Professor Kenneth Benoit & Dr Jack Blumenau

Data Science and Big Data Analytics are exciting new areas that combine scientific inquiry, statistical knowledge and computer programming.

Organisations are turning to customer data in order to innovate and respond quickly to shifts in the market. Meanwhile, Governments are using to data to help guide policy decisions, making this a prime area for social scientists with an interest in quantitative methods.

This course aims to provide an introduction to the quantitative analysis of data, blending classical statistical methods with recent advances in computational and machine learning. You will cover key topics such as the challenges of analysing big data using statistical methods, and how machine learning and data science can aid in knowledge generation and improve decision-making. You will also explore quantitative methods of text analysis, including mining social media and other online resources.

Engaging with leading faculty, you will cover the main analytical methods from this field and the hands-on application of these methods using example datasets. As a result, the course allows you to gain experience and confidence in using the methods covered during the course in different contexts.