Program and courses Methods and Statistics track

Block 1 (August - October)

• Multivariate Analysis including Multilevel Models
  You get an introduction into the classical multivariate methods, particularly regression models, starting with the linear regression model and (M)ANOVA. 
• Foundations of Social Psychology
  Learn how interpersonal situations influence social interaction, how structural aspects of mutual dependence influences cognitions, motivations, affect and behavior. Address topics such as social identity, exclusion and the need to belong, conflict and cooperation, distributive and procedural justice, fairness and self0interest, negotiation, social exchange, and social influence.
• Foundations of Sociology
  Examine different topics related to culture, social relations and inequality from a theoretical sociological perspective. 

Block 2 (October- January)

• Multivariate Analysis including Multilevel Models
  You get an introduction into the classical multivariate methods, particularly regression models, starting with the linear regression model and (M)ANOVA. 
• Foundations of Organization Studies
  Answer two major organizational questions from a theoretical perspective: how to govern organizations and how people and organizations learn about themselves by comparing themselves with others.
• Mathematical Methods
  Study differential and integral calculus, matrix algebra and probability and statistical inference.

Block 3 (January - April)

• Experimental Research
  Discuss every stage of experimental research.
• Survey Research
  Learn how to conduct survey research.
• Programming
  Learn how to work with the statistical program and language R and how to independently work with R in future courses and research projects.
• Meta Analysis
  Learn how to conduct a meta analysis.
• Research Integrity & Ethics
  Discuss and critically examine the important ethical issues that arise in the conduct of empirical research in the social and behavioral sciences.
• First year Paper Methods and Statistics 
• Experimental Research & Meta Analysis 

Block 4 (April - August)

• First year Paper Methods and Statistics 
• Academic Writing in Social Sciences
• Intern Traineeship Methods and Statistics I

Block 1 (September - October) 

• International Traineeship in Methods and Statistics
• Categorical Data Analysis
  Study regression models belonging to the generalized linear modeling family, technical aspects of maximum likelihood estimation, likelihood-based statistical inference, and class analysis. 
• Intern Traineeship Methods and Statistics II
• Psychometrics

Block 2 (October - January)

• Structural Equation Modeling and Analysis
  You are introduced to a general statistical framework that brings together multiple statistical analysis tools.
• Intern Traineeship Methods and Statistics III
• Bayesian Statistics
  Study the concept of subjective probability, prior knowledge, prior specification, Bayesian estimation, Bayesian hypothesis testing using the Bayes factor, posterior predictive checking, and Bayesian computation using Gibbs sampling.

Block 3 (January - April)

• Master's Thesis Methods and Statistics
• Intern Traineeship Methods and Statistics IV

Block 4 (April - August)

• Academic Presenting in Social Sciences
  Touch up your academic presentation skills and learn how to present an academic paper in an engaging, clear, personal and appropriate way and learn to communicate your research in a structured, coherent, clear, concise and attractive way. 
• Colloquia & Seminars in Methods and Statistics
• Master's Thesis Methods and Statistics

In your second year, you will write your Master’s thesis (24 ECTS), in English, under supervision of a knowledgeable staff member who will supervise you during both the research and thesis-writing processes. You write your thesis within your track. Your thesis should have a track related subject.

• You will choose your own research topic and supervisor.
• You will learn how to conduct all aspects of the research process: creating hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing data, and writing a scientific article.
• Prior to writing the thesis, you will write an individual research proposal (IRP) based on an original idea, which your supervisor must approve.
• You will conduct the research and work on your Master's thesis independently, for most of the time. However, you will be in constant and close contact with your supervisor.
• The Master’s thesis should be written as a manuscript that could be submitted for publication in an ISI journal.

Examples of thesis subjects are:

• A thermal imaging approach to detect deception
• Statistical reporting inconsistencies in Psychology
• Bayesian hierarchical models

During year 1 and 2 students participate in four in-house research traineeships and one international research traineeship. 

• Through the in-house traineeships students acquire, improve, and effectively use their knowledge and skills required for performing scientific research by working together with staff members.
• Through the international traineeship (summer in between year 1 and year 2), students get acquainted with scientific research and researchers abroad by attending summer school, participating and presenting at an international conference, or by temporarily joining an international research group.   
• Students acquire a thorough methodological and statistical education and write two scientific papers as part of the curriculum (first-year paper + Master’s Thesis).  
• Students need to attend 10 colloquia and/or seminars per year, to get more insights into the functioning of the academic world.