Learning Outcomes:
What will I learn?
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
1. Identify the key social policy data sources that are available online for Ireland and the EU;
2. Understand what kinds of information those sources contain;
3. Access these sources and locate information within them on particular social policy topics;
4.Extract and download data on these topics;
5. Use Excel spreadsheets to organise the data and present them in graphs and tables;
6. Apply basic descriptive statistics in Excel;
7. Write short descriptive accounts of what the data reveal.
How will I learn?
The course delivery is a mix of lectures and hands-on computer workshops in small groups. In the blended format live sessions are supported with in-depth pre-recorded lectures and tutorials online.
Indicative Module Content:
The key aim of the module is to introduce students to social science data analysis. Throughout the module the main example are drawn from analysing the labour market which includes unemployment, education level, gender pay gap, occupational segregation, female managers and the effects of Covid-19 on employment levels. With a focus on Ireland all data analysis has a European perspective.