Data Capability and Opportunity
Description
The aim of this micro-credential is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to critically engage with the design and delivery of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations.
Topics
- Identifying an evaluation question
- Quasi-experimental evaluation methods
- Trial design and analysis
- Incorporating qualitative information into evaluations
- Using administrative and linked datasets for evaluation
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion, enrollee's will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Specify an evaluation or causal question related to the policy process that is answerable using empirical methods
- Communicate and critique existing evaluations in a rigorous manner
- Understand the assumptions, strengths and limitations of the main techniques for experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations
- Design or critique an evaluation plan using the material covered in the course.
Indicative assessment
Assignment 1 – Introductions and identification of causal research question (500 words, 20% of final mark) LO: 1, 2
Assignment 2 – Research design (1,500 words, 80% of final mark) LO: 3, 4, 5
Assumed knowledge
This micro-credential is taught at graduate level and assumes the generic skills of a Bachelors or equivalent.
Micro-credential stack information
This micro-credential may be undertaken as a stand-alone course.
Details
Course Code: DATA011
Workload: 22 hours
- Contact hours: 7 hours
- Individual study and assessment: 15 hours
ANU unit value: 1 unit
AQF Level: 8
Contact: Prof Nicholas Biddle
This Micro-credential is taught at a graduate level. This is not an AQF qualification.
Description
Many research questions can be answered by using either quantitative research methods or qualitative research methods. However, many other research questions are best approached by using a mixed methods design. This micro-credential will summarise the key aspects of quantitative and qualitative mixed methods, and use a number of example research projects to discuss how they can be combined to answer key social research questions.
Topics
- Parallel mixed methods - Qualitative or quantitative research done separately with results compared at the end
- Sequential or iterative mixed methods – Interaction between qualitative and quantitative research/researchers throughout (e.g. Use qualitative research to obtain understanding of issues; construct a survey instrument that integrates understanding; derive hypotheses and test using survey data)
- Quasi-mixed methods – Culturally informed quantitative research/Empirically informed qualitative research
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion, enrollee's will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Evaluate the main strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research methods
- Evaluate the main strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research methods
- Critique existing empirical research based on the choice of methodology
- Differentiate between research questions which rely on cross-sectional survey data, longitudinal survey data, and qualitative data
- Design a mixed-methods research project on an important social research question
Indicative assessment
Assignment 1 – Introductions and identification of research question (500 words, 20% of final mark) LO: 1, 2
Assignment 2 – Research design (1,500 words, 80% of final mark) LO: 3, 4, 5
Assumed knowledge
This micro-credential is taught at graduate level and assumes the generic skills of a Bachelors or equivalent.
Micro-credential stack information
This micro-credential may be undertaken as a stand-alone course.
Details
Course Code: DATA13
Workload: 22 hours
- Contact hours: 7 hours
- Individual study and assessment: 15 hours
ANU unit value: 1 unit
AQF Level: 8
Contact: Prof Nicholas Biddle
This Micro-credential is taught at a graduate level. This is not an AQF qualification.
Description
Policymakers and planners use projections of the size and structure of the population to gauge future human resources and the demand for infrastructure and services. This short-form micro-credential introduces the method used to project populations by age and sex. The micro-credential is aimed at analysts, policymakers, and planners in all sectors employing population data, such as education, labour force, health and social care. Participants will gain hands-on experience accessing relevant data, deriving inputs and applying the projection method.
Topics
- How to derive the projection inputs in terms of future fertility
- Mortality and migration
- Demographic processes affect population change
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion, enrollee's will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Explain the procedure of population projection
- Generate projection inputs in terms of justifiable future series of demographic processes
- Understand the role of demographic processes in changing population structures
Indicative assessment
Take home report-assignment (LO: 1-3): To be delivered a week after the micro-credential. Enrollees will select their topic from a list of possible themes on population projections, provided the day of the course. The report will consist of no more than 1000 words including: title, introduction, data, results, and discussion. It is expected that enrollees include some of the calculations studied in the course.
Assumed knowledge
This micro-credential is taught at graduate level and assumes the generic skills of a Bachelors or equivalent.
Micro-credential stack information
This micro-credential may be undertaken as a stand-alone course.
Details
Course Code: DATA14
Workload: 22 hours
- Contact hours: 7 hours
- Individual study and assessment: 15 hours
ANU unit value: 1 unit
AQF Level: 8
Contact: Prof Nicholas Biddle
This Micro-credential is taught at a graduate level. This is not an AQF qualification.