Data Analysis for Global Challenges (038IRS)

30 credits, Level 6

Spring teaching

This module is for you if you don’t have a background in data or statistical analysis.

The ability to work with large datasets is becoming a core skill in social science training and related career pathways. Focusing on key socio-environmental challenges, this module offers a hands-on introduction to basic data analysis for students adverse to numbers and statistics. You’ll learn:

  • where to access and how to use data on key social and environmental dynamics
  • to examine the relation between different socio-environmental trends
  • to analyse large textual data
  • to read tables that report statistical results
  • to communicate/visualise the findings of your research.

While working with socio-environmental data, you’ll deepen your understanding of the interaction between economic and environmental crises in the context of sustainability transition. 

Teaching

100%: Practical (Project, Workshop)

Assessment

70%: Coursework (Group presentation, Project)
30%: Written assessment (Project)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 267 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.