Quantitative research methods (3cr)

Objective

Students will be able to evaluate the applicability of quantitative research methods to different research and development targets. They will have command over the quantitative social research process and they will be able to use them in their thesis work and in other research activities. They will know how to illustrate quantitative data using tables, statistics and graphics in the SPSS program and analyze statistical relationships between variables.

Content

- Central features of quantitative research
- Research process and concepts
- Data collection and sampling methods
- Planning the data collection tool
- Scales of variables
- Illustration and analysis of data with the SPSS program
- Frequency tables, cross-tabulation, statistics, graphic presentations, statistical tests

Qualifications

No previous studies are required.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Assessment, grade 1-2:
Students are able to describe central features of quantitative research. Under supervision, they are able to analyze quantitative data and to produce SPSS statistics, tables and graphics.
Grade 3-4:
Students are able to analyze quantitative data and to draw justified conclusions based on the results. They know how to conduct quantitative research using statistical methods. Students know how to use SPSS to produce statistics, tables and graphics and they know how to interpret this data.
Grade 5:
Students have excellent command over quantitative research methods and they are able to apply them to their assignments (and potential projects). Students know how to produce and justify the use of SPSS statistics, tables and graphics and how to extensively interpret the results.

Materials

- Heikkilä T. 2008 or later. Tilastollinen tutkimus. Edita.
Availability: http://tiny.cc/kqqa5w

- Greasley, P. 2008. Quantitative Data Analysis Using SPSS: An Introduction for Health and Social Sciences. Open University Press.

Only e-book
Availability: http://tiny.cc/unnmdx

- Online material

Teaching methods

Lectures, online learning (50 %), exercises