Quantitative Methods in Socio-Legal Studies: A Methodology Clinic Workbook

[favorite_button]

Creator(s) (alphabetical)

Michelle Cowley-Cunningham

Organisation(s)

Dublin City University

Discipline(s)

Arts and Humanities, journalism and information, , Teaching and Learning

Topic(s)

Open Education, Professional Development, Student Success

License

CC BY

Media Format

PDF

Date Submitted

Submitted by

Export Resource Data

Description

This workbook takes the student on a conceptual journey aiding their understanding of what is meant by the quantitative-qualitative research process in contemporary legal empirical research. Although, of interest to social science students, the particular worked examples relate to how to do research on law, legal policy and review.

Benefit of this resource and how to make the best use of it

What do we mean by the quantitative-qualitative research process in contemporary legal empirical research? When we conduct research using experimental designs, engage with survey data, or build secondary data sets, there are often questions unanswered by quantitative data only. In legal empirical research it is particularly advised to qualitatively validate any quantitative measures because participants are qualitative end-users of the law. This workbook shows students and postdoctoral researchers, new to legal empirical research, how to work with such mixed methods. The workbook engages in discussions of the following: Experimental design-manipulation; Quasi-experimental design; Cross-sectional design; Longitudinal design; and Case study design. Although, of interest to social science students, the particular worked examples relate to how to do research on law, legal policy and review.

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)

This work is licensed under a CC BY license, allowing sharing and adaptation with proper attribution.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
? This citation is automatically generated and may require adjustment. Always verify it against your style guide.
Cowley-Cunningham, M. (2023). Quantitative methods in socio-legal studies: a methodology clinic workbook. National Resource Hub (Ireland). Retrieved from: https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/resource/quantitative-methods-in-socio-legal-studies-a-methodology-clinic-workbook/ License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY).

Adapting this resource? Share your version!

If you have modified or adopted this resource, share your version here. Tracking adaptations helps us measure impact and connects others with useful updates.

Related OER

What does success look like as a student?

In this short film, students in higher education across Ireland reflect on confidence, perseverance, first-time experiences, learning, and the small moments that can make a big difference.

The student voices featured here were gathered through the HEA Student Success Survey and Focus Groups in 2025 and are shared in their own words.

The animations are creative interpretations of those reflections, imagined and produced by second-year Animation students at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).

From communicating in a second language to returning to education as a mature student, overcoming anxiety, and simply choosing not to quit, these stories explore the many ways success can be experienced.

Even small moments in college can be a success. What are yours?

Credits
Animation, Backgrounds & Compositing — Arantxa Vara
Animation & Backgrounds — Giada Randolfi
Animation — Zach Louis Ng Nocum
Animation & Backgrounds — Alex
Music composition & production — Darragh Winters

Special thanks
Karima Dillon
Eimhin Mc Namara
Rebecca Roper
The students who shared their experiences

A 1-page guide, co-created by lecturers, tutors & students on DkIT's MA in Learning and Teaching, showing where GenAI can, and can't, support particular postgraduate research/skill development (*reflecting practice 2025-26). Includes student-informed prompts on responsible, sustainable use. An editable PowerPoint supports adaptation to own context.