The Role of Online Training Events in the Development of Quantitative Data Skills in Students from Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Disciplines, 2022

The studied population were SHAPE students (postgraduate and undergraduate) who had attended UKDS foundational-level online training events. A sampling frame of attendees at UKDS online training events was used. A purposive sample was then drawn using the following eligibility criteria: attendees at foundational level online events between May 2021-March 2022 who self-identified as students (undergraduates or postgraduates undertaking taught or research degrees) from SHAPE disciplines and who had consented to be contacted for further research. Those identifying as STEM students and/or who had only attended events with a more advanced methods focus were excluded. This resulted in a final sample of 67 students, each of which was sent a personalised email asking them if they would like to participate in the research. This resulted in a final achieved sample of 10 students (9 postgraduates and 1 undergraduate at the time they attended the training event). Participating students came from a range of SHAPE disciplines including political science, criminology, sociology, economics, social policy, health and finance. Each student had attended at least one UKDS online training event and they had collectively attended 10 events, with some attending more than one event. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the 10 students in July 2022, using a flexible interview protocol. Each interview lasted 30-40 minutes and was conducted online using Microsoft Teams. Interviews were recorded and consent was obtained both in writing and verbally. The interview involved questions on the participant’s experience of the event(s), why they attended, what they had learnt, whether they were using what they had learnt and if it had influenced their future work.
Eight out of the ten students who were interviewed agreed for their data to be shared in a data repository.

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