SOCR1001 - Foundations of Social Research

This course examines key issues and assumptions in social research. It covers areas such as: formulating social research questions; operationalisation of concepts; validity; theory testing and theory construction; and strategies of analysis of social research.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR1001

SOCR4002/SOCR8002 - Survey Data Analysis

This course is designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to analyse large survey data sets to answer research and policy questions. Students will be introduced to a number of multivariate statistical methods for analysing numeric, nominal and ordinal data. Methods covered include Ordinary Least Squares regression, multinomial and ordinal logistic regression, and principal component and factor analysis. Participants will use a major computer statistical software package such as Stata to apply the methods to survey data and to interpret and discuss the results of their data analysis.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR4002

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8002

SOCR4003/8003 - Qualitative Research Analysis

This course equips participants with the necessary skills to analyse and interpret qualitative data to answer research and policy questions. Students will build on previous experience in designing qualitative research methods and data collection and will develop skills in using in-text analysis software, interpreting and discussing the results of their data analysis, and the process of writing and publishing qualitative research. The course will provide students with the skills necessary to undertake a range of different types of qualitative data analysis which may be applied in areas of social science research such as population health, demography, medicine, communication, political science and sociology.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR4003

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8003

SOCR8004 - Special Topic in Social Research

This course is used for two purposes.

1. To run special courses that may be offered only once (for example, due to the availability of an academic visitor).  Assessment will be set by the lecturer and may include assignments, essays, exams and presentations.

2. To allow outstanding students to conduct independent research programs in consultation with a supervising academic. Assessment will be negotiated between the student and supervisor.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8004

SOCR8010 - Advanced Survey Data Analysis

This course provides students with an introduction to advanced topics in survey data analysis and will provide several important extensions: (1) dealing with sample selection bias and endogeneity bias in survey data (instrumental variable regression and Heckman selection correction); (2) using panel data to control for unobserved heterogeneity (fixed effects and random effects models); (3) modelling the time to an event (survival analysis) and (4) multi-level modelling for hierarchical or clustered data.  Students will gain experience in using the Stata statistical software package to apply these methods to survey data.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8010

SOCR8202 - Using Data to Answer Policy Questions and Evaluate Policy

This course will provide students with a range of analytical techniques that can be used to answer policy and service delivery questions and how to measure the impact of policy. It will cover four key aspects of policy evaluations
- Causation: Did the program or policy have a direct impact on the outcome or outcomes of interest?
- Attribution: What was it about the program or policy that led to that impact?
- Implementation: What can be learned about how was the program or policy delivered?
- Documentation: How can key aspects of the evaluation be reported to an academic and policy audience?

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8202

SOCR8015 - Human Research Ethics & Integrity: Principles & Practice for Social Scientists.

This course aims to provide students with a solid understanding of (a) the principles and practical aspects of ethical conduct in social science research; and (b) the framework to critically assess and improve their own ethical behaviour as well as that of their peers and others. The course is based largely on research-led, problem-based learning, and will help students to develop human research ethics protocols and variation requests with the new ANU ethics system being introduced in 2023.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8015