Statistics and Research Methods - Part 1: Study Design and Data Exploration

Build a strong foundation in study design and data exploration

Explore how researchers design studies that produce reliable findings. Good research starts with good design and a clear understanding of the data you’re working with.

This course introduces the foundations of quantitative research, helping you see how studies are planned, how data are structured, and how useful patterns can be found in real datasets. You’ll learn to develop research questions, choose suitable study designs, and explore data effectively.

You don’t need advanced statistical knowledge, just an interest in research and a willingness to work with data.

Understand study design principles

Learn basic principles of quantitative research, including how to develop research questions, choose suitable study designs, and think about sampling. You’ll explore bias, confounding, and other factors that can affect research quality.

This grounding helps you understand why some research findings are stronger than others.

Explore and summarise data

Discover how to identify different types of variables and choose appropriate summaries for numeric and categorical data. You’ll practise using graphs and tables to explore patterns and differences within datasets.

Learning to present results clearly makes them easier to interpret and communicate to others.

Prepare for further analysis

See how careful exploration helps you prepare data for later statistical testing and modelling. You’ll build confidence in spotting common pitfalls and interpreting early findings in context.

By the end, you’ll have a practical foundation for continuing your statistics learning journey.

This course is ideal for learners beginning quantitative research, students, and professionals who want to understand research design and data exploration without requiring advanced statistical background.

This course is ideal for learners beginning quantitative research, students, and professionals who want to understand research design and data exploration without requiring advanced statistical background.

• Describe key concepts of study design, sampling, and potential sources of research bias.
• Identify different types of data and variables encountered in quantitative research.
• Describe appropriate graphical methods for exploring and presenting various datasets.
• Summarise numeric and categorical data using appropriate descriptive statistics.
• Discuss patterns and differences within datasets during preliminary data exploration.