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University of Essex homepage Short courses First Steps in Data Literacy Exploring Crime Statistics
Short course

First Steps in Data Literacy: Exploring Crime Statistics

 

The details
First Steps in Data Literacy: Exploring Crime Statistics 
Thursday 27 March 2025
In person (Colchester)
9:15am to 5:45pm
Professional stakeholders (such as Police and Law Enforcement, Civil Service, Military, NHS), PhD students and academics without a background in quantitative methods
Commercial, External Academic and Student Fee: £300
Internal Student/Academic Fee: £200

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

This is an introductory one-day 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.

Taught by an experienced quantitative researcher, this one-day program features a mix of lectures, interactive exercises, and discussion sessions.

 

Book your place

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

 

Fees

Fee type

Fee

Commercial, External  Academic and Student Fee

 £300

Internal Student / Academic Fee

£200

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 maximum number of participants for this course is 30.

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. 

 

Teaching Programme

 Time Module
9.45am Introduction to basic statistical concepts
11.30am   Break
11.45am  Statistical concepts continued 
12.45pm  Lunch

2.00pm 

 Causal inference and bias in policing
3.30pm  Break
3.45pm  Interpreting graphs, charts, tables, and regression outputs

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.
  • Interpret statistical results appropriately.
  • Critically evaluate quantitative results and findings.

Eligibility

This is an introductory course and suitable for all.

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.


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.

Applications to the First Steps in Data Literacy: Exploring Crime Statistics 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 7 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.

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

Applications are now open for the First Steps in Data Literacy: Exploring Crime Statistics Short Course. Complete the online form to submit your application.

Apply now
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