• Deakin University
  • Griffith University logo

Why Numbers Matter: Quantitative Research

Learn how to use quantitative research to make difficult decisions and solve real-world problems.

6,992 enrolled on this course

Teacher in front of class teaching mathematics
  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
This course is part of the program Why Research Matters, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Action. Find out more.

Discover the power of numbers

We use numbers in everyday life to make hundreds of small decisions that quickly add up to something bigger.

This course will help you to harness the power of quantitative research to make better informed decisions and solve real-world problems.

You’ll improve your understanding of how to use statistical analysis to draw meaningful conclusions from numerical data.

Whether it’s making an important financial investment, or testing the effectiveness of workplace practices, quantitative research helps us to make difficult decisions for ourselves and our communities.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 6 seconds CHRIS STEVENSON: How do numbers shape your world? Each day, we rely on numerical data to make decisions large and small, both individually and as a community.

Skip to 0 minutes and 16 seconds NICK BARTER: Whether it’s running that little bit further, improving efficiency in your workplace, or reviewing a policy affecting millions of people, quantitative research empowers you to make better-informed decisions.

Skip to 0 minutes and 27 seconds CHRIS STEVENSON: Hello and welcome. I’m Chris Stevenson from Deakin University.

Skip to 0 minutes and 31 seconds NICK BARTER: And I’m Nick Barter from Griffith University.

Skip to 0 minutes and 34 seconds CHRIS STEVENSON: In this two-week course, you will discover the power of quantitative research to make change in our society.

Skip to 0 minutes and 41 seconds NICK BARTER: We’ve drawn together leading researchers from our world-class universities to help you accurately test your theories, present persuasive arguments, and measure your research results and impacts.

Skip to 0 minutes and 51 seconds CHRIS STEVENSON: Quantitative research helps us better understand and predict how people will behave. It produces the hard evidence we need to help save lives, make communities more sustainable places to live, and transform innovative ideas into life-changing reality.

Skip to 1 minute and 8 seconds NICK BARTER: Numbers matter. Join us in the course, and we will show you how. See you soon.

What topics will you cover?

  • Why numbers matter in quantitative research
  • How to use statistics to analyse data and solve real world problems
  • How to formulate research questions, informed by accurate and reliable measurement
  • How to select and justify an appropriate research method to answer your question
  • The close relationship between quantitative and qualitative research

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply statistical analysis, including types of data, averages, proportions and confidence intervals, to make decisions about real world problems
  • Calculate bivariate correlations using computer software
  • Develop an appropriate quantitative study design to answer a research question
  • Justify the role of quantitative research in your research project

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at anyone interested in research, but may be of particular interest to people who are undertaking a research project related to their profession or area of study.

Who will you learn with?

Nick is an academic with a focus on developing frameworks to allow corporate strategists to realise sustainable strategies and expanding online education to as many learners as possible

Chris is an epidemiologist and biostatistician with a particular interest in evidence based health policy. He is a passionate teacher with a commitment to blending teaching with cutting edge research

Who developed the course?

Deakin University

Deakin University is one of Australia’s largest universities with more than 61,000 students and over 15,000 online.

  • Established

    1974
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 280Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

Griffith University

Griffith University was created to be a different kind of university—challenging conventions, responding to trends and pioneering solutions through innovative teaching and research.

  • Established

    1971
  • Location

    Queensland, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 210Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Advance your career with a degree

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from Deakin University
This course is part of the program Why Research Matters, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Action.

This program is aimed at anyone interested in research, but may be of particular interest to people who are undertaking a research project related to their profession or area of study.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLNumbersMatter to talk about this course on social media.