GRSC6025 Intermediate Quantitative Research Methods (The Sciences & Related Disciplines)

Content:
The course will cover the following topics:

• Identifying relationship between data variables - graphical tools such as scatterplots; measuring association of data variables using correlation coefficients;
• Simple linear regression - concept of a regression model; estimating a simple linear regression model; inference and prediction on a simple linear regression model and their interpretation;
• Multiple regression - inference and prediction on a regression model and their interpretation; model and variable selection; regression model with qualitative variables; regression diagnosis;
• Experimental designs and analysis of variance - a brief discussion on experimental designs; simple techniques, such as randomization and blocking, for experimental designs; analysis of variance model; concept of general linear model; multiple comparisons; contrasts;
• Logistic regression.

This course is designed for students who are conducting research in lab-based disciplines, including the Sciences and Technology. Students from non lab-based disciplines are recommended to take the parallel course designed for them.

Organization:
Each offering of the module comprises a total of twelve hours over four weekly sessions. In the academic year 2011-12, this course was offered in Semester 1 only.

Enrollment:
This module is designed for students who are familiar with basic statistical concepts or have obtained a PASS in Basic Quantitative Research Methods (GRSC6022 or GRSC6023). There is no formal limit to the number of students who can enroll in this module.

Assessment:
Pass/Fail: Continuous assessment

Outcome:
At the end of the course, students should understand intermediate level quantitative research and be able to critically review the statistical analysis in most research papers.