This document discusses the UK Q-Step Initiative, which aims to increase quantitative skills training for students. It provides examples of three students who participated in summer internships through the program. Marcus interned at a social and political think-tank, Victoria at the Home Office Crime and Policy Unit, and Anna at a social and political data consultancy. All three found the internships extremely valuable, giving them experience and confidence in their quantitative skills. The internships helped lead directly to job offers for Victoria and inspired other students to consider quantitative dissertations and further study in research methods.

1. Innovations in statistical
(by stealth) training:
reflections from the
UK Q-Step Initiative
Professor Jackie Carter and Dr Mark Brown,
University of Manchester, UK

10. • Making sense of politics
• Understanding social media
• Researching culture and society
• Unequal societies: health, well-being and
happiness
• Criminological research methods

11. • Making sense of
criminological data
• Quantitative methods
in language sciences
• Variation and change
in English
• Changing social
attitudes
• The survey method in
social research
• How to conduct politics
research
• Essentials in survey design
and analysis
• Research design and
statistical inference
• Market research

13. From the classroom to the workplace
@UoMQStep @JackieCarter

14. Tell me and I forget,
teach me and I
remember, involve me
and I learn

19. Student stories at
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/q-
step/student-stories/

21. 200 students, 5 summers, 3 stories

22. Marcus went to a social
and political think-tank

24. Whilst at the start there was a very steep learning curve and at times I was
worried …, it was great to be trusted … and for the team to have faith in me
to do what was required. I think that the freedom of going in my own
direction, choosing my own priorities, really allowed me to flourish and
succeed during my internship.
I was surprised to be told that I was much better at data analysis than they
had been expecting, which led them to giving me more to do. It was really
rewarding ...

25. Victoria went to The
Home Office, London,
to their Crime and Policy
Unit

27. • First class degree and quantitative dissertation
• UK Data Service Dissertation Prize
• MRes Criminology (Social Statistics)
• Home Office part-time statistical officer
I received an offer for the role of Research Officer at the Home Office
yesterday (Sept 2017). The internship has proved to be an extremely
important stepping stone in my career - one of the best moves I ever
made!
I hope my story can inspire others to take part in Q-Step.
• Q-Step mentor for 2018

28. Anna – the one who
nearly got away –
went to a social and
political data consultancy

32. Reflections

38. “Even after such a short time … I have felt personally
inspired to do a quantitative dissertation for my third
year. This is a big step forward for me, because if I was
asked this time last year whether I would even
consider doing one I would’ve replied ‘absolutely not!’
Being around such influential, intelligent and helpful
[people] has encouraged me to consider more study in
the area of statistics and research methods ….
I feel blessed … to what I feel like is the start of
something amazing”
1st year student, end of week 1 of internship

39. • Professor Jackie Carter j.carter@manchester.ac.uk
• @JackieCarter @UoMQStep
• www.manchester.ac.uk/q-step/
• Work placements, internships and applied research (Carter,
Sage, forthcoming (2019))
• Acknowledgement to colleagues, students and the Nuffield
Foundation, ESRC and Hefce for the Q-Step funding
• http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/q-step