Quantitative Research Methods

The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to basic concepts in statistics and the theoretical foundations for basic statistics that are relevant across most branches of the health sciences. The objective is to introduce the students to descriptive statistics e. g. central tendency and dispersion as well as to inferential statistics based on probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and scientific study designs. Furthermore, the course teaches t-test, correlation analysis and basics for regression analyses.

PhD students, students at a Student Research Program or holders of a Norwegian master´s degree of five years or 3+ 2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted.

PhD students from other universities must upload a document from their home institution stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.

Holders of a Master´s degree must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English.

Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countries

For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document:

Proficiency in english - PhD level studies

It is recommended that you take this course early in your PhD study and after having taken HEL-8010.

Knowledge

By the end of this course, the candidate has knowledge that enables him/her to:

• organize the basic concepts in statistics, such as central tendency and variance and be able to discuss their theoretical foundations
• be able to judge types of probability distributions
• be able to organize different study designs
• discuss the concept of a confidence interval
• discuss the principle behind a significance test
• is able to check the assumptions for performing t-tests

skills and competence

By the end of this course, the candidate has skills that enables him/her to:

• conduct a hypothesis test comparing two means (t-test)
• carrying out a correlation/partial correlation analysis and reporting the results according to publication standards, and interpreting the results
• perform simple regression analyses
• report the results of a statistical analysis according to publication standards
• to calculate effect sizes and p values

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• HEL-8012 Quantitative Research Methods 3 stp

The course consists of four full teaching days and combines introductory lectures with exercises/examples for group work or plenary discussions. A high degree of participant involvement and activity is expected.

The topics for the four days will be:

Day 1: Variables and research/study design

Day 2: Descriptive statistics, probability, sampling and distributions

Day 3: Correlations/partial correlations and regression

Day 4: Hypothesis testing and significance testing, t-test

Language of instruction and examination

PhD students and students at the Student Research Program at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway register for class and exam by February 1 s

Other applicants apply by December 1st. Application code 9303 in Søknadsweb.

Assessment

Written exam graded as pass/fail. The exam will contain a mixture of multiple choice questions and open-ended questions. Length of exam: 2 hours.

No re-sit exam will be given as the course is given continuously.