Data Collection and Management Certificate Program - Graduate - 2015 University Catalog
Data on consumers, services and industries are in high demand among businesses, non-profit organizations, research institutes, government agencies, and those pursuing private enterprise. The Graduate Certificate in Data Collection and Management at Montclair State will provide specialized training in the use of surveys, interviews, and focus groups as sources of data collection and analysis. The coursework for this program was developed in consultation with experienced professionals who work as market research analysts, research associates, survey researchers, project directors, and evaluation analysts. Using their advice, we have designed a curriculum that focuses on cutting edge methods and tools used by both private companies and non-profit organizations to collect, analyze, interpret, and present social data.
Contact Dr. Donoghue at donoghuec@montclair.edu to receive a copy of our Job Market Analysis for the Graduate Certificate. This document will provide you with extensive information about the career prospects for students graduating with the certificate. You may also contact Dr. Donoghue with any other questions you have about the program.
Please click here to visit the program page on the department's website.
DATA COLLECTION & MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE
Complete 4 courses for 12 semester hours:
| SOCI | 500 | Data Collection for Research and Evaluation (3 hours lecture) | 3 |
| SOCI | 556 | Data Analysis (3 hours lecture) | 3 |
| SOCI | 568 | Survey Writing (3 hours lecture) | 3 |
| SOCI | 569 | Interviews and Focus Groups (3 hours lecture) | 3 |
Course Descriptions:
SOCI500: Data Collection for Research and Evaluation (3 hours lecture)
This course introduces students to quantitative data collection and analysis. Students will learn how to design and execute research projects that meet the needs of both private and non-profit research organizations by considering client needs, ethical considerations, budgetary constraints and project planning challenges. The main components of the course include designing and administering data collection instruments, data coding, and interpreting, tabulating and reporting quantitative data. The course will also focus on using statistical packages such as SPSS in analyzing survey data. By the conclusion of the course, students will also be prepared to effectively present the findings of their research using written, verbal and visual methods of communication. 3 sh.
SOCI556: Data Analysis (3 hours lecture)
This course introduces students to hands-on techniques in quantitative data analysis. The main components of the course are: 1. Data cleaning and organization; 2. Descriptive statistics for categorical and continuous variables; 3. basics of statistical theory; 4. inferential statistical tests; 5. simple linear regression; 6. basics of multiple regression; 7. measurement, scaling, index, and elementary factor analysis. This course will also focus on data and model interpretation. In class, students will analyze and interpret real data that are used by market research companies, government agencies and social policy organizations 3 sh.
SOCI568: Survey Writing (3 hours lecture)
The use of surveys to measure attitudes, behaviors and program outcomes has become widespread in business, research, marketing, politics, and media. In this class, students will learn how to write surveys, collect data, and present survey results for applied research projects. Course topics will include identifying variables, conceptualization, index and scale construction, visual questionnaire presentation, piloting, testing for validity and reliability, and survey administration. Under the guidance of the professor, students will be trained to construct and pilot their own questionnaire. An emphasis will be placed on the use of surveys to for needs assessments, program evaluations and policy analyses. 3 sh.
SOCI569: Interviews and Focus Groups (3 hours lecture)
This course introduces students to qualitative research methods used in the social sciences. In this class, students will be exposed to typical qualitative research techniques such as in-depth interviews, ethnographies, focus groups and content analysis. The main components of this course are 1) designing ethnographies 2) conducting in-depth interviews 3) designing focus groups 4) interpreting, tabulating and reporting qualitative data. The course will also focus on coding techniques and writing and reporting qualitative findings. 3 sh.
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