Multivariate Methods for Social Researchers

The focus of this workshop is on tools dealing with many variables (multivariate analysis): building models with several variables and reducing complexity (data reduction). The focus is methodological, conceptual and practical, oriented towards the application of these tools to typical analysis problems in social research. Statistical tools are only useful and meaningful when they serve a research project based on a well-defined theoretical framework (research question, research design, hypotheses) and good-quality data.

Workshop topics

1. Review of univariate and bivariate statistics, statistical inference and the concepts of empirical research in the social sciences
2. Multiple linear regression; regression assumptions and diagnosis; analysis of residuals
3. Building models
4. Regression with categorical variables, logistic regression and related techniques
5. Unidimensional and multidimensional scaling: Likert, Guttman scales, data reduction (Principal component analytics, factor analysis)

The various tools will be presented and discussed using numerous examples. Participants will then apply these tools in the context of their group projects (Software used: IBM SPSS Statistics).

At the end of the workshop, active participants should be able to

- Apply the various statistical tools to their own research projects within a well-designed and defined, theoretically grounded, as well as realistic (i.e. applicable) framework.
- Understand and critically assess publications in their scientific field reporting results based on statistical techniques.

Course leader

Eugène Horber is a professor emeritus of methodology at the Department of Political Science and International relations, University of Geneva, as well as an affiliated researcher at FORS.

Target group

graduate students, doctoral researchers, early career researchers in social sciences

Prerequisites:
Background in basic statistics and statistical software. You should be able to perform basic statistical analyses using statistical software (SPSS). If this is not the case or you are unsure, consider attending the 3-day preliminary workshop Statistics with SPSS for Social Scientists as mandatory for you.

Course aim

To provide participants with:

1. Sound foundations of knowledge and skills with statistical tools applied to the Social Sciences for participants who had an introductory course in statistics and need to go beyond basics.
2. Practical skills with data and statistical software, as well as awareness of both the potential and the shortcomings and limitations (assumptions, pitfalls) of commonly used statistical tools.
3. Understanding of the importance of embedding the use of statistical tools in a complete research process, from the initial research question to data collection and analytics, as well as reporting the results.

Credits info

The Summer School cannot grant credits. We only deliver a Certificate of Participation, i.e. we certify your attendance.

If you consider using Summer School workshops to obtain credits (ECTS), you will have to investigate at your home institution (contact the person/institute responsible for your degree) to find out whether they recognise the Summer School, how many credits can be earned from a workshop/course with roughly 35 hours of teaching, no graded work, and no exams.

Make sure to investigate this matter before registering if this is important to you.

Fee info

CHF 700: Reduced fee: 700 Swiss Francs per weekly workshop for students (requires proof of student status).
CHF 1100: Normal fee: 1100 Swiss Francs per weekly workshop for all others.