Lancaster-Warwick-Stirling node

The lack of quantitatively trained researchers in the social sciences, and in education in particular, is a recognised national issue (TES, 27/01/06). Training new researchers in the appropriate and effective use of quantitative methods is an important priority within education. The aim will be to support and develop the Quantitative Methods research training that PhD students at the Institute of Education, University of Warwick receive by developing web-based teaching materials, focussed on substantive educational research questions, to widen access to training for new educational researchers. The materials will be piloted with PhD students at the University of Warwick but it is anticipated the materials will ultimately be publically available.

The materials to be developed will focus on the use of regression analyses (linear, binary and ordinal) in the context of some of the substantial educational issues arising from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE).  The LSYPE is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and is tracking a nationally representative sample of over 15,000 pupils, originally recruited at age 13/14 in 2004 through to age 25 in 2015. This highly detailed and innovative study provides an important new national resource to address substantive issues of relevance to the education of young people in England today. Data from Waves 1 to 3 will be utilised in developing the training materials.

The content of the materials to be developed will focus on the use of multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression and ordered logistic regression in the context of some of the substantial educational issues arising from LSYPE. Research questions include: What factors impact on educational attainment in secondary school? Do pupils from different social classes make the same progress during secondary school? Are minority ethnic pupils under-represented in entry to higher tier examinations papers? An example of the kinds of analysis of the LSYPE data can be found in Strand (2007) focussing on the factors impacting on the attainment and progress of minority ethnic groups.

The work will develop web-based materials to take advantage of multi-media methods and to support distance learning for students not able to attend taught sessions. The project will experiment with technologies such as slides, texts, annotated reading lists, software and analysis datasets, simulations, podcasts, video clips, online quizzes.

Target audience

The target audience is full-time and part-time Master's students in quantitative social science research or those studying for MPhil/PhD. The materials may also appeal to professional social science researchers and young academics keen to develop their quantitative methodological skills and knowledge of regression analyses.

Outputs

A website that will assist in the process of learning the value of regression analysis in answering substantive questions in the field of education, and how to implement and complete such analyses using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software.

Timescale

2009/10 academic year: Research assistant starts 1/10/09. Develop training materials and related documentation. Implement the materials as a web-based resource. Pilot the website within the Warwick Institute of Education Advanced Quantitative Methods (ARM3) module. Review and update the website as an ongoing process.

2010/11 academic year: Review and update the final website. Open the website for wider public access.

References

Strand, S. (2007). Minority ethnic pupils in the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England. DCSF Research Report  851/2007: London: Department for Children, Schools and Families.

TES (2006). Dearth of new blood will stifle research, Times Education Supplement, p1, 27^th January 2006.