Queen Mary’s) For some students, it is redundant because your department provides its own course –e.g. psychology, some sociology students For everyone else my course is optional –you can do all or part of it Priority is given to new social science research postgraduates

12. Registration If you are doing the course, please register: via learn.gold: Core Quantitative Research Methods

13. Questions? Or for more information: learn.gold, Core Quantitative Research Methods, has a copy of the Module Guide or contact me, Mike Griffiths, m.griffiths@gold.ac.uk.