WISERD | Advanced Quantitative Analysis

Advanced Quantitative Analysis

The quantitative analysis component of WISERD is split into two basic elements. The first of these focuses on research and the other on delivering training courses to social scientists across Wales.

Research

The research mainly relates to the secondary analysis of existing large national data sets. There is also an aim to produce new data either through in-house surveys or through the integration of existing data sets, which had previously not been linked. The research will focus on making intra-national comparisons within Wales, as well cross-national comparisons between Wales and other regions in the UK and internationally. Emphasis is given, therefore, to the spatial analysis of economic and social issues across a range of different geographies. WISERD staff as well as undertaking collaborative research with other social scientists would provide training in a range of statistical techniques used to analyse large micro datasets, with the aim of both producing papers and submitting research grant applications.

Training

Training will address a number of issues relating to the use of large micro data sets. There will be a strong emphasis on developing modelling expertise and the ability to handle data as well as the computational challenges of using such data in order to respond to the rapid growth in the availability of data in recent years. The aim is to provide a range of training sessions, starting with analysis of relatively simple cross-sectional datasets to the more advanced modelling techniques that can be used to examine more complex types of data such as panel data.