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Education The Faculty Graduate Schools Graduate School of Behavioural and Social Sciences Research Master

specialization|Psychometrics and Statistics

theme|Understanding Societal Change

Research themes

Students in the Psychometrics and Statistics specialization will focus on techniques for the analysis of various types of data, such as hierarchically and non-hierarchically organized data, and test and questionnaire data. The techniques of interest are: component and factor analysis techniques and their generalizations, item response theory, multilevel analysis, Bayesian statistics, and time series analyses.

Research group

The Psychometrics and Statistics specialization is organized by the Psychometrics and Statistics expertise group, that is concerned with quantitative techniques for the analyses of empirical data.

Expertise group goals are:

  1. to provide (social science) researchers with concrete advice as to which techniques to use for particular data analysis problems. Findings are reported in specialized scientific journals and at international conferences for experts in psychometrics and statistics in general, and in scientific journals and/or books aimed at the wider audience of users of statistical and psychometric techniques.
  2. to improve, where necessary, access to particular data analysis techniques. Specifically, developing and evaluating publicly accessible computer software is an important objective.
  3. to perform fundamental, scientific research into the quantitative analysis of data in the social sciences. On the one hand, this leads to the further dissemination of results. On the other hand, it provides insight into which data analytic problems (social science) researchers are faced with, thus providing input for new research on data analytic techniques.

Multidisciplinary programme

The Research Master with specialization Psychometrics and Statistics is part of the theme Understanding Societal Change within a multidisciplinary programme.

Programme Understanding Societal Change with specialization Psychometrics and Statistics

Theme courses Understanding Societal Change (15 EC)
  • Theorizing Change
  • From problem analysis to intervention design
Specialization courses Psychometrics and Statistics (10 EC)
  • Multilevel analysis
  • Structural equation modelling
  • Statistical analysis of social networks
  • Statistical modelling of single cases
Elective courses (10 EC)
  • Evidence-based interventions
  • Experimental psychopathology
  • Research in Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Development, learning and instruction
  • Complexity, dynamics and development
  • Economy and society: Critical transitions in Advanced Industrialised Societies
  • Solidarity and social contexts
  • Researching power and leadership
  • Understanding working life: Major Theories and Research Trends in Organizational Psychology
  • Environmental psychology
  • Cultural psychology
  • Diversity in society: current issues and challenges
  • Literature study
Compulsory modules for all students (85 EC)
  • How to theorize
  • Reflecting on science and integrity
  • Multidisciplinary research in action
  • Advanced statistics
  • Applied statistics
  • Elective statistics course
  • Seminars
  • Traineeship
  • How to write an effective research proposal
  • Master’s thesis

For your Psychometrics and Statistics specialization label the topic of your traineeship and master’s thesis needs to fit into the Psychometrics and Statistics field.

Specializations in this theme:
Environmental Psychology | Organizational Psychology | Psychometrics and Statistics | Social psychology | Sociology

For questions about the UCS theme contact m.van.zomeren@rug.nl

Last modified:29 November 2021 11.27 a.m.