What is the Quantitative Methods Initiative?
A key part of ESRC's research methods strategy is to combat the skills deficit in quantitative research methods across the social science research base. ESRC has been working in collaboration to develop a strategy to address the current shortages. More recently these efforts have been given added momentum through significant co-funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
The strategy recognises that there is a need to enhance quantitative skills across the full breadth of the 'educational lifecourse', from building new capacity at the undergraduate level to refreshing the quantitative skills of mid-career academics that teach undergraduates and supervise PhD students ('training the trainers').
For further details, please see the National Strategy for Building a World Class Social Science Research Base in Quantitative Methods
About the Quantitative Methods Initiative
Through the Quantitative Methods Initiative, the strategy aims to:
- create a comprehensive and co-ordinated training framework in quantitative methods at each level of the educational life course;
- integrate training to create a national training infrastructure which builds quantitative skills development at each stage of the educational life course;
- create a framework which is flexible enough to meet the particular skill requirements of individual researchers
Undergraduate Activities
Undergraduate Pilot Projects
To date much of the work on the undergraduate activities strand of the strategy has been evidence gathering (see Consultancy Reports, below) and pilot studies. In 2006, ESRC commissioned a series of pilot projects specifically focused on testing new and different approaches to teaching quantitative methods, to establish which are most effective. Details of the projects are given below:
Strategic Advisor on the Undergraduate Teaching of Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Professor John MacInnes, University of Edinburgh was appointed in January 2009, to develop a coherent programme of activity aimed at enhancing undergraduate teaching of quantitative methods across the social sciences. The programme builds upon the undergraduate pilot projects and evaluation of these projects will help shape the direction of the programme. His main tasks included the scoping of best practice, analysis of the undergraduate curricula pilot projects and consultation and networking with funders and stakeholders.
The ESRC received the final report from Professor MacInnes in December 2009, and it is available below.
Social Science by Numbers: Careers with quantitative methods
This guide aims to encourage social science students to use quantitative methods in their studies and careers.
Postgraduate Activities
Since 2006 the ESRC has provided an enhanced stipend for students whose postgraduate training is focused on the use of advanced quantitative methods. The aim of the enhanced stipend has been to support recruitment by encouraging a greater volume of good quality students to train in the use of quantitative tools and techniques and then apply them in their doctoral studies.
Mid Career Reskilling
WISERD is an interdisciplinary research centre co-funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) to draw together and build upon the existing expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and methodologies at Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Bangor and Glamorgan Universities. WISERD will embark on an ambitious data integration, primary research and capacity building programme in Wales.
In July 2009, a Scottish quantitative methods network was created, co-funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The Network aims to embed the existing expertise in Scotland through a planned programme of continuing professional development to enhance the skills and build the confidence of those who are trained to an advanced level in quantitative methods.
Links with other research resources
The NCRM plays an essential role in the strategy to enhance the general skills base in research methods. NCRM is a network of research groups, each conducting research and training in an area of social science research methods. In particular, the Courses for Applied Social Surveys (CASS) form part of the Centre's programme of training courses. The Centre maintains an online Training and Events database that contains up-to-date information about research methods focused training and other events across the UK.
Activities supported under the RDI since 2005 include a range of generic and subject-specific projects focused on advanced and specialist training in quantitative methods, for example, longitudinal data analysis, multi-level modelling and micro-economic forecasting. The ESRC is aiming to embed RDI projects with a quantitative focus into the successful National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) infrastructure.
The previous Survey Link Scheme and Survey Design and Measurement Initiative projects were integrated into the SRN in November 2008. Through further linkages with the National Centre for Research Methods (NRCM), the ESRC aims to bring coherence to the overall training and capacity building and research activities in this area.
Consultancy Reports
Further information:
ESRC contact: claire.feary@esrc.ac.uk Telephone: 01793 442862