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Quantitative Methods
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 30 hours
  • Course by University of Amsterdam
  • Offered by

About

Discover the principles of solid scientific methods in the behavioral and social sciences. Join us and learn to separate sloppy science from solid research! This course will cover the fundamental principles of science, some history and philosophy of science, research designs, measurement, sampling and ethics. The course is comparable to a university level introductory course on quantitative research methods in the social sciences, but has a strong focus on research integrity. We will use examples from sociology, political sciences, educational sciences, communication sciences and psychology.

Modules

Introduction

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Undecided? See why you should join!
  • Welcome to quantitative methods!

3 Readings

  • Hi there!
  • How to navigate this course
  • How to contribute

What to expect from this course

    • 6 Readings
Show info about module content

6 Readings

  • General info - What will I learn in this course?
  • Course format - How is this course structured?
  • Requirements - What resources do I need?
  • Grading - How do I pass this course?
  • Contact - How do I stay informed?
  • Team - Who created this course?

Origins - What science is

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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3 Videos

  • 1.01 Non-scientific Methods
  • 1.02 Scientific Method
  • 1.03 Scientific Claims

3 Readings

  • What makes knowledge scientific?
  • What are the essential qualities of a systematic method?
  • What's the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?

Origins - A very short origin story

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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3 Videos

  • 1.04 Classical Period
  • 1.05 Enlightenment
  • 1.06 Modern Science

1 Readings

  • Who developed the scientific method and when?

Origins - Philosophy of science

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 1.07 Epistemology
  • 1.08 Ontology
  • 1.09 Approaches
  • 1.10 Goals

2 Readings

  • What is your philosophy of science?
  • Do you prefer your science hard or soft?

Origins - Review

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Origins

1 Peer Review

  • Origins - OPTIONAL Writing Assignment (Evaluative)

2 Readings

  • Honor Code - Integrity in this course
  • Transcripts: Origins

Origins - Interview (bonus!)

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • Origins - Interview - Gerben Moerman (Part 1 of 4)
  • Origins - Interview - Gerben Moerman (Part 2 of 4)
  • Origins - Interview - Gerben Moerman (Part 3 of 4)
  • Origins - Interview - Gerben Moerman (Part 4 of 4)

1 Readings

  • About the interview

Scientific Method - The method

    • 4 Videos
    • 4 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 2.01 Empirical Cycle
  • 2.02 (Dis)confirmation
  • 2.03 Criteria
  • 2.04 Causality

4 Readings

  • What would be your 'recipe' for the scientific method?
  • What will it take for you to accept a hypothesis?
  • What do you look for in a good research study?
  • How do you identify what caused an effect?

Scientific Method - Threats to internal validity

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 2.05 Internal Validity Threats: Participants
  • 2.06 Internal Validity Threats: Instruments
  • 2.07 Internal Validity Threats: Artificiality
  • 2.08 Internal Validity Threats: Research setup

1 Readings

  • What makes a causal explanation less likely?

Scientific Method - Relevant types of variables

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • 2.09 Variables of Interest
  • 2.10 Variables of Disinterest

1 Readings

  • What different relations and roles can variables have?

Scientific Method - Review

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Informed Consent Form
  • Scientific Method

1 Peer Review

  • Scientific Method - Writing Assignment (Creative)

1 Readings

  • Transcripts: Scientific Method

Scientific Method - Interview (bonus!)

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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3 Videos

  • Scientific Method - Interview - Marjan Bakker (Part 1 of 3)
  • Scientific Method - Interview - Marjan Bakker (Part 2 of 3)
  • Scientific Method - Interview - Marjan Bakker (Part 3 of 3)

1 Readings

  • About the interview

Research Designs - Ways to compare

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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3 Videos

  • 3.01 True Experiments
  • 3.02 Factorial Designs
  • 3.03 Repeated Measures

2 Readings

  • What are the essential features of a true experiment?
  • What are other ways of comparing?

Research Designs - It's all about control

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 3.04 Manipulation
  • 3.05 Lab vs. Field
  • 3.06 Randomization
  • 3.07 Experimental Designs

2 Readings

  • How do manipulation and control work (in the lab vs the field)?
  • What experimental designs can you think of?

Research Designs - What if we have no control?

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 3.08 Matching
  • 3.09 Quasi-Experimental Designs
  • 3.10 Correlational Designs
  • 3.11 Other Designs

2 Readings

  • What if you cannot assign randomly?
  • What if you can't manipulate either?

Research Designs - Review

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Research Designs

1 Peer Review

  • Research Designs - Writing Assignment (Evaluative)

1 Readings

  • Transcripts: Research Designs

Research Designs - Interview (bonus!)

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Research Designs - Interview - Maarten Bos (Part 1 of 4)
  • Research Designs - Interview - Maarten Bos (Part 2 of 4)
  • Research Designs - Interview - Maarten Bos (Part 3 of 4)
  • Research Designs - Interview - Maarten Bos (Part 4 of 4)

1 Readings

  • About the interview

Measurement - What is it?

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 4.01 Operationalization
  • 4.02 Measurement Structure
  • 4.03 Measurement Levels
  • 4.04 Variable Types

2 Readings

  • How do you measure something?
  • What is measurement exactly?

Measurement - How do we assess its quality?

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • 4.05 Measurement Validity
  • 4.06 Measurement Reliability

1 Readings

  • How do you know whether you have used the right instrument?

Measurement - How do we measure?

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 4.07 Survey, Questionnaire, Test
  • 4.08 Scales and Response Options
  • 4.09 Response and Rater Bias
  • 4.10 Other Measurement Types

1 Readings

  • How are measures constructed and what are their features?

Measurement - Review

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Measurement

1 Peer Review

  • Measurement - Writing Assignment (Creative)

1 Readings

  • Transcripts: Measurement

Measurement - Interview (bonus!)

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Measurement - Interview - Andries van der Ark (Part 1 of 4)
  • Measurement - Interview - Andries van der Ark (Part 2 of 4)
  • Measurement - Interview - Andries van der Ark (Part 3 of 4)
  • Measurement - Interview - Andries van der Ark (Part 4 of 4)

1 Readings

  • About the interview

Sampling - What is it?

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • 5.01 External Validity Threats
  • 5.02 Sampling Concepts

1 Readings

  • How are samples used for generalization?

Sampling - What types are there?

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 5.03 Probability Sampling
  • 5.04 Probability Sampling - Simple
  • 5.05 Probability Sampling - Complex
  • 5.06 Non-Probability Sampling

2 Readings

  • Why would you use probability sampling?
  • Why would you use non-probability sampling?

Sampling - Random and systematic error

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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3 Videos

  • 5.07 Sampling Error
  • 5.08 Non-Sampling Error
  • 5.09 Sample Size

2 Readings

  • To what extent does a sample reflect the population?
  • How large should your sample be?

Sampling - Review

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Sampling

1 Peer Review

  • Sampling - Writing assignment (Evaluative)

1 Readings

  • Transcripts: Sampling

Sampling - Interview (bonus!)

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Sampling - Interview - Armén Hakhverdian (Part 1 of 4)
  • Sampling - Interview - Armén Hakhverdian (Part 2 of 4)
  • Sampling - Interview - Armén Hakhverdian (Part 3 of 4)
  • Sampling - Interview - Armén Hakhverdian (Part 4 of 4)

1 Readings

  • About the interview

Practice, Ethics & Integrity - It starts with record-keeping

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • 6.01 Documentation
  • 6.02 Data Management

1 Readings

  • How would you manage and store your data?

Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Ethics towards participants and society

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • 6.03 Unethical Studies
  • 6.04 Ethics Towards Participants

1 Readings

  • How do we make sure participants are treated ethically?

Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Sloppy vs. solid science

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 6.05 Research Integrity
  • 6.06 Questionable Research Practices
  • 6.07 Peer Review Process
  • 6.08 Dissemination Problems

2 Readings

  • How do we make sure researchers behave ethically and with integrity?
  • What about ethics in the publication process?

Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Review

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice, Ethics & Integrity

2 Peer Review

  • Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Writing assignment (Creative)
  • Practice, Ethics & Integrity - OPTIONAL Writing assignment (Evaluative)

1 Videos

  • 6.extra Milgram's Obedience Study (see OPTIONAL assignment)

1 Readings

  • Transcripts: Practice, Ethics & Integrity

Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Interview (bonus!)

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • Interview - Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Jelte Wicherts (Part 1 of 4)
  • Interview - Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Jelte Wicherts (Part 2 of 4)
  • Interview - Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Jelte Wicherts (Part 3 of 4)
  • Interview - Practice, Ethics & Integrity - Jelte Wicherts (Part 4 of 4)

1 Readings

  • About the interview

Practice exam

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Practice Exam 1 - immediate feedback
  • Practice Exam 2 - feedback in screencasts

1 Peer Review

  • Final Writing Assignment - (Evaluative)

3 Videos

  • Screencast Practice Exam 2 - Questions 1-10
  • Screencast Practice Exam 2 - Questions 11-20
  • Screencast Practice Exam 2 - Questions 21-30

1 Readings

  • Transcripts: All modules

Final Exam

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final Exam

1 Readings

  • Bonus material - presentations on research integrity

Auto Summary

Discover the essentials of scientific methods in behavioral and social sciences with "Quantitative Methods" on Coursera. Led by expert instructors, this foundational course dives into research design, measurement, sampling, and ethics, emphasizing research integrity. With content comparable to a university-level introductory course, learners will explore practical examples from sociology, political sciences, psychology, and more. Ideal for those in Data Science & AI, the course is available through Starter, Professional, and Paid subscriptions, and takes approximately 1800 minutes to complete.

Annemarie Zand Scholten
Instructor

Annemarie Zand Scholten