Postgraduate Prospectus

Applied Social and Economic Research | www.iser.essex.ac.uk/study
Amanda Sacker, BSc PhD Hertfordshire
(Professor)
Life course epidemiology; inequalities in
physical and mental health
Andrea Salvatori, MSc PhD Warwick
(Senior Research Officer)
Labour economics; applied
microeconomics; policy evaluation;
subjective wellbeing
Alexandra Skew, BSc MSc PhD
Southampton (Senior Research Officer)
Cross-national comparative research;
longitudinal data analysis; research on
partnership formation, particularly among
lone parent families
Holly Sutherland, BA Cambridge
(Professor)
Building and using microsimulation
models; developing microsimulation
for international comparative research;
distributional effects of social policy;
gender effects of re-distribution policies;
child poverty measurement and analysis
Mark P Taylor, BA MA PhD Essex
(Research Director)
Employment issues and labour market
dynamics, particularly concerning
self-employment
Alberto Tumino, BA MSc Bocconi
(Senior Research Officer)
Microsimulation; policy evaluation
SC Noah Uhrig, BA Wisconsin, MA PhD
Stanford (Chief Research Officer)
Survey methodology; panel attrition;
interviewer effects; law and social norms
Taught courses
We offer three taught MSc courses and
an MA, run jointly with other departments
within Essex. Our staff are responsible
and directly involved in teaching modules
in econometrics, quantitative methods
and survey methods for these courses.
Our courses have Essex’s ESRC Doctoral
Training Centre accreditation, and a number
of studentships are available for new
students. Our courses are also the entry
requirement to begin your PhD with us.
MSc Applied Economics and Data
Analysis•†
This course provides you with training in
contemporary theory in current issues in
applied economics, and in the techniques
of data analysis, including analysis of
longitudinal or panel data. You graduate
with the skills necessary to analyse
economic issues using appropriate data,
which will equip you for a successful career
as a professional economist in universities,
government, commerce and industry.
MA Longitudinal Social Research•†
This course gives you training in
contemporary sociological theory, in
current issues in applied sociology, and in
the techniques of analysis of longitudinal
and panel data. You learn the skills
necessary to analyse sociological issues
using appropriate data, which means you
can undertake a successful career as a
professional sociologist in universities,
government, commerce and industry.
MSc Research Methods in Health•†
This course is an opportunity for you
to study research methods in relation
to issues of health in an interdisciplinary
environment. It offers you a grounding in
the key methodological and theoretical
components required to undertake
health-related research from a social
science perspective, combining quantitative
and qualitative research perspectives from
the areas of sociological research methods
and the specific application of these to
the burgeoning health context. It will
help you pursue future employment
in health-related research or with
health-related governmental or
non-governmental organisations.
MSc Survey Methods and Social
Research•†
Providing training in survey research
methodology, this course would suit you
if you want to work as a social or market
researcher, or are already employed in
this field and wish to undertake further
professional development. You cover all
the key topics in survey research, including
sampling methods, questionnaire design,
the management of the survey process
and methods for analysing survey data.
You can also choose an optional topic
from modules in our Department of
Sociology or from a different social
science discipline.
Research study
Our postgraduates are taught, supervised
by, and associate with leading researchers
in their fields. You will be actively involved in
all our research group activities and, with
nearly 40 research staff and a constant
flow of visiting scholars from abroad
(including economists, econometricians,
sociologists, social psychologists, survey
methodologists, statisticians, and political
scientists), we offer an academic
environment that is second to none.
The quality of our research is reflected
in our publications in top journals, and
in our extensive research contracts and
consultancy for organisations such as the
European Commission, various government
departments and charitable foundations
like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation,
Leverhulme Trust, and Nuffield Foundation.
You will also be able to work closely
with other departments at Essex, notably
our Departments of Economics and
58 | Postgraduate Prospectus 2012