FACULTY OF EDUCATION

MASTER OF EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Group 2006-2009
EDU5759 Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Basic Statistics
Aim
This study unit aims to equip MEd students with the basic concepts, knowledge,
techniques and skills necessary to plan and conduct rigorous quantitative research.

Instructional Objectives
At the end of the study unit students should be able to:
- set out the basic tenets of quantitative research;
- identify the characteristics of descriptive, correlational and experimental research
designs; indicate their advantages and limitations; determine when the use of each of
these basic designs is appropriate;
- handle and record responses/data of various types and identify the strengths and
weaknesses of response styles;
- compute, explain the meaning of, and use basic summary statistics;
- understand the differences between populations and samples; sampling and sample
sizes;
- distinguish between statistical significance and practical/educational significance;
explain the nature and purpose of various levels of statistical significance (p-values)
and how these are applied in research;
- understand the nature and use of inferential statistics; the inferential leap;
- organise data and prepare them for use with the SPSS; list and use several SPSS
command lines to run a number of statistical techniques; understand SPSS print-
outs of results and interpret findings;

Course Outline
1. Quantitative Research – an overview of the quantitative perspective.

2. Basic Research Designs:descriptive (developmental studies, surveys)

:correlational (relationship studies, prediction studies)
:experimental (true experiments, quasi-experiments)

3. Data Collection :response styles

:coding and coding frames
:types of measurement scale

4. Data Analysis : summarising data (measures of central tendency,

variation, and association)
: tabulating data
: statistical significance, practical/educational
significance; p-values – their meaning and use
:analysing data for hypothesis-testing and inference-
drawing purposes using parametric (t-tests, 1-way and 2-
way ANOVA) and non-parametric techniques (Chi-Square;
Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon; Kruskal-Wallis)
5. Use of SPSS : preparing data (dummy coding, missing data)
: procedural command lines (SORT CASES, SELECT
CASES, MISSING VALUES, RECODE)
:command lines for running several techniques
(DESCRIPTIVES, CROSSTABS, ONEWAY,
ANOVA, NPAR)

Mode of Presentation
The emphasis throughout the course shall be on active, meaningful and hands-on
student participation. By way of consolidating and balancing the theoretical component
of this study unit sessions will involve practical ‘hands-on’ activities which should
allow students to learn the skills required to handle and analyse data.

Course Value
2 ECTS

Date and Time

Sessions will be held from16:30 to 19:30 on:
Wednesdays 29th November
Friday 1st December
Wednesday 6th December
Friday 15th December
Wednesday 20th December

Venue
Education Computer Lab 1 (1st floor, Old Humanities Building)

Course Texts
Cohen, L. & Manion, L. (1994) Research Methods in Education (London: Routledge)
ISBN 0-415-10235-9 (pbk)
George, D. & Mallery, P. (1999) SPSS for Windows Step by Step (London: Allyn &
Bacon) ISBN 0 205 28395 0 (pbk)

SPSS
Students are STRONGLY ADVISED to have at their disposal a copy of SPSS from the
very first lecture. CSC has a scheme for the private use of SPSS over a short period of
time against payment.

Mode of Assessment
Assessment will be by practical assignment. This will be set during the last session (on
20th December) and will be due by 16:30 of 22nd December.

Course Tutor
Professor Mark G. Borg
Room: OH235 Tel: 2340 2193; e-mail: mark.borg@um.edu.mt