About this course: The Final Research Project consists of a research study that you will perform in collaboration with fellow learners. Together you will formulate a research hypothesis and design, come up with operationalizations, create manipulation and measurement instruments, collect data, perform statistical analyses and document the results. In this course you will go through the entire research process and will be able to help determine what research question we will investigate and how we design and perform the research. This is an invaluable experience if you want to be able to critically evaluate scientific research in the social and behavioral sciences or design and perform your own studies in the future.
Created by: University of Amsterdam
Taught by: Annemarie Zand Scholten, Assistant Professor
Economics and Business
| Basic Info | Course 5 of 5 in the Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences Specialization |
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 6 weeks of project work; week 1-3: 3-5 hours / week; week 4-6: 4 - 8 hours / week |
| Language | English |
| Hardware Req | You'll need a computer where you can install the free statistical software package R. |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
About the Final Research Project
This section provides all the general course information. You can find info on how this very special final research project is organized, what the important deadlines are, and how the grading works.
1 video, 7 readings
- Reading: Hi there...
- Video: ... and welcome to the Final Research Project!
- Discussion Prompt: Let's get to know each other!
- Reading: General info - What will I learn in this course?
- Reading: Course format - How is this course structured?
- Reading: Requirements - What resources do I need?
- Reading: Grading - How do I pass this course?
- Reading: Team - Who created this course?
- Reading: Honor Code - Integrity in this course
Preparing for Milestone 1 - Choosing a research topic
In this section you will select a research topic in preparation of reaching your first milestone - formulating a general research hypothesis and design. Make sure you choose well, you will be working on the research topic you select here for the next six weeks!
1 video, 2 readings
- Video: Preparing for Milestone 1 - Research topic
- Reading: Instruction - How to choose a research topic
- Reading: General information and literature (DC)
Graded: Comprehension (DC)
Milestone 1 - General hypothesis and design
In this section you will work on Milestone 1 - formulating a general hypothesis and design.
1 video, 1 reading
- Video: Milestone 1 - General hypothesis and design
- Reading: Instruction - How to formulate a general hypothesis and design
- Discussion Prompt: Submit Milestone 1 for voting (DC)
Graded: Milestone 1 (DC)
WEEK 2
Milestone 2 - Design, operationalizations and expectations
In this module - based on the general hypothesis and design selected by popular vote - you will work on Milestone 2 and create a more detailed design.
1 video, 3 readings
- Reading: Submit and vote to select a general hypothesis and design
- Reading: Voting results for Milestone 1
- Video: Milestone 2 - Design, operationalizations and expectations
- Reading: Instruction - How to formulate a more specific design with operationalizations and expectations
- Discussion Prompt: Submit Milestone 2 for voting (DC)
Graded: Milestone 2 (DC)
WEEK 3
Milestone 3 - Measurement and manipulation material
In this module - based on the detailed design selected by popular vote - you will work on Milestone 3 and help to create the instruments that we will use to measure and manipulate the variables in our study.
1 video, 3 readings
- Reading: Submit and vote to select a detailed design
- Reading: Voting results for Milestone 2
- Video: Milestone 3 - Measurement and manipulation material
- Reading: Instruction - How to create measurement and manipulation material
- Discussion Prompt: Submit Milestone 3 measurement material for voting (DC)
- Discussion Prompt: Submit Milestone 3 manipulation material for voting (DC)
Graded: Milestone 3 (DC)
WEEK 4
Milestone 4 - Data collection, methods documentation and analysis plan
In this module - based on the measurement and manipulation material selected by popular vote - you will work on Milestone 4 and document the methods and material used to perform the study and you will create a statistical analysis plan.
1 video, 3 readings
- Reading: Submit and vote to select measurement and manipulation material
- Reading: Voting results for Milestone 3
- Video: Milestone 4 - Data collection, methods documentation and analysis plan
- Reading: Instruction - How to document methods and create an analysis plan
- LTI Item: Optional R practice area to work on your analysis plan
Graded: Milestone 4 (DC)
WEEK 5
Milestone 5 - Statistical analysis
In this module you will work on Milestone 5 and perform and document the final statistical analyses.
1 video, 1 reading
- Video: Milestone 5 - Statistical analysis
- Reading: Instruction - How to create the final statistical analysis syntax
- LTI Item: Optional R practice area to work on your final analysis plan
Graded: Milestone 5 (DC)
WEEK 6
Milestone 6 - Report of the results
In this module you will work on Milestone 6 - the final milestone! - and report the results of your research study.
1 video, 1 reading
- Video: Milestone 6 - Report of the results
- Reading: Instruction - How to report the results
Graded: Milestone 6 (DC)
WEEK 7
Putting it all together (catch-up week)
In this module we'll reflect on the outcome of our study and look back on the entire research process. If you're behind schedule submitting your last milestone assignments, there's still time to catch-up!
1 reading
- Reading: Putting it all together
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the results - Disgust and Conservatism
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the results - Health Persuasion
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the results - Stereotype Threat
WEEK 8
Reflection (catch-up week)
In this final module we'll reflect on this final research project course and the entire specialization. Last chance to catch-up and give us feedback!
2 readings
- Reading: Reflection on the course and specialization
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the Final Research Project
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the Specialization
- Reading: The end...
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
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Creators
University of Amsterdam
A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam
(UvA) traces its roots back to 1632, when the Golden Age school Athenaeum
Illustre was established to train students in trade and philosophy. Today,
with more than 30,000 students, 5,000 staff and 285 study programmes
(Bachelor's and Master's), many of which are taught in English, and a
budget of more than 600 million euros, it is one of the largest
comprehensive universities in Europe. It is a member of the League of
European Research Universities and also maintains intensive contact with
other leading research universities around the world.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
Very cool, hands-on course :)
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I would like to see here some of the most related videos from the other modules. For example, in the 4th and 5th milestones, using R was a little tricky because I forgot most of the commands and had to go back to learn. Inferential statistics videos could help also on milestone 5 and 6.