EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT FOR QUANTITATIVE METHODS TEACHING AT KINGSTON
UNIVERSITY FROM JANUARY 2015. PLEASE REPLY DIRECTLY TO SYLVIE COLLINS-MAYO:
s.collins-mayo@kingston.ac.uk
DETAILS OF TEACHING OPPORTUNITY:
SO4002: Social Research Methods
Academic Year 2014/15. Teaching Block 2. Quantitative Methods
The undergraduate programme at Kingston University is based on a modular scheme. Students at
Levels1 4, 5 and 6 take four modules per year. Each module is taught over a 24 week period, which
includes two ‘enrichment activity/reading weeks’ and each module is worth 30 credits.
Social Research Methods (Level 4) is a core undergraduate module which explores different research
designs and methods used by social researchers. In the first half of the module, Teaching Block 1
(TB1 – September to Christmas) the emphasis is on qualitative methods. In the second half the
module, Teaching Block 2 (January to Easter) the emphasis is on quantitative methods and using
SPSS . The currently syllabus is given in Appendix 1 below. There are also two weeks on mapping
using ArcGIS, but the content of these weeks can be changed subject to the expertise of the lecturer.
It is taught by way of a weekly 2-hour lecture on Fridays 9.00 – 11.00 am. This is followed by five
one-hour computer classes in which students can learn to use SPSS. They run 11am-12pm; 12-1pm;
1-2pm; 3-4pm and 4-5pm. Four of these computer classes will be taken by a PhD student from
based in the School of Psychology, Criminology and Sociology. One will be taught by the lecturer.
Teaching starts on Friday 9th January 2015 and the last main classes will be held on the 20th March
2015. Some computer room drop-in times have been scheduled from 11am – 3pm on Tuesday 24th
March to help students prepare for their assessments. This is during ‘enrichment activity week’.
There are currently 131 students taking the module. All will attend the lecture; they are then
divided up into the five computer classes.
The module is assessed through a portfolio of three parts. Part 1 has a qualitative emphasis. Part 2
has a quantitative emphasis and Part 3 is an in-class test. Details of Part 2 and 3 from last year
(2013-14) are attached for information. The class test is due to take place on the 20th March 2015.
The Part 2 assignment is due to be submitted on the 26th March 2015. The Faculty’s policy is that all
formative (ungraded) and summative (graded) work has to be marked and moderated within four
weeks of the submission date.
Duties of teaching cover include: (a) The preparation and delivery of teaching materials for the
quantitative lectures in Teaching Block 2, (b) preparation of SPSS class material to be shared with the
PhD student helping to take the classes, (c) delivery of one SPSS class per week. (d) preparation of
assessment and marking of course work for one class of in-class test and quantitative part 2 of the
portfolio, (e) moderating the marking of the qualitative element (Part 1) of the portfolio, (f)
supervision of students taking the module – one office hour should be made available during each
1
Level 4 = first year undergraduate. The other years and levels follow in sequence.
teaching week for this purpose, (g) preparation of retake materials if required, (h) liaising with
colleagues on the module, (i) maintenance of StudySpace2 for the module.
Payment details will be provided on expression of interest in this teaching opportunity.
Unfortunately we are unable to pay travel or accommodation costs incurred in the course of
completing the normal duties of teaching cover described above.
Dr Sylvie Collins-Mayo, School of Social Science, Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey,
KT1 2EE (s.collins-mayo@kingston.ac.uk).
2
StudySpace (previously known as Blackboard) is the University’s on-line teaching resource. It is very easy to
use and is a repository for electronically produced teaching materials (handsouts, etc) and notices. Training
will be given on appointment.
APPENDIX 1 – CURRENT SYLLABUS (INDICATIVE – SCOPE FOR CHANGING TO MATCH TUTOR
EXPERTISE)
ArcGIS can be replaced by SPSS classes or another alternative.
From now on your days are numbered (levels of data, frequencies &
SPSS
distributions, population and samples, normality, skewness)
Vital statistics (measures of central tendency & dispersion, percentiles & standard
SPSS
Get the picture (visualising quantitative data: tables, charts, and maps)
ArcGIS
Picture this (visualising quantitative data: tables, charts, and maps)
ArcGIS
What’s the significance? (Statistical significance: concept & measurement; p-value)
SPSS
To be or not to be (Hypotheses testing, positivism, p-value)
SPSS
T for two (testing for differences: t-test)
SPSS
Can we settle our differences? (testing for differences: M-W test)
SPSS
It takes two to tango (testing for differences: correlation & chi-square test)
SPSS
Let’s square our differences (regression analysis)
SPSS
Testing times: class test
-
EAW: Tuesday 24th March 11am-3pm
Drop in workshop
scores)