6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021441CER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students who want to enroll for this course, must have passed ‘Quantative research methods' and must have obtained at least 30 ECTS-credits on bachelor level.
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Sociology
External partners
Universiteit Gent
Educational team
Amelie Van Pottelberge (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
39 contact hours Lecture
111 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This main objective of this methodological course is to introduce students to a number of multivariate techniques most commonly used in the social sciences. As such, this course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the educational components ‘Statistics for the Social Sciences’ (1BA) and ‘Quantitative Research Methods’ (2BA). While some attention is spent on the statistical-mathematical background of these techniques, there is a special emphasis on the practical application of the techniques, so that, upon completion of the course, the students have the competences to choose among the discussed techniques the correct one(s) to tackle complex social science research questions, to perform the chosen technique(s) adequately, and to interpret the results in a sound manner.

Specifically, the course deals with four groups of techniques

  1. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Principal Components Analysis (PCA);
  2. Cluster analysis
  3. Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) and CoVariance (ANCOVA), Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA);
  4. Path Models and Mediation Analysis; Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

For every method, lectures where the method is introduced are followed by laboratory sessions, in which students are trained in hands-on exercises using statistical computer software (e.g., SPSS and AMOS).

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Reader - to be communicated at start of the course
Additional info

Didactic forms

  • Interactive lectures with class discussions, peer-to-peer learning;
  • E-learning;
  • Micro-teaching;
  • Seminar with guided PC-exercises;
  • Guided self-study
Learning Outcomes

General Competences

Upon completion of this course, students will have learned the following competencies

  • To explain in their own words the basic principles of each of the taught techniques in multivariate data analysis
  • To understand, interpret, and critically assess published results of advanced statistical techniques in social science literature
  • To make a responsible choice between advanced research techniques to answer complex research questions
  • To test the assumptions and discuss the limitations of advanced research techniques
  • To design and carry out adequately advanced statistical analyses on social science data
  • To interpret and report the results of complex statistical analyses properly

More generally, the course addresses the following program learning objectives:

  • L07: knows the methods of data selection, management and analysis that prevail within the domains of the social sciences.
  • LO10: can critically position their research against the theories that prevail in the international social sciences literature, including recent developments and innovations in these literatures
  • LO11: can, independently, identify, gather and critically process relevant sources and literature on a specific social sciences research topic.
  • LO12: can, with limited supervision, apply social theories and concepts to a well-delineated, socially and scientifically relevant research topic in the domain of the social sciences.  
  • LO13: can, with limited supervision, formulate a valid scientific research question on a social sciences research topic.  
  • LO14: can, with limited supervision, set up a scientific and methodologically correct research design to answer a research question in the domain of the social sciences.  
  • LO15: can, with limited supervision, perform the necessary methodological steps (data selection, processing and management, and analysis) to answer a research question on a social sciences research topic.
  • LO16: can report, independently, on their research in both oral and written form.  
  • LO17: can work in team and collaborate with peers in a relationship of mutual respect.
  • LO18: can reflect on and evaluate their learning process and research and can deal with criticism in a constructive manner.  
  • LO19: treats the intellectual property of others with respect and integrity

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Lab Reports with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.
  • Individual Technical Paper with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Formative evaluation

The formative evaluation of this course is composed of two kinds of assignments.

First, throughout the semester, students will work together in small groups on lab reports.
Specifically, students will collaborate on three lab reports

  1. Exploratory Factor Analysis and PCA
  2. Cluster Analysis
  3. ANCOVA, MANOVA

These lab reports comprise 50% of the final grade.

Second, students will write an individual technical paper in which they apply Mediation analysis and Structural Equation Models to a social science research question. This individual assignment comprises 50% of the final grade.
Only this individual assignment can be retaken for the second examination period, lab reports can thus not be handed in for the second examination period, and their grades will be taken over from the first examination.

Summative evaluation

There is no exam for this course.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Communication Studies
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Political Sciences
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Sociology