Summary/Abstract |
Can quantitative methods training be successfully fused with content courses? With the continuing rise of “Big Data,” familiarity with quantitative research methods is an increasingly necessary skill set in the workplace. This article provides an in-depth “how-to” guide and framework for implementing methods training into content courses. In this program, students (in both lower and upper division courses) carry out dataset construction, along with data analysis, using the R, R commander, and Gretl statistical programs. Tips are provided for addressing issues that instructors and students may face. Finally, discussions and reflections from the course instructor and representative students suggest that integrating quantitative methods training into topical courses can provide students with a greater appreciation and understanding of social scientific research, along with providing them with a toolkit of skills that can be expanded upon and assist them in the job market.
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