Tilburg University Summer School

We offer you intensive academic summer courses (ECTS Accredited) combined with cultural and social activities.

Statistics and Research Methods

  • Arrival day: 12 July 2012
  • Welcome day: 13 July 2012 (compulsory)
  • Course period: 16 July - 10 August 2012
  • Course load: 12 ECTS
  • Course coordinator: Luc van Baest
  • Target group: This course is only available for applicants accepted onto a (Research) Master’s program at the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences beginning on 1 September 2012. Students who are required to participate will be notified in their letter of acceptance for the Master’s program.
  • Schedule: Lessons from 09:00 - 11:00 and from 13:00 - 17:00. Work might need to be done during the break. Additional homework to be done outside these hours may also be required.

Course information
This four week course has been created exclusively for international students with a deficiency in more advanced topics in methodology and statistics who have been admitted to a (Research) Master’s program at the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The first week covers topics on social science research methodology. The second and third weeks cover topics on regression analysis and analysis of variance. The final week will cover topics on measurement in the social and behavioral sciences.

What should you do at home before entering the course?
We expect you to have very good knowledge of descriptive statistics and especially hypothesis testing. These topics will not be taught in this course, but are vital for comprehending the techniques covered in the Summer School course. It is very important, therefore, that you study the first nine chapters of the book below by Agresti and Franklin thoroughly before arrival to refresh your knowledge of these topics. Because the course addresses more advanced topics in methodology and statistics, it should be emphasized that this intensive course is not suitable for students who lack adequate knowledge of descriptive statistics and statistical hypothesis testing prior to beginning the course.

Compulsory Reading
1. Agresti & Franklin., Statistics: the art and science of learning from data. (Second edition)., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education., 2007.
2. Lecture sheets (further information will be given during the course).

For more information, please see the Tilburg University Electronic Studyguide.
If you have any questions regarding the content of the course, you can contact Luc van Baest by email: Luc van Baest. Website Departement of Methodology and Statistics

Admission
All (Research) Master's programs at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences strongly emphasize research methods and statistics throughout the duration of the program. It is therefore of great importance that students starting a social science (Research) Master's program have a solid background in these topics. International candidates who meet the (Research) Master’s program entry requirements but lack sufficient background in methodology and statistics, will be required to attend the Summer School course on Statistics and Research Methods. Successful completion of this course (i.e. having attended and passed all parts of the course) is a prerequisite for successful completion of the (Research) Master's program and receiving your Master's degree.

To decide the most appropriate educational program for you at our School, you may be asked to complete an Advisory Test on research methods. If so, this will be sent to you via e-mail with full instructions.

Students cannot apply independently to follow this course, but must be invited to do so by the Admission Committee.

Costs
There is no charge for participation in this course. However, there may be costs for participation in some social activities offered by the Tilburg University Summer School. You are also responsible for your own living expenses during the duration of the course.

Registration
If you are required to participate in this course by the Admission Committee, you must register for (and participate in) the Summer School course in order to begin the (Research) Master’s program on 1 September 2012. To register, please complete the Summer School application form and follow the instructions regarding payment in order to complete your registration by 1 June 2012..

More information
For more information, please send an e-mail to the Tilburg University Summer School.