GV324      Half Unit
Applied Quantitative Methods for Political Science

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Prof Valentino Larcinese

Availability

This course is available on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in History and Politics, BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with a Year Abroad), BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and International Relations, BSc in Politics and Philosophy, BSc in Social Anthropology, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is freely available to General Course students. It does not require permission.

This course will be freely available to students with the required background. This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis

Requisites

Pre-requisites:

Students must have completed MA107 and ST107 before taking this course.

Course content

This course provides an introduction to the most commonly used methods for causal inference in the social sciences using observational data. It covers simple and multiple regression (particularly focussing on the conditions for a causal interpretation of the coefficients), matching, panel data, diff-in-diff, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity. The course will prioritize the practical understanding and application of the methods rather than their statistical foundations. Applications will be selected from existing research literature.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

Formative assessment

Problem sets

Case analysis / study

Students will be expected to produce 1 problem set and 1 case study in the AT.

 

Indicative reading

Stock & Watson: "Introduction to Econometrics", Pearson International (various editions, all equally valid)

Dunning: "Natural experiments in the social sciences", CUP 2012

Angrist & Pischke: "Mastering metrics", Princeton University Press 2015

Assessment

Exam (40%), duration: 120 Minutes, reading time: 15 minutes in the Spring exam period

Project (60%) in Winter Term Week 1

This component of assessment includes an element of group work.

The group project includes a presentation element. 

GENERAL COURSE STUDENTS ONLY:

The Class Summary Grade for General Course students will be calculated as follows: 50% participation and 50% formative assessment.


Key facts

Department: Government

Course Study Period: Autumn Term

Unit value: Half unit

FHEQ Level: Level 6

CEFR Level: Null

Total students 2024/25: 15

Average class size 2024/25: 15

Capped 2024/25: No
Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills