BA International Relations with Quantitative Research MethodsCommencing at level two

Year 3

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Arts)

Learning outcomes

On completion of Pathway, in addition to the core programme outcomes, students should have provided evidence of being able to:
- understand a range of statistical functional forms;
- carry out statistical analyses using the most common of these forms;
- understand and analyse appropriately different data types (e.g. cross-section, time series, panel; macro-aggregate, micro-individual)
- locate, collect, code / transform and merge secondary datasets for primary analysis;
- understand advanced data collection techniques and, where appropriate, apply these;
- understand and critique advanced statistical analysis in secondary literature;
- write up advanced multivariate analyses;
- understand and explain the limits of quantitative data analyses;
- mix methods to include both quantitative and qualitative analyses;

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the Pathway:
- analytical techniques appropriate for different types of political, socio-economic, public opinion and sectoral data;
- the appropriate boundaries, analytically and ethically, for data collection and analysis;
- the capacity to make assumptions in analyses, quantitative or qualitative, and explain these to a variety of audiences;
- the ability to simplify complex realities into a series of testable propositions, and highlight the attendant strengths and weaknesses of such a design;
- the ability to undertake further, advanced statistical and analytical training;

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:
- understanding and interpretation of advanced statistical techniques;
- design, operationalisation and testing of advanced multivariate analysis;
- inclusion of appropriate bivariate and multivariate analysis in full research design, including derivation of theoretical framework.