Quantitative Research Methods Salzberger

Doktoratsstudium

Quantitative Research Methods

PI 1300: SALZBERGER (Statistics and Mathematics / Marketing Management)
Summer Term 2012

Dates: March 7, 21, 28; April 25; May 7, 16; June 6

General Information

Latest update of this page / News

Latest update May 16, 2012 (new slides added)
Continuously updated preliminary results are published here: Grading.
The directory with the pdf Files is: http://statmath.wu.ac.at/~salzberger/quantmeth/pdfdownloaddirectory/ Please download pdf files from there. All files may only be used for educational purposes during this course. If the download using Mozilla Firefox does not work, try Internet Explorer.
How to get into the seminar room: When glass door is closed, dial 4258, which is the phone in the seminar room.
Registration via WWW/LPIS.

Webpages

Homepage of this course: http://statmath.wu-wien.ac.at/courses/m1bw/m1bw_en.html

Homepage of courses on Quantitative Methods: http://statmath.wu-wien.ac.at/courses/m1bw/m1bw.html
Homepage Thomas Salzberger (teaching): http://statmath.wu.ac.at/~salzberger/

Structure of a Unit

15 min per topic: Written quiz (mostly multiple choice, a few open-ended questions)
60-75 min per topic: Presentation (including practical topic and contents as given below, 30 slides approx)
15-30 min per topic: Discussion
Introductory and final unit take place in 2H410 (Besprechungsraum Statistics), all other classes SR 2.26 (C) except May 7

Text for Presentations

William M.K.Trochim / James P.Donelly: The Research methods Knowledge Base (3rd edition) Atomic Dog.
at URL: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/
Topics for the units: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/contents.php (online version)
The consideration of additional literature is welcome and will earn credits (see presentations)

Learning outcomes

The course conveys fundamentals and basic principles of quantitative empirical research.
At the end of the course, the participants should be able to comprehend quantitative studies and their results,
and critically evaluate and challenge their scientific underpinning as well as design their own quantitative empirical projects.

Topics

Foundations: Language of Research/ Structure of Research/ Introduction to Validity/
Ethics in Research (short)/ Conceptualizing;
Sampling:
External Validity/ Sampling Terminology/ Statistical Terms in Sampling Probability Sampling/ Nonprobability Sampling;
Measurement:
Construct Validity/ Reliability/ Levels of Measurement ;
Survey Research:
Types of Surveys/ Selecting the Survey Method/ Constructing the Survey
Types Of Questions/ Question Content/ Response Format/Question Wording
Question Placement/ Interviews/ Plus & Minus of Survey Methods ;
Scaling + Indexes:
General Issues in Scaling/ Thurstone Scaling
Likert Scaling/ Guttman Scaling;
Design:
Internal Validity/ Establishing Cause & Effect/ Single Group Threats
Regression to the Mean/ Multiple Group Threats/ Social Interaction Threats
Introduction to Design/ Types of Designs;
Experimental Design:
Two-Group Experimental Designs/ Probabilistic Equivalence/ Random Selection & Assignment
Classifying Experimental Designs/ Factorial Designs/ Factorial Design Variations
Randomized Block Designs/ Covariance Designs/ Hybrid Experimental Designs;
Quasi-Experimental Design:
The Nonequivalent Groups Design/ The Regression-Discontinuity Design
Other Quasi-Experimental Designs/ Relationships Among Pre-Post Designs
Designing Designs for Research;
Analysis:
Conclusion Validity/ Threats to Conclusion Validity/Improving Conclusion Validity
Statistical Power/ Data Preparation/ Descriptive Statistics/ Correlation, Inferential Statistics / The T-Test/ Dummy Variables/ General Linear Model
Posttest-Only Analysis/ Factorial Design Analysis/ Randomized Block Analysis/ Analysis of Covariance

Grading

10 mini quizzes (10x10=100)

presentations (number of presentations to be determined in introductory unit; 10 credits per presentation)

Attendance and active participation is required

Current scores are now online: Current score
Grading mode 2 (two presentations): Grading mode 2 (two presentations): 0-66: insufficient; 67-74: 4; 75-84: 3; 85-93: 2; 94+: 1
Grading mode 3 (three presentations): 0-71: insufficient; 72-81: 4; 82-91: 3; 92-101: 2; 102+: 1

Presentations

Presentations should cover the topic of each unit and the keywords (make sure that all keywords are addressed and explained)

Prepare something extra where all can participate or which stimulates a discussion - e.g., a game, an exercise, a practical problem, an illustrations to be discussed (e.g. journal article, research project), an alternative view or alternative terminology (additional literature)

Presentations should be send to thomas.salzberger@wu.ac.at the day before the presentation
Prepare copies of slides for all participants
For all: read text in advance, you should be able to briefly explain the keywords,
you are expected to (and maybe asked to) contribute to the discussion
Grading: Presentation of topic and keywords: 10 points

Schedule


Wednesday, March 7, 2012 14-15:30 2H410 Statistics	Introduction - Organization Particiation required
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 14-18:30	Topic 1 (=chapter 1): [Martin Brenner] Foundations: Language of Research/ Structure of Research/ Introduction to Validity/ Ethics in Research (short)/ Conceptualizing Keywords, Slides (substitute)
	Topic 2 (=chapter 2): TS Sampling: External Validity/ Sampling Terminology/ Statistical Terms in Sampling Probability Sampling/ Nonprobability Sampling Keywords, Slides
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 14-18:30	quizzes on topics 1 and 2 Topic 3 (=chapter 3): Maria Calatrava Measurement: Construct Validity/ Reliability/ Levels of Measurement Keywords, Slides
	Topic 4 (=chapter 4): [Martin Brenner] Survey Research: Types of Surveys/ Selecting the Survey Method/ Constructing the Survey Types Of Questions/ Question Content/ Response Format/Question Wording Question Placement/ Interviews/ Plus & Minus of Survey Methods Keywords, Slides (substitute)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 14-18:30	quizzes on topics 3 and 4 Topic 5 (=chapter 5): Kateryna Kurylchyk Scaling + Indexes: General Issues in Scaling/ Thurstone Scaling Likert Scaling/ Guttman Scaling Keywords, Slides
	Topic 6 (=chapter 7): Maria Calatrava Design: Internal Validity/ Establishing Cause & Effect/ Single Group Threats Regression to the Mean/ Multiple Group Threats/ Social Interaction Threats Introduction to Design/ Types of Designs Keywords, Slides
Monday, May 7, 2012 10-14 SE room Marketing UZA 1 (main building) 3^rd floor, zone C	quizzes on topics 5 and 6 Topic 7 (=chapter 9): Alejandra Barrera de Stowasser Experimental Design: Two-Group Experimental Designs/ Probabilistic Equivalence/ Random Selection & Assignment Classifying Experimental Designs/ Factorial Designs/ Factorial Design Variations Randomized Block Designs/ Covariance Designs/ Hybrid Experimental Designs Keywords, Slides
	Topic 8 (=chapter 10): Kateryna Kurylchyk Quasi-Experimental Design: The Nonequivalent Groups Design/ The Regression-Discontinuity Design Other Quasi-Experimental Designs/ Relationships Among Pre-Post Designs Designing Designs for Research Keywords, Slides
Next unit in room 2.26 (C), main building UZA 1:
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 14-18:00	Quizzes on topics 7 and 8 Topic 9 (=chapter 12): Alejandra Barrera de Stowasser Analysis Part 1: Conclusion Validity/ Threats to Conclusion Validity/Improving Conclusion Validity Statistical Power/ Data Preparation/ Descriptive Statistics/ Correlation Keywords, Slides
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 14-18:00	Topic 10 (=chapter 14): Kateryna Kurylchyk Analysis Part 2: Inferential Statistics / The T-Test/ Dummy Variables/ General Linear Model Posttest-Only Analysis/ Factorial Design Analysis/ Randomized Block Analysis/ Analysis of Covariance Keywords, Slides
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 14-16 Statistics	Final Exams only Quizzes on topics 9 and 10, opportunity to do up to 2 upgrading quizzes and, in addition, two missed quizzes (from 1 to 8) There is no need to notify beforehand the quizzes that you want to retry. Retrying a quiz cancels the result of the first test. Check out the status quo of credits earned to see whether it makes sense to retry quizzes.