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From Problem to Analysis (B-KUL-G0W09A)

6 ECTSEnglish45 First termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
N. |  Vezzoni Cristiano (substitute)
POC Sociologie

Aims

The course aims at making students aware of the fact that different research questions requires different data and different techniques to be answered. Moreover, it underlines what are the assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of each analytical approach to the solution of a research problem. The students will first gains an understanding of how a research question can be formally translated into hypotheses that can be formally tested and how to organize the empirical material to answer the question. They will learn about the nature of data and the way to handle them in an adequate, effective and efficient way. 

At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to analyse a research problem and to suggest the appropriate analytical strategy to tackle it. Whence the title of the course: From Problem to Analysis. The course thus supply a reference scheme in which the students can also organize the knowledge concerning other models that they will acquire in further courses.

Previous knowledge

To attend the course, the students are expected to have a working knowledge of the basic mathematical concepts and procedure. 
Students should also be acquainted to a statistical package, with a preference for SPSS. The exercises will be illustrated with this software. 

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. From Problem to Analysis (B-KUL-G0W09a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture45 First term
N. |  Vezzoni Cristiano (substitute)
POC Sociologie

Content

Part I. The nature of data and measurement
Measurement will cover the first part of the course, considering measurement models as a constitutional part of the conceptualization process. Continuous, ordinal, discrete variables as well as single or multiple items measurement will be addressed, namely handling Classical Test Theory (factor and reliability analysis).

Part II. From Theory to Methodology 
Different types of problems and research situations are illustrated, supplying a classification of classical techniques of multivariate analysis. Thus, the connection between a problem and a technique is analysed. 

Part III. The analytical strategy
The course presents a discussion of the classical techniques of multivariate analysis, of which students gain an overview in an expert-like way. Students will also have an active acquaintance with the classical techniques as well as with the underlying assumptions of the models.

Course material

A list with compulsory and suggested study materials will be supplied a few weeks before the starting of the course.

Language of instruction: more information

The course will be held in English.

Format: more information

Blended form for the the 2020 course

The course is meant for both students attending physically to the classes and attending online.

The main components of the course are the following:

Readings: for each topic, a list of readings and additional material is supplied; the students are expected to be familiar with the material before attending the lectures; the list is made available in advance, with sufficient time to allow student to a comfortable preparation of the lectures.

Basic concepts: description of the basic concepts related to the topic, online and in presence

Exercise: an exercise with detailed instruction is supplied and explained to the students; the exercise is supplied in written form; students have a week time to carry out the exercise

Q&A sessions: students can submit their questions via mail/social media/platform within the week; for each topic a session of Q&A takes place, online and in presence

 

Evaluation: Each week assignment + Final assignment, discussed with the student individually

 

Evaluation

Evaluation: From Problem to Analysis (B-KUL-G2W09a)

Type : Exam outside of the normal examination period
Description of evaluation : Oral, Written
Type of questions : Open questions

Explanation


The final score is based on the evaluation of the final assignement that will be discussed orally.
The request for the final assignment is to apply all the notions learned in class to answer a research question defined by the student. The notions learned in class do not concern only statistical models, but also the application of the correct logic to a research problem, the evaluation of the quality of measurement, the sensitivity to the limitations of the models applied.
The oral discussion could contemplate also theoretical questions.