The Essex website uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are consenting to their use. Please visit our cookie policy to find out which cookies we use and why. View cookie policy.

University of Essex homepage Short courses Data Literacy for Policing and Crime
Short course

Data Literacy for Policing and Crime

 

The details
Data Literacy for Policing and Crime
Professional stakeholders (such as Police and Law Enforcement, Civil Service, Military, NHS), PhD students and academics without a background in quantitative methods
In person

Thursday 27 and Friday 28 March 2025

The Department of Sociology and Criminology presents a two-day intensive quantitative research course.

The ‘Data Literacy for Policing and Crime’ short course will be held in person at our Colchester campus over 2 days from 27 to 28 March 2025.

Applications for our Data Literacy for Policing and Crime short course are now open 

To secure your place, book now.

For enquiries, please contact summerschoolsandshortcourses@essex.ac.uk 

 

Overview

This is an introductory course designed to provide participants with the skills necessary to understand and critically evaluate quantitative information, including reports from the Office for National Statistics and academic literature on crime and policing.

The course will cover the core statistical concepts, starting with basic topics like descriptive statistics (mean, median) and progressing to more advanced subjects such as regression analysis. Participants will also work with police data and crime surveys using the R statistical software.

Taught by an experienced quantitative researcher, this two-day program features a mix of lectures, interactive exercises, and discussion sessions, along with hands-on practical training in a computer lab using R.

The design of the course requires limiting enrolment to a maximum of 30 participants.

Meet the course facilitator

Dr Giacomo Vagni is a lecturer at the University of Essex, specialising in quantitative research methods and data analysis. He has extensive experience in conducting empirical data-driven research. Dr. Vagni has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Oxford, where his thesis focused on daily life, family change, and inequality. His research has been published in prestigious international and national academic journals, including The Proceeding of the Academy of Science, The British Journal of Sociology and The European Sociological Review.

Find out more about Dr Vagni by viewing his staff profile.

Teaching Programme - Day 1

Day 1

  Thursday 27 March
9.45am Introduction to basic statistical concepts
11.30am   Break
11.45am  Statistical concepts continued 
12.45pm  Lunch

2.00pm 

 Lab session. Applied introduction to R
3.30pm  Break
3.45pm  Introduction to police and crime data sets. Importing and manipulating Data in R

The course runs from 9.45am to 5.15pm

Teaching Programme - Day 2  

Day 2 

  Friday 28 March
9.45am Introduction to Sampling and Causal Inference
11.30am Break
11.45am  Causal Inference and Regression
12.45pm Lunch
2.00pm  Lab session. Using R to create visualisation about crime
3.30pm  Break
3.45pm  Lab session. Applied Regression
4.45pm  General discussion and exchange 

The course runs from 9.45am to 5.15pm

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should be able to…

  • Define and explain key statistical concepts and principles of quantitative social science.
  • Know how to find and download quantitative crime and policing data.
  • Perform statistical analysis using R.
  • Interpret statistical results appropriately.
  • Critically evaluate quantitative results and findings.

Eligibility

This is an introductory course and suitable for all.

Although no previous experience of quantitative research methods and data analysis is assumed, participants will need to have basic computer skills so they are ready to learn the fundamentals of programming in the lab sessions.

It is recommended that you come to the course with the R software installed on your laptop, but you do not need to do so, as the training venue has Windows machines with the software installed on them.

The application form includes a brief questionnaire relating to your experience and credentials, which you are required to complete as part of your registration.

The course is delivered entirely in English. Thus, you are required to be highly competent in English.


Fees

Fee type

Fee

Commercial, External  Academic and Student Fee

 £550

Internal Student / Academic Fee

£400

Fee includes:

  • Daily lunches and refreshments from our in house caterer.
  • A certification upon completing your course, endorsed by the University of Essex Department of Sociology & Criminology.

The delivery of this course is dependent on a minimum number of applicants. In the unlikely event that this minimum is not met, we would have to reconsider the feasibility of running this course. 

 

Applications to the Data Literacy for Policing and Crime Short Course are now open, to apply complete the steps below:

  • Applicants should complete the online application form
  • Your application will then be reviewed by a member of  the Summer Schools and Short Courses Team and you will be contacted if you are successful.
  • Once your application has been processed you will then be sent a link to pay, as well as details on how to complete the next steps of the registration process.
  • Once you have paid you will receive confirmation of your place.
  • Applications will need to be completed by Friday 14 March in order for you to be given necessary access. 

For any payment issues or queries, please contact summerschoolsandshortcourses@essex.ac.uk

Webshop

You can pay for your place online via our Webshop which you will be sent a link to after completing the application form. The University bank will accept Visa, Mastercard, and Eurocard.

Paying by Proficio

Essex Research students need to enrol via Proficio in addition to the online application.

Paying by invoice

If you specifically require payment via an invoice, please email us at summerschoolsandshortcourses@essex.ac.uk

Mature student on an ipad and sitting at a round table
Apply now

Applications are now open for the Data Literacy for Policing and Crime Short Course. Complete the online form to submit your application.

Apply now
Arrow symbol
Get in touch
Summer Schools and Short Courses Hub
Life at Essex
What it's like to live at Essex
Accommodation
Find your new home
Open Days
Come see for yourself
WE ARE
ESSEX ARE YOU?
Sign up for a prospectus Get to know Essex
STUDY
Find a course
LIFE
RESEARCH
EXPLORE
CONTACT US
Contact


  • +44 (0) 1206 873333
  • University of Essex
  • Wivenhoe Park
  • Colchester CO4 3SQ

 

 

University of Essex - Where change happens

CONNECT WITH US
© 2024 University of Essex. All rights reserved