20469 - INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY - MODULE I
Department of Social and Political Sciences
GIOVANNI FATTORE
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
CONTENT SUMMARY
The first part of the course covers causal inference in the social sciences by presenting the main models used in contemporary research. The second part discusses validity of empirical studies and complement the first part of the course with additional methods/topics that are increasingnly popular in empirical research in the social sciences.
Part 1. Main analytical approaches for causal interference:
The conterfactual model.
Randomization and its discontents.
Regression Models.
Instrumental variables.
Regression Discontinuity Design.
Difference-in-Differences Design.
Part 2. Validity and additional topics/methods for empirical research in the social sciences:
Survey research and sampling.
Social Network Analysis
Content Analysis.
Systematic Reviews and meta-analsysis.
Validity of research designs.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
- Understand the logics of causal inference.
- Master different models to test causality.
- Be aware of the main quantitative research methods used in the social sciences
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
- Work in groups to prepare a research proposal.
- Conduct a Systematic Review
- Prepare a research proposal.
- Deliver a presentation of a research proposal
Teaching methods
- Face-to-face lectures
- Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)
- Group assignments
DETAILS
Students work in groups to conduct a systematic review and to prepare and present in class a research proposal
Assessment methods
Continuous assessment | Partial exams | General exam | |
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ATTENDING STUDENTS
Groupwork: systematic review (word document no longer than 2000 words) (25%)
Groupwork: research proposal (and presentation in class) (25%)
Written exam: 50%
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Final written exam: 50%
Individual research proposal: (50%) (a word document no longer than 3000 words to be submitted before sitting the written exam).
Teaching materials
ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
See the Syllabus