Abstract
This paper reports on a quasi-experiment in which quantitative methods (QM) are embedded within a substantive sociology module. Through measuring student attitudes before and after the intervention alongside control group comparisons, we illustrate the impact that embedding has on the student experience. Our findings are complex and even contradictory. Whilst the experimental group were less likely to be distrustful of statistics and appreciate how QM inform social research, they were also less confident about their statistical abilities, suggesting that through ‘doing’ quantitative sociology the experimental group are exposed to the intricacies of method and their optimism about their own abilities is challenged. We conclude that embedding QM in a single substantive module is not a ‘magic bullet’ and that a wider programme of content and assessment diversification across the curriculum is preferential.
DOI
10.1177/0038038515587652
Publication Date
2016-06-01
Publication Title
Sociology
Volume
50
Issue
3
First Page
435
Last Page
452
ISSN
0038-0385
Organisational Unit
University of Plymouth
Recommended Citation
Williams, M., Sloan, L., Cheung, S., Sutton, C., Stevens, S., & Runham, L. (2016) 'Can’t Count or Won’t Count? Embedding Quantitative Methods in Substantive Sociology Curricula', Sociology, 50(3), pp. 435-452. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038515587652
