Course

Applied Statistics for Educational Researchers (DUH165)

Facts

Course code DUH165

Credits (ECTS) 5

Semester tution start Spring

Language of instruction English

Number of semesters 1

Exam semester Spring

Time table View course schedule

Literature Search for literature in Leganto

Introduction

This seminar course offers a practical and theory-based introduction to psychometric measurement theory, with a focus on tools and techniques essential for conducting high-quality research in psychology and related fields. Throughout the course, we will explore key topics such as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), alongside foundational psychometric concepts.

Participants will gain hands-on experience working with real-world datasets and learning how to import, visualize, describe, and analyze data using contemporary statistical software. The course emphasizes not only technical proficiency but also critical thinking about measurement validity, reliability, and model fit, which are central to robust scientific inquiry.

Content

This week-long seminar consists of a series of workshops designed to introduce participants to basic and advanced statistical techniques, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation models (SEM), multilevel SEM, and growth curve modeling. Participants will gain hands-on experience using relevant software for their analyses.

Learning outcome

By the end of this course, PhD candidates will have acquired the following knowledge, skills and competencies:

Knowledge

  • An understanding of basic psychometric measurement theory.
  • A solid grasp of multiple regression and factor analysis within the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework.
  • A good understanding of SEM and latent growth curve (LGC) models in the context of complex survey data.

Skills

  • Conducting preliminary analyses to assess the validity and reliability of data.
  • Performing SEM and LGC analyses.
  • Preparing the results of these analyses for publication.

General Competencies:

  • Ability to choose and apply the appropriate analyses for the given design and data.
  • Development of advanced strategies for future quantitative research.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Recommended prerequisites

It is beneficial to have some familiarity with the data structure of one's own projects and the potential research questions.

Exam

Fakta

Weight 1/1

Marks Passed / Not Passed

Evaluation will be based on a brief individual paper. The paper should contain a short thematic conceptualization, research questions, a section presenting sample and procedure, analytic strategies, and results, and be no longer than 4000 words +/-10% (references excluded).

Coursework requirements: Active participation in lectures and seminars at the workshop. Self-study. The students’ workload will be approximately 150 hours of work.

Coursework requirements

80 % attendance

At least 80 % attendance in lectures and seminars.

Method of work

In this week-long seminar, we will introduce confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) structural equation modeling (SEM), and multilevel modeling work within the SEM framework. The seminar also demonstrates how Latent Growth Curve Modelling can be understood as an extension of SEM with intercepts and/or slopes being modeled as latent variables, first as an unconditional latent curve model. We will then look at conditional Latent Growth Curve models (including mediation models, an

The working format is a blending of lectures, group discussions, and hands-on analyses.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Advanced Statistics for Educational Researchers: Analyzing Structural Equation Models and Latent Growth Curves w/ MPlus (DSP165_1) , Applied Statistics for Educational Researchers (DUH165_1) 5

Open for

International and local students enrolled in a doctoral program. Max. 25 participants.

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.
The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1