Cambridge Research Methods course timetable

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This foundational course introduces students to basic theoretical concepts that underlie research on social networks and provides methodological and analytical insights through the use of the social network software UCINET. Given the growing popularity of the social network perspective across diverse subject areas, this module is designed for students interested in both micro directions, emphasizing cognitive and personality perspectives, and macro directions, emphasizing very large network configuration and evolution.

Topics covered include leading ideas in social network theory and research, such as network structure, interpersonal relations and the utility of network connections in terms of social capital [session 1]; key methods to run social network analysis through the use of UCINET [session 2]; the use of social network methods to conduct either micro or macro-level research in the field of social sciences [session 3]; hot frontiers in social network research, such as cognition, actors’ characteristics in terms of personality and motivation, network dynamics, networks and genetics [session 4].

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This introductory course to Atlas.Ti CAQDAS will provide a general background to the process of qualitative analysis, situating the use of CAQDAS with reference to differing positions regarding its importance, together with a ‘hands on’ introduction to the software. The practical part of each session will familiarise students with the main functionalities of the software through a set of exercises developed with data collected through a mix of qualitative methods. Students will additionally be asked to apply the software to their own research data and to keep a reflective journal on this.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

Students are introduced to meta-analysis, a powerful statistical technique allowing researchers to synthesize available evidence for a given research question using standardized (comparable) effect sizes across studies. The sessions teach students how to compute treatment effects, how to compute effect sizes based on correlational studies, how to address questions such as what is the association of bullying victimization with depression? The module will be useful for students who seek to draw statistical conclusions in a standardized manner from literature reviews they are conducting.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This module provides students with an introduction to panel data analysis (PDA). Panel data are gathered by taking repeated observations of a series of research units (eg. individuals) as they move through time. PDA therefore allows researchers to answer questions that cannot be addressed with cross-sectional data. The course begins by introducing students to key concepts in longitudinal research. Next, students are taught how to manipulate and prepare panel datasets using Stata. The final two sessions provide an overview of statistical modelling techniques for use with panel data. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on giving students hands-on experience of working with real-world data using Stata.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This course will introduce two interactive methods that enable a deeper understanding of the views of research participants.

• Part 1 (lectures 1 and 2) Q method: The aim of this course is to provide students with the sufficient knowledge and resources to implement a Q method study independently. Q method is a structured and systematic methodology to research subjectivity, understood as how people think and communicate their points of view about a subject. The method is useful for a broad range of research questions that require an understanding of the different perspectives about a topic in order to aid decision-making and management.

• Part 2 (lectures 3 and 4) action research and researching in partnership with participants: Action research involves researching upon one’s own professional practice whilst researching with participants can take place outside one’s own professional context but involves sharing the processes of analysis and writing with participants. These sessions may be particularly useful for those who are aiming to use academic skills in a workplace context in the future. However, they can also other forms of research design.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

The internet is a great resource for humanities and social science data, but most information is apparently chaotic. In this course we will explore how to programmatically access information stored online, typically in html, to create neat, tabulated data ready for analysis. The course is made up of four tutorials which explore how to scrape different types of data. The uses of web scraping are diverse: in this course we will use the programming language R to explore how to access data from newspapers, YouTube, Wikipedia, and Twitter. Collectively these sessions will give the skillsets necessary to use web scraping in students’ own research.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

Students are introduced to multilevel modelling techniques (a.k.a. hierarchical linear modelling). MLM allows one to analyse how contexts influence outcomes ie do schools/neighbourhoods influence behaviour.

STATA will be used during this module - there will be no overlap with other SPSS modules. No prior knowledge of STATA will be assumed.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This introductory course to Atlas.Ti CAQDAS will provide a general background to the process of qualitative analysis, situating the use of CAQDAS with reference to differing positions regarding its importance, together with a ‘hands on’ introduction to the software. The practical part of each session will familiarise students with the main functionalities of the software through a set of exercises developed with data collected through a mix of qualitative methods. Students will additionally be asked to apply the software to their own research data and to keep a reflective journal on this.

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Course programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.

This week long course has been designed to introduce students to the intricacies and background of game theory. Coupling theory with practical simulations and workshops, students will work with practitioners on static, dynamic, and repeated games, as well as build an understanding of incomplete information. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of game theory for your own field of study. Students with an interest in this research method are encouraged to apply.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday 31st January

For a more detailed description of the course, please see http://klein.co.uk/GameTheory.html

Session 1: Introduction to Evaluation

This session will introduce the basic theory, purpose, and politics of evaluation in the social sciences. It will also include a practical dialogue about the role of evaluation in academic settings.

This is the first of six sessions on the advanced, three day course 'Evaluation Research'.

The course is offered as part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme and the ESRC Advanced Training Network. Students may attend all of the course or book for individual sessions.

If you intend to follow the entire course you must make a separate booking for each of the six sessions.

The training as a whole will introduce students to the basic general concepts that underlie evaluation research. Topics covered include basic theory, cost-benefit analysis, additionality, time discounting, net-present value, valuation techniques, evaluation design, the use of evidence in policy evaluation and more.

Session 2: Introduction to Evaluation Theory – The Challenge of Integrating Knowledge

This session will provide an introduction to the various analytical frames that can be used in evaluation research. As evaluation is fundamentally a process of valuing, different frames will inevitably generate different ways of thinking about the problem of what works, when, how, and for whom. This session focuses on the issue of the task of integrating knowledge from competing policy frames as a major issue for democratic governance.

This is the second of six sessions on the advanced, three day course 'Evaluation Research'.

The course is offered as part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme and the ESRC Advanced Training Network. Students may attend all of the course or book for individual sessions.

If you intend to follow the entire course you must make a separate booking for each of the six sessions.

The training as a whole will introduce students to the basic general concepts that underlie evaluation research. Topics covered include basic theory, cost-benefit analysis, additionality, time discounting, net-present value, valuation techniques, evaluation design, the use of evidence in policy evaluation and more.

Session 3: Evaluation Theory – Contextualizing Evaluation Frames

This session will introduce and describe in some detail several mainstream and non-mainstream approaches to evaluation. Each of these approaches provides a different ways of seeing/valuing. The different approaches to evaluation frame will be disused with reference to four key assumptions; assumptions about methodology, ontology and epistemology, assumptions about the complexity of problems, assumptions regarding decisional contexts, institutional settings and policy processes and assumptions about welfare.

This is the third of six sessions on the advanced, three day course 'Evaluation Research'.

The course is offered as part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme and the ESRC Advanced Training Network. Students may attend all of the course or book for individual sessions.

If you intend to follow the entire course you must make a separate booking for each of the six sessions.

The training as a whole will introduce students to the basic general concepts that underlie evaluation research. Topics covered include basic theory, cost-benefit analysis, additionality, time discounting, net-present value, valuation techniques, evaluation design, the use of evidence in policy evaluation and more.

Session 4: Cost-benefit Analysis

This session will explore the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the quantification of evaluations using the Cost-Benefit Analysis technique; the session will review the theoretical frameworks for developing CBA studies and the various measurement issues surrounding operationalization of a study including (but not limited to) leakage, control selections, measuring additionality, the use of revealed versus stated preference valuations, and more. Additionally the session will both conduct and review an in-class exercise on important financial and economic techniques for conducting CBA studies including the selection of appropriate valuation models, the incorporation of inflation and time discounting, and actual calculations for CBA. Finally, the session will have students develop a CBA study for a practical situation to illustrate important real-world considerations.

This is the fourth of six sessions on the advanced, three day course 'Evaluation Research'.

The course is offered as part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme and the ESRC Advanced Training Network. Students may attend all of the course or book for individual sessions.

If you intend to follow the entire course you must make a separate booking for each of the six sessions.

The training as a whole will introduce students to the basic general concepts that underlie evaluation research. Topics covered include basic theory, cost-benefit analysis, additionality, time discounting, net-present value, valuation techniques, evaluation design, the use of evidence in policy evaluation and more.