Social Sciences Research Methods Programme course timetable

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.

Societies can be viewed as path-dependent dynamical systems in which the interactions between multiple heterogeneous actors, and the institutions and organisations they create, lead to complex overlapping patterns of change over different space and time-scales. Agent-based models are exploratory tools for trying to understand some of this complexity. They use computational methods to represent individual people, households, organisations, or other types of agent, and help to make explicit the potential consequences of hypotheses about the way people act, interact and engage with their environment. These types of models have been used in fields as diverse as Architecture, Archaeology, Criminology, Economics, Epidemiology, Geography, and Sociology, covering all kinds of topics including social networks and formation of social norms, spatial distribution of criminal activity, spread of disease, issues in health and welfare, warfare and disasters, behaviour in stock-markets, land-use change, farming,forestry, fisheries, traffic flow, planning and development of cities, flooding and water management. This course introduces a popular freely available software tool, Netlogo, which is accessible to those with no initial programming experience, and shows how to use it to develop a variety of simple models so that students would be able to see how it might apply to their own research.

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.

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.

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.

Ethics is becoming an increasingly important issue for all researchers and the aim of these three sessions is to demonstrate the practical value of thinking seriously and systematically about what constitutes ethical conduct in social science research. The sessions will involve some small-group work.

This two-day course provides an introduction to social network analysis. On the first day, we will explore the history of social network analysis in the social sciences, focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of the social network approach in sociology. You will be introduced to methods for analyzing both ego-centred and global network data. The afternoon lab session will provide introductory instruction in basic network analytic techniques, using SPSS and UCINET. On the second day, we will examine applications of social network analysis across various disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, and the health sciences. During the lab on the second day, you will be introduced to more advanced network techniques in UCINET, and to basic network visualization methods in Netdraw.

This two-day course provides an introduction to social network analysis. On the first day, we will explore the history of social network analysis in the social sciences, focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of the social network approach in sociology. You will be introduced to methods for analyzing both ego-centred and global network data. The afternoon lab session will provide introductory instruction in basic network analytic techniques, using SPSS and UCINET. On the second day, we will examine applications of social network analysis across various disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, and the health sciences. During the lab on the second day, you will be introduced to more advanced network techniques in UCINET, and to basic network visualization methods in Netdraw.

This two-day course provides an introduction to social network analysis. On the first day, we will explore the history of social network analysis in the social sciences, focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of the social network approach in sociology. You will be introduced to methods for analyzing both ego-centred and global network data. The afternoon lab session will provide introductory instruction in basic network analytic techniques, using SPSS and UCINET. On the second day, we will examine applications of social network analysis across various disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, and the health sciences. During the lab on the second day, you will be introduced to more advanced network techniques in UCINET, and to basic network visualization methods in Netdraw.

This two-day course provides an introduction to social network analysis. On the first day, we will explore the history of social network analysis in the social sciences, focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of the social network approach in sociology. You will be introduced to methods for analyzing both ego-centred and global network data. The afternoon lab session will provide introductory instruction in basic network analytic techniques, using SPSS and UCINET. On the second day, we will examine applications of social network analysis across various disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, and the health sciences. During the lab on the second day, you will be introduced to more advanced network techniques in UCINET, and to basic network visualization methods in Netdraw.

This event details how the SSRMC works, more about the modules we offer, and everything you need to know about making a booking.

NB. ALL STUDENTS WISHING TO TAKE SSRMC COURSES THIS YEAR ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THIS INDUCTION SESSION

This is an Open Access module, so please read the course description carefully before making a booking, and be advised that spaces may be limited.

The course focuses on practical hands-on variable handling and programming implementation rather than on theory. This course is intended for those who have never programmed before including those who only call/run Matlab scripts but are not familiar with how code works and how matrices are handled in Matlab. (Note that calling a couple of scripts is not 'real' programming.)

More information on the course can be found, here: http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/grads/grads/pg-prog/programming#section-0

Ethics is becoming an increasingly important issue for all researchers and the aim of this session is to demonstrate the practical value of thinking seriously and systematically about what constitutes ethical conduct in social science research. The session will involve some small-group work.

This is an Open Access module, so please read the course description carefully before making a booking, and be advised that spaces may be limited.

The course focuses on practical hands-on variable handling and programming implementation rather than on theory. This course is intended for those who have never programmed before including those who only call/run Matlab scripts but are not familiar with how code works and how matrices are handled in Matlab. (Note that calling a couple of scripts is not 'real' programming.)

More information on the course can be found, here: http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/grads/grads/pg-prog/programming#section-0

Introducing students to the general philosophical debates concerning scientific methodology; assessing their ramifications for the conduct of qualitative social research. To critically evaluate major programmes in the philosophy of sciences, considering whether there are important analytic differences between the social and natural sciences; and whether qualitative methods themselves comprise a unified approach to the study of social reality.

This is an Open Access module, so please read the course description carefully before making a booking, and be advised that spaces may be limited.

The course focuses on practical hands-on variable handling and programming implementation rather than on theory. This course is intended for those who have never programmed before including those who only call/run Matlab scripts but are not familiar with how code works and how matrices are handled in Matlab. (Note that calling a couple of scripts is not 'real' programming.)

More information on the course can be found, here: http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/grads/grads/pg-prog/programming#section-0

Introducing students to the general philosophical debates concerning scientific methodology; assessing their ramifications for the conduct of qualitative social research. To critically evaluate major programmes in the philosophy of sciences, considering whether there are important analytic differences between the social and natural sciences; and whether qualitative methods themselves comprise a unified approach to the study of social reality.

This foundational course is for graduate students who have no prior training in statistics.

Topics covered include: the notion of variables and how they are measured; ways of describing the central tendency and the dispersion of a variable; and the principles of hypothesis testing and statistical significance. The course also introduces students to the software Stata. Each session consists of a lecture part, and a computer lab part with exercises in Stata.

Bookings

All students wishing to book a place on this module must complete the SSRMC Skill Check before a place can be booked for them.

Students that have already completed the Skill Check may have had a place booked for them by their Department. Students can check this by typing their CRSid into the search box at the very top right of this page, hitting the enter key then clicking on their name. This will show all module(s) that they are booked onto, as applicable.

Students for whom this module is not compulsory can make a booking via the Basic Statistics Stream Booking Form on the SSRMC website.

In cases where you have a problem or a clash, please contact the SSRMC Administrator who will try to help you.

Week 2 - The Janus-Faced nature of Nationalism

This module will start by analyzing the so-called ‘Dark side’ of Nationalism often associated with xenophobia, ethnic cleansing and racism. In contrast, the Democratic side of Nationalism will be connected with the quest for recognition of national and ethnic minorities in the West.

Key questions: What are the major strengths of Nationalism? What do we mean by Nationalism? In which circumstances can we refer to nationalism as an ideology of inclusion and exclusion?

Week 3 - Globalization and National Identity

Identity is a definition, an interpretation of the self that establishes what and where the person is both in social and psychological terms. We will explore the contrast between Individual and Collective forms of identity. Key theories of nationalism will be will be taken and discussed in class into account the relevance of Nationalism in modern History.

Week 4 - The Rise of the Radical Right in Europe

We are witnessing a widening gap between the elites and the unemployed. In this context, feelings of vulnerability, fear of immigrants and resentment towards both the state and society come to the fore. Inequality comes to the fore and, in this context, the Radical Right is able gain support.

Key Questions to be debated in class:

1. How to generate national identity in peace time?
2. Identify some key connections between ‘nationalism and war’
3. In your view, what are the main reasons that explain the rise of the radical right?

This module is for students who don’t plan to use quantitative methods in their own research, but who need to be able to read and understand published research using quantitative methods. You will learn how to interpret graphs, frequency tables and multivariate regression results, and to ask intelligent questions about sampling, methods and statistical inference. The module is aimed at complete beginners, with no prior knowledge of statistics or quantitative methods.

This foundational course is for graduate students who have no prior training in statistics.

Topics covered include: the notion of variables and how they are measured; ways of describing the central tendency and the dispersion of a variable; and the principles of hypothesis testing and statistical significance. The course also introduces students to the software Stata. Each session consists of a lecture part, and a computer lab part with exercises in Stata.

Bookings

All students wishing to book a place on this module must complete the SSRMC Skill Check before a place can be booked for them.

Students that have already completed the Skill Check may have had a place booked for them by their Department. Students can check this by typing their CRSid into the search box at the very top right of this page, hitting the enter key then clicking on their name. This will show all module(s) that they are booked onto, as applicable.

Students for whom this module is not compulsory can make a booking via the Basic Statistics Stream Booking Form on the SSRMC website.

In cases where you have a problem or a clash, please contact the SSRMC Administrator who will try to help you.

This foundational course is for graduate students who have no prior training in statistics.

Topics covered include: the notion of variables and how they are measured; ways of describing the central tendency and the dispersion of a variable; and the principles of hypothesis testing and statistical significance. The course also introduces students to the software Stata. Each session consists of a lecture part, and a computer lab part with exercises in Stata.

Bookings

All students wishing to book a place on this module must complete the SSRMC Skill Check before a place can be booked for them.

Students that have already completed the Skill Check may have had a place booked for them by their Department. Students can check this by typing their CRSid into the search box at the very top right of this page, hitting the enter key then clicking on their name. This will show all module(s) that they are booked onto, as applicable.

Students for whom this module is not compulsory can make a booking via the Basic Statistics Stream Booking Form on the SSRMC website.

In cases where you have a problem or a clash, please contact the SSRMC Administrator who will try to help you.

This foundational course is for graduate students who have no prior training in statistics.

Topics covered include: the notion of variables and how they are measured; ways of describing the central tendency and the dispersion of a variable; and the principles of hypothesis testing and statistical significance. The course also introduces students to the software Stata. Each session consists of a lecture part, and a computer lab part with exercises in Stata.

Bookings

All students wishing to book a place on this module must complete the SSRMC Skill Check before a place can be booked for them.

Students that have already completed the Skill Check may have had a place booked for them by their Department. Students can check this by typing their CRSid into the search box at the very top right of this page, hitting the enter key then clicking on their name. This will show all module(s) that they are booked onto, as applicable.

Students for whom this module is not compulsory can make a booking via the Basic Statistics Stream Booking Form on the SSRMC website.

In cases where you have a problem or a clash, please contact the SSRMC Administrator who will try to help you.