Social Research Methods and Statistics (Taught)

Data skills are invaluable across many fields including the social sciences. Critically producing and analysing statistics can help us to study human behaviour in their social environments. With the overwhelming amount of available information in the modern world, this programme provides a skillset to navigating successfully in various future careers.

Our MSc in Social Research Methods and Statistics provides comprehensive training in the practical application of quantitative methods and software. We’ll teach you to use statistical analysis software such as R, SPSS and Stata to ask and answer crucial questions, like:

• How are societies changing ?

• What is the impact of wealth disparities ?

• Is society becoming more tolerant of diversity?

• How do people cope with financial hardship?

• Social statistics and quantitative data analysis are key tools for understanding society and how government policies affect different groups of people.

Via mandatory course units, you’ll learn key skills such as statistical analysis and modelling, survey design, research design, and more. We focus on a range of important subject areas including social inequalities, population dynamics and survey methodology. You can deepen your own research interests with a choice of elective units.

Our innovative programme is taught by expert academics, both with practical experience of the research fields and a real passion for enhancing your learning experience.

This course is eligible for the 1+3 studentship offered by the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), offering a unique, fully-funded route into postgraduate research. If your application is successful, you’ll be able to seamlessly transition from master's-level study to a PhD.

Because the MSc is designed with a research focus, a successful completion will support PhD applications from many UK and worldwide funding organisations.

My master’s degree provides a good foundation of statistical and research methods, and I have really enjoyed the course units on more advanced statistical methods.

Emily Buehler / MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics student