Advanced Methods and Techniques

Course goals

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
 

• go through the several phases of the research process independently
• understand the application of the qualitative and quantitative methods in the social sciences and to assess what method is applicable in a given situation
• apply multivariate statistics and techniques and to interpret the outcomes
• code interview transcripts and build an argumentation on the basis of the coding process
• critically use scientific methods, and to be responsible regarding methodological foundation and the use of methods and techniques

Content

This course deals with several phases of the research process: preparation: research design, analysing data, and reporting results. The variety of research strategies (including mixed methods) and research designs will be explained and issues of scientific integrity will be discussed. Next to that, the course will focus on the analysis of interview texts and on the question how to build up an argument on the basis of qualitative data analysis. Finally we will concentrate on the most prevalent multivariate techniques (multiple and logistic regression, multilevel analysis, factor analysis).