MSc (Full Time)
Year:13/14
UCAS Code:NONE
Minimum Length:12 Month(s)
Maximum Length:12 Month(s)
Credit Points:180
Director of Studies:Dr JC Harman
Compulsory Modules
back to top
The student must take the following modules:
Educational Aims: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to top
To produce graduates with a mature understanding of scientific reasoning, a good level of technical statistical expertise and well-developed collaborative skills.
To develop students who are able to relate their work to the interests of researchers from the increasingly interwoven areas of science, education, health and medicine, industry, social services, criminal justice, market research, housing and ethnicity.
To provide students with a firm grounding in the joint roles of substantive theory, data collection and statistical analysis.
To equip students with an understanding of how this knowledge can be applied to study scientific, social, health, economic and management issues, together with a consideration of the policy implications of quantitative social and scientific research.
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to top
A. Subject-specific knowledge and understanding
A1. Understanding of the mathematical foundations of statistical techniques
A2. Technical expertise in the application of a range of statistical methods for the design and analysis of scientific and social studies
A3. Use of specialist statistical software packages for data analysis
A4. Thorough understanding of problems inherent in designing, executing and evaluating research projects and published work
B. Practical skills
B1. Ability to communicating statistical issues to non-statisticians and to understand problems from the collaborator's viewpoint
B2. Competence in research design, data analysis, statistical modelling and interpretation
B3. Awareness of the range of modern statistical software packages available for data analysis
B4. Ability to select appropriate statistical methods for the problem at hand
B5. Awareness of the need for critical assessment of assumptions and the consequences of misuse of methods
B6. Ability to read, synthesise information from a variety of sources and critically appraise research publications.
C. Transferable skills
C1. Problem solving skills; ability to engage intelligently in new situations
C2. Oral and written presentation skills
C3. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a group
C4. Ability to learn from various styles of presentation of material
C5. Capacity for self-directed learning
C6. Flexibility to learn and apply new methods
C7. General IT skills, including effective access to library and other information sources
C8. Work organization, time and project management.
