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About
This module provides a thorough introduction to survey and quantitative research skills. Content highlights the range of quantitative data in social science research, and how data is collected, managed and analysed.
The module provides core foundational training in survey research design and secondary SPSS data analysis using ARK datasets. You will learn how to use SPSS to complete and understand descriptive statistics, data selection and manipulation, crosstabulation, t-test, one-way ANOVA, scatterplots, correlation and linear regression.
The module provides important research and employability skills required for the development of your research skills and future employment.
The course provides students with an elementary through to a more advanced knowledge of quantitative data collection, analysis and interpretation. By the end of the module, students will have enhanced their team working, project management, verbal and written communication, advanced ICT, quantitative, creativity, independent research and problem-solving skills.
Term dates
Course start date: 27th January 2025
This course is taught over Semester two (12 weeks).
Attendance
Students are required to attend 3 hours per week. Classes take place on a Tuesday between 2.15pm and 5.15pm on the Belfast campus.
Location
This course is delivered on the Belfast campus.
Assessment
The assessment is 100% coursework:
- Survey research report
- SPSS portfolio
Career Options
Graduates with a strong foundation in survey research and quantitative analysis are highly sought after in a variety of sectors due to the growing importance of data-driven decision making.
Potential Job Roles include:
- Social Research: Work in research institutes, think tanks, or government agencies to conduct surveys, analyze data, and inform policy decisions.
- Policy Analyst or evaluation officer: Use data to evaluate the effectiveness of social programs, identify areas for improvement, and develop evidence-based policies.
- Data Analyst: Work in various sectors (e.g., healthcare, finance, education) to collect, clean, analyze, and interpret data to inform decision-making.
- Statistician: Utilize statistical techniques to analyze data and draw conclusions in various fields.
- Academic Researcher: Pursue further studies and conduct research in the field of social policy or related disciplines.
Academic Profile
The module is coordinated and delivered by Dr Julie Harris who is a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Fellow of the HEA. She has taught quantitative research skills for over 16 years.
Her primary research interests focus on drug use practices, treatment and support services, drug markets and policy.
She is a mixed methods researcher with recent work examining the impacts of COVID-19 on alcohol and other drug use behaviours and service responses, drug-related deaths and evaluations of services providing residential rehabilitation and trauma-informed approaches. Previous research has examined aspects of probation, survivors of historic institutional abuse, counter-terrorism and emergency legislation.
Further Information
Modules
This is a 20 credit module short course - see the about section for details of content.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have a second class honours degree or better in Social Sciences, Humanities, Law or a cognate discipline from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard;
In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all places are filled. Applications can not be considered once a course has started.
Please note you can only be funded by DfE for a maximum of two courses at any one time (including modules to a total of 45 credits per semester - if studying part-time).
- Click on the Apply Now button.
- This will take you to the online application system – if you have never used this before please click on First Time user account creation and create an account.
- Log into the system and click on New – create a new application.
- Choose Professional Develop Postgrad as the Application Type
- Choose Admission Term Academic Year 2024-2025 and complete your details.
- Click the Fill Out Application button.
- Click on Programme Selection.
- In the programme choice dropdown please choose: PG Cred Upskilling SKILLS PT Belfast.
- Please type the title of the short course you wish to study in the box below the programme choice: Survey and Quantitative Methods (Social Policy).
- For the question, Are you applying for a funded place on one of the DfE Skills programmes?, select Yes.
- Please complete all required application sections.
- Ensure your application is complete and then submit.
- You will receive a confirmation email that the application has been submitted, please ensure you check your junk mail as well as the inbox of the e-mail address listed on your application.
- If you have sent all required information and you have been successful, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
- If you have not sent all required information, you will be asked to send outstanding items. If a place is still available and you have met all requirements, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
IMPORTANT: If we have requested additional items, you do not have a guaranteed place. You may lose your space if you do not provide any required information by the deadline supplied in the Request for documentation Email - Once your place is accepted, you will receive an enrolment email. You must complete the online enrolment to confirm your place and start your course.