Spotlight on Resources: Social Sciences Research Methods Centre
In this series, we’re taking a closer look at some of the resources available to Land Economy students, staff, and researchers.
What is the SSRMC?
The Social Sciences Research Methods Centre (SSRMC) is an interdisciplinary centre at Cambridge that provides a range of trainings in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The SSRMC aims to give students the tools they need to approach their research questions, from
Who can make use of the SSRMC?
All University of Cambridge staff and postgraduate students, including MPhil and PhD level students, can take courses with the SSRMC. A selection of their courses are also available to external participants.
Because the Department of Land Economy contributes to teaching the courses offered at the SSRMC, Land Economy staff and students will have priority booking over those from non-affiliated departments.
Why should you take a closer look?
The SSRMC offers a range courses in everything from the theory behind different research methodologies, to niche training courses on specific software or statistical approaches, to hands-on practicals aimed to help you tackle the realities of interviewing or running surveys. Whether you are interested in the theory or the practical, the quantitative or the qualitative, the range of offerings at the SSRMC has something for everyone interested in research in the social sciences.
The SSRMC can help you tackle the research project that you are working to answer. The SSRMC courses are also excellent opportunities to increase your range of skills and experience beyond the immediate research question in front of you. This can be a great way to develop transferable skills or to help place your own research method choices in their wider context.
What courses are on offer?
Basic Statistics Stream
This series of four courses, each with lecture and lab elements, includes Foundations in Applied Statistics (FiAS), Basic Quantitative Analysis (BQA), Doing Multivariate Analysis (DMA), and Further Topics in Multivariate Analysis (FTMA)
You may be asked to complete a skills check before signing up for one of these courses.
Introductions to Software Packages
These courses include introductions to specialist statistical software, including MATLAB, Stata, NVivo, Microsoft Access, and R.
Specialist Statistics
These courses include a range of special methods, including approaches to meta analysis, psychometrics, social network analysis, panel data, and randomised controlled trials.
Elements of Social Science Research
This includes background course offerings such as ethics, survey design, and data collection.
Qualitative Methods
These courses cover a range of qualitative approaches, including ethnography, discourse analysis, archive research, comparative methods, and qualitative interviews.
For more information on the courses offered by the SSRMC, including dates, times and how to register, please see the SSRMC website.
Where can you find the SSRMC?
The SSRMC is based in the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1SB
For any questions about the SSRMC and its course offerings, contact them by email.
