Module Identifier |
SS19010 |
Module Title |
RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS |
Academic Year |
2006/2007 |
Co-ordinator |
Dr Joanne Thatcher |
Semester |
Semester 2 |
Course delivery |
Lecture | 1 x 3hr Lecture/Workshop per week |
Assessment |
Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
Semester Assessment | 1.5 Hours 1.5 hour Open book test of competency in SPSS and interpretation of data under exam conditions | 50% |
Semester Assessment | Coursework - Laboratory Report (1,000 words) | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | 2,000 word essay | 100% |
|
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to...
1. Explain basic approaches to research and differentiate between them
2. Examine an existing investigation and recognize its strengths and weaknesses
3. Methodically report on an investigation using appropriate terminology and principles
4. Demonstrate competence in the use of SPSS to perform basic statistical procedures and to draw appropriate conclusions from the output (specifically: chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, paired and unpaired T, linear regression, Spearman's and Pearson's correlation)
Brief description
This module introduces students to research and statistics. The module will help students interpret existing knowledge and data in their other modules, and it will begin the development of the skills of the independent researcher, which will blossom in the final year dissertation. The module describes the broad framework of approaches to research in the sport and exercise sciences and identifies the steps and iterations of these approaches. Students will be introduced to statistical analysis using SPSS and develop competence in a range of fundamental statistical techniques.
Aims
1. To introduce the framework of key research themes such as: inductive, deductive, empirical, observational, survey-based, qualitative and quantitative.
2. To describe the steps (and iterations) in the research process from/to establishing a question to/from interpreting data.
3. To introduce SPSS and develop skills in data entry, statistical analysis and statistical interpretation.
Reading Lists
Books
** General Text
Burns, R.B. (2000) Introduction to Research Methods
4th. London: Sage
Cresswell, J.W. (2003) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
2nd. London: California: Sage
Field, A.P. (2005) Discovering Statistics Using SPSS for Windows: Advanced Techniques for the Beginner
2nd. London: Sage
Kerr, A.W. (2002) Doing Statistics with SPSS
London: Sage
Kranzler, G. and Moursand, J. (1998) Statistics for the Terrified
2nd. London: Prentice Hall
Malim, T. (1997) Research Methods and Statistics
Basingstoke: Macmillan
Ntoumanis, N. (2001) A Step-by-Step Guide to SPSS for Sport and Exercise Studies
London: Routledge
Salkind, N.J. Statistics for People who (think they) Hate Statistics
London: Sage
Thomas, J. and Nelson, J. (2005) Research methods in physical activity.
5th ed.. Human Kinetics, Champaign, II
Vincent, W.J. (2005) Statistics in kinesiology
3rd ed.. Human Kinetics, Champaign, II
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4