module

Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SPA2002: Quantitative Research with Microsoft Excel

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Overview

‘Violent crime is up by 10%!’ ‘Opinion polls suggest Tory landslide!’ ‘Barbeques cause cancer!’ These are just some of the types of quantitative research findings that we see reported in the media. But how do we know that these statistics are sound? Could the design of the studies be flawed? And, as a student, how do you go about designing robust surveys or experiments yourself and analysing the results? This module introduces you to the key concepts in quantitative design and data collection. It then builds on these to show you how to analyse this data confidently using Microsoft Excel.

Employers value highly skills such as how to collect, interpret and present quantitative data. This module is suitable for all social science students. Absolutely no prior knowledge of statistics is needed.