[Maths-Education] ESRC PhD Studentship Centre for Multilevel Modelling, University of Bristol

[Gates Peter]

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ESRC PhD Studentship
Centre for Multilevel Modelling, University of Bristol

What do students find hard about learning statistics?  We are inviting applications for a PhD studentship on this topic, which is open to EU nationals only, due to the nature of the funding.  For UK nationals, the studentship will attract an annual stipend of £12,600 in addition to tuition fees.  This PhD will form part of an ESRC-funded project, 'LEMMA' (see http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/research/Lemma for further details).  The main aim of the project is to build capacity in quantitative analysis of data with complex structures.  The studentship will involve identifying statistical concepts that students find most difficult when learning how to use multilevel modelling and then investigating a variety of techniques to find the best ways of explaining those concepts.  The field of learning about statistical concepts is under-researched.  Questions such as whether different kinds of learners understand different kinds of explanations better could be investigated.  
The research will draw upon psychological research on reasoning, teaching and learning statistics.  Research methods might include questionnaires, observations, interviews and experiments.  The Centre runs a programme of workshops and hosts on-line learning materials and it is expected that participants for the studies will be recruited through these courses.
The Centre for Multilevel Modelling is a multidisciplinary research centre within the Graduate School of Education: the only education department in England to have received a 5* in the last Research Assessment Exercise.  The internationally-renowned multilevel modelling research team are involved in advancing statistical methods for analysing large-scale datasets and investigate issues such as school effectiveness, the effect of school resources on pupil attainment and family effects on child development.  The Centre also produces the software 'MLwiN'.  The studentship represents an opportunity to forge a research career by advancing knowledge in a field where there has been little research to date.  By working in the Centre for Multilevel Modelling, the successful applicant will learn how to use complex statistical techniques, which is a highly marketable research skill in industry or Higher Education.  Bristol is a vibrant city with a large student population and excellent transport links.
Applicants with an interest in learning of statistical methods are encouraged to apply.  Applicants should hold a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree.  Understanding of multilevel modelling techniques is not a requirement.  It is anticipated that the studentship will begin in October 2008.
For an application pack, contact Jo-Anne.Baird at bristol.ac.uk, using the reference LEMMA.  For further information in advance of submitting an application, telephone Jo-Anne Baird on 0117 331 4331.

Dr Jo-Anne Baird
Reader in Education
Director of the Doctorate in Education Programme
Room 310b
Graduate School of Education
University of Bristol
35 Berkeley Square
Bristol
BS8 1JA
0044 (0)117 331 4331
www.bristol.ac.uk/education/people/academicStaff/edzjab

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