Statistics Training and ESRC

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Statistics Training and ESRC

• Chris Skinner
• National Centre for Research Methods
• University of Southampton

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Background

• 'critical deficit in quantitative skills within
  the UK
• Commission on the Social Sciences (2003)
• quantitative social science a strategically
  important and vulnerable subject
• HEFCE (2005)

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Capacity Concerns

• shortages of people and skills
• quality of research

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Challenges

• to promote interest in quantitative research,
  motivation to take up opportunities for training
  and development
• to provide opportunities for training and
  development, which address needs

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ESRC Initiatives Postgraduate

• training guidelines
• studentships (enhanced stipend of 3k for
  advanced quantitative methods)

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ESRC Programmes and Centres

• Analysis of Large and Complex Datasets
• Centre for Applied Social Surveys
• Research Methods Programme
• National Centre for Research Methods
• Researcher Development Initiative
• Quantitative Methods

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Other ESRC

• Training linked to data resources, e.g.
• Economic and Social Data Service
• Training linked to programmes, e.g.
• Survey Design and Measurement
• Understanding Population Trends and Processes
• Teaching and Learning Research Programme

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National Centre for Research Methods

• Hub at University of Southampton
• 6 Nodes including
• LEMMA (multilevel modelling) Bristol
• Lancaster/Warwick (modelling)
• BIAS (Bayesian methods) Imperial College
• Courses in Applied Social Surveys (CASS)
  (Southampton)

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NCRM/CASS introductory courses

• Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
• Exploring Relationships
• Regression Methods for Survey Data
• Essentials of Survey Design and Implementation
• Generalised Linear Models
• Intro. to Multilevel Modelling
• Intro. to Bayesian Inference using WinBUGS
• Workshops at BERA, BSA etc.

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NCRM/CASS more specialized courses/workshops 1

• Structural Equation Modelling
• Longitudinal Data Analysis
• Duration Analysis
• Event History Analysis
• Bayesian Spatial Modelling
• Spatial Data Analysis with R

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NCRM/CASS more specialized courses/workshops 2

• Recent Advances in Multilevel Modelling
• Multilevel Discrete Event History Analysis
• Bayesian Hierarchical Models using WinBUGS
• Bootstrap Methods and their Application
• Multi-dimensional Scaling

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NCRM/CASS more specialized courses/workshops 3

• Methods for Missing Data
• Questionnaire Design
• Design and Implementation of Telephone Surveys
• Data Linkage Exploring the Potential

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Researcher Development Initiative

• Essex Summer School in Social Science Data
  Analysis and Collection
• Longitudinal Data Analysis for Social Science
  Researchers
• Tools and Training for Analysis of Multilevel
  Data with Missing Observations
• Scottish Social Survey Network

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Issues in Training

• methods of training and adult learning
• courses, ICT e-learning, mentoring
• embedding training in different research contexts
  and career trajectories
• problem-based learning
• discipline-based or cross-disciplinary

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Training infrastructure

• cascade models, training trainers, adding value
• consumer-led or producer-led funding
• regional vs. national (ESRC Regional Training
  Centres)
• ESRC/EPSRC
• academic/non-academic
• timing issues, e.g. annual courses, sustainability

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Issues of Level

• heterogeneity of backgrounds
• provision at different levels
• progression

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Challenges for NCRM

• developing and supporting
• a national training infrastructure
• (beyond PG level)

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Coordinating Challenges for NCRM

• information and communications
• framework/curricula (building on PG training
  guidelines)
• levels, pre-requisites and self-assessment
• accreditation, CAT

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• Training the Trainers supporting the teaching of
  research methods to postgraduate students in the
  social sciences
• Monday 4 June, Royal Statistical Society
• National Centre for Research Methods
  www.ncrm.ac.uk
• Researcher Development Initiative www.rdi.ac.uk