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PI3577: THREE LIES: LIES, DAMNED LIES, AND STATISTICS (2022-2023)

Last modified: 30 Nov 2022 14:30


Course Overview

This course is a how-to-guide to enquiring research questions in politics and international relations using quantitative methods. We uncover lies and damned lies about statistics in reporting about politics and international relations and learn how to correctly analyse different kinds of quantitative data using statistical software package Stata. We will learn how to produce analyses that is replicable.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Kathrin Thomas

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • PI3077 Three Lies: Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course is a how-to-guide to enquiring research questions in politics and international relations using quantitative methods. We uncover lies and damned lies about statistics in reporting on politics and international relations in the lectures and learn how to correctly analyse quantitative data using statistical software package Stata. You will learn how to translate concepts in politics and international relations into numbers, how to describe the measurable concepts, and how to relate two or more measurable concepts using statistical methods. Next, we learn about statistics as an oracle: You will learn about sampling and the magic of statistical inference and practice tests that allow you to say with confidence whether your hypotheses are supported or must be rejected. These tests include comparing groups, associations, and regression analysis of two and more variables. By the end of the term you should be able to conduct your own quantitative research project and to independently uncover more lies, damned lies using statistics. The goal is to produce correct outputs that are replicable.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Computer Programming Exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks 31 Feedback Weeks 32

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Feedback

Written feedback using a standardised form

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyApply statistical tests independently to test hypotheses in politics and international relations
ProceduralCreateDevelop and conduct a quantitative research project investigating a research question in politics and international relations
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate research output in politics and international relations based on quantitative analysis
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstand quantitative procedures as a tool to analyse phenomena in politics and international relations

Computer Programming Exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks 27 Feedback Weeks 28

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback using a standardised form

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyApply statistical tests independently to test hypotheses in politics and international relations
ProceduralCreateDevelop and conduct a quantitative research project investigating a research question in politics and international relations
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate research output in politics and international relations based on quantitative analysis
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstand quantitative procedures as a tool to analyse phenomena in politics and international relations

Computer Programming Exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks 39 Feedback Weeks 40

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback using a standardised form

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyApply statistical tests independently to test hypotheses in politics and international relations
ProceduralCreateDevelop and conduct a quantitative research project investigating a research question in politics and international relations
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate research output in politics and international relations based on quantitative analysis
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstand quantitative procedures as a tool to analyse phenomena in politics and international relations

Computer Programming Exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks 34 Feedback Weeks 35

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback using a standardised form

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyApply statistical tests independently to test hypotheses in politics and international relations
ProceduralCreateDevelop and conduct a quantitative research project investigating a research question in politics and international relations
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate research output in politics and international relations based on quantitative analysis
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstand quantitative procedures as a tool to analyse phenomena in politics and international relations

Lab Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 42 Feedback Weeks 45

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback using a standardised form

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyApply statistical tests independently to test hypotheses in politics and international relations
ProceduralCreateDevelop and conduct a quantitative research project investigating a research question in politics and international relations
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate research output in politics and international relations based on quantitative analysis
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstand quantitative procedures as a tool to analyse phenomena in politics and international relations

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Lab Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 50 Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Computer Programming Exercises

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

A fifth computer programming exercise will be provided to make up for one that students failed or wish to achieve a better mark. The best four computer programming exercises will count towards the resit mark.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstand quantitative procedures as a tool to analyse phenomena in politics and international relations
ProceduralApplyApply statistical tests independently to test hypotheses in politics and international relations
ProceduralCreateDevelop and conduct a quantitative research project investigating a research question in politics and international relations
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate research output in politics and international relations based on quantitative analysis

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