Undergraduate
Quantitative
Research
Methods with:
Childhood Studies | Geography |
Politics | Social Policy | Sociology
Faculties of Social Sciences and Law, and Science
bristol.ac.uk /study
The University of Bristol is introducing a new quantitative research methods pathway to a range of social science courses. We are offering a unique opportunity for you to study alongside students from different degree subjects on a shared pathway that approaches quantitative methods from an applied and cross-disciplinary perspective, complementing your subject-specific learning. Quantitative methods – the ways of collecting numeric data, making sense of it and using it to answer questions relevant to social and public debate – have a long and important history in the social sciences. These degrees offer enhanced quantitative skills training in conjunction with core disciplinary learning. They are part of a national initiative – Q-Step – designed to provide social science students with the skills they need to enhance their subject-specific studies, for research and for work after graduating.
The £19.5 million Q-step programme is designed to promote a step change in quantitative social science training. Over a five-year period from 2013, fifteen universities across the UK are delivering specialist undergraduate programmes, including new courses, work placements and pathways to
Why enhance your degree with quantitative
research methods at Bristol?
postgraduate study. Expertise and resources will be shared across the higher education sector through an accompanying support programme, which will also forge links with schools and employers.
The UK currently has a shortage of social science graduates with the quantitative skills needed to evaluate evidence, analyse data, and to design and commission research. However, these skills are in demand from employers across all sectors – academia, government, business and charities. We aim to nurture enhanced quantitative skills that will support your subject-specific learning and assist you to get a job or go on to further study or research.
Q-Step is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). For more information please visit
bristol.ac.uk /study
You will spend one third of your time on the new cross-disciplinary quantitative research methods pathway in all years of the three-year BSc courses. If you take a four-year MSci course, two thirds of your fourth year will be devoted to more advanced quantitative research methods.
The rest of your studies will follow the Single Honours course in your chosen subject, gaining core knowledge in your discipline.
The quantitative research methods pathway includes:
Year one
• Convincing Stories? Numbers as evidence in the social sciences
• Segregation and inequality in the UK (measurement and debate).
Year two
• Principles of Quantitative Social Science (except geography students)
• Spatial Modelling (geography students only) • Conducting a Research Project using
secondary data.
Single Honours courses
BSc Childhood Studies with Quantitative Research Methods, three years L522 MSci Childhood Studies with Quantitative Research Methods, four years L523 BSc Geography with Quantitative
Research Methods, three years F802 MSci Geography with Quantitative
Research Methods, four years F804 BSc Politics with Quantitative Research
Methods, three years L202 MSci Politics with Quantitative Research Methods, four years L203 BSc Social Policy with Quantitative
Research Methods, three years L402 MSci Social Policy with Quantitative
Research Methods, four years L403 BSc Sociology with Quantitative
Research Methods, three years L302 MSci Sociology with Quantitative
Research Methods, four years L303
Course structure and unit choices
What is the point of asking a question if you can’t make sense of the results? These degrees will teach you how to ask the right questions and find the answers based on quantitative evidence and analysis.
bristol.ac.uk /study
What will I study?
Year three
• Dissertation (a subject-specific project involving quantitative research methods).
Year four (for MSci students)
In your final year, one third of your time is spent studying subject-specific units, one third is spent studying more advanced quantitative research methods (with the potential for doctoral research), and the final third is an extended research project applying those methods to a topic of relevance to your discipline.
Examples of fourth-year units include:
• Explanation, Causation and Longitudinal Analysis • Big Data and Society
• Spatial data analysis, spatial regression modelling and GIS
• Advanced Quantitative Methods for Social and Policy Research.
Members of the Bristol Q-Step team have considerable expertise in teaching quantitative social science from introductory to postgraduate level. The first-year unit ‘Convincing Stories? Numbers as Evidence in the Social Sciences’ introduces you to how numbers are used (and abused) in the media, public policy and in social and scientific debate.
The School of Geographical Sciences is a world leader in quantitative human geography, while the School for Policy Studies hosts the internationally respected Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research.
It’s important to note that quantitative research methods are not about learning maths; they are about learning how to apply analytical methods to questions of interest to the social sciences. If you’re not sure whether to choose a BSc or MSci qualification, you can transfer from one to the other during the first two years.
bristol.ac.uk /study bristol.ac.uk /study
A-level or equivalent entry requirements will vary depending on which subject you choose to study. To find the entry requirements for your chosen discipline with quantitative research methods, visit: Childhood Studies bristol.ac.uk/ug15-childhood Geography bristol.ac.uk/ug15-geography Politics bristol.ac.uk/ug15-politics Social Policy bristol.ac.uk/ug15-socpol Sociology bristol.ac.uk/ug15-sociology
Graduating with the words ‘... with Quantitative Research Methods’ in your degree title will give a clear signal to employers about the training you have received, enhancing your employability in many sectors such as policy making, business and commerce where the ability to produce and analyse data is crucial. Many standard social science degrees don’t include these skills, certainly not to this level.
Our integrated four-year Masters (MSci) degree is a particularly good opportunity if you wish to continue to postgraduate study or are looking to further enhance the attractiveness of your skills training to potential employers.
What are my career prospects?
Making your application
Although familiarity with higher-level maths may be helpful, those without A or AS-level maths should not be put off from applying. The level of maths required and taught on these degrees should be accessible to a student with grade C in GCSE Mathematics. Learning how to undertake quantitative data analysis is not the same as learning maths. We are looking for students who are willing to approach quantitative methods with a critical and enquiring mind, and a willingness to learn.
We will also be looking at your personal statement and reference with regards to your chosen subject. Your personal statement should show why you’re interested in studying this degree, and include any extracurricular activities or achievements you have to support your application.
Further information
Further information about the degrees, pathways and units can be found at: bristol.ac.uk/qstep.
£19.5
million national programme
promoting quantitative social
Photography: © University of Bristol
The information contained in this leaflet is correct at the time of printing (June 2014). Courses and facilities are liable to alter or be withdrawn at the University’s discretion.
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