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: Yes(17)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