Module: Data Handling and Technical Writing

Module details

  • Module code

    2133

  • Module leader

    Steve Finch

  • Module Level

    5

  • Module credits

    7.5

  • Min study time

    75 hours

  • Contact hrs

    20 hours

  • Teaching Period

    October – June

Module content

  1.  Introduction to dissertations.
  2. The use of statistics in research projects and dissertations; descriptive stats; organising and presenting data (tables and graphs); data distributions, probability and an introduction to testing hypotheses; parametric stats continued, tests of goodness of fit; analysis of variance and methods for separation of means.
  3. Technical writing skills for dissertations.
  4. Use of statistical software.
  5. Referencing and the Harvard method.
  6. Critical thinking and writing.
  7. Social science methodology.

Module outcomes

To achieve credit for this module, students must be able to:

  1. Retrieve, understand and organise data, and calculate and use descriptive statistics (measures of centre and spread).
  2. Use statistics, charts and tables to provide evidence for statements in a written report.
  3. Evaluate sources of information.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to reference written material correctly.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to think and write in a critical way.

Assessment

Assessment Description Weighting
Coursework 1 x report 100%

Key texts

Students should be familiar with the content of at least one of the following:

  • Morris, C. (2003). Quantitative Approaches in Business Studies. (6th edition). Pearson Education.