Dr Arjan Gjonca

This course is available on the MSc in Applied Social Data Science, MSc in Development Management (Political Economy), MSc in Development Management (Political Economy) (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Economic Policy for International Development, MSc in Health and International Development, MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies, MSc in Social Research Methods, MSc in Statistics and MSc in Statistics (Research). This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access). Priority will be given to ID students who have this course as semi-core, followed by MY degrees and ID joint-degree students.

For information on how to apply for a place on this course, including deadlines, please see this page. Please refrain from emailing the course convener with personal expressions of interest, as these do not impact the selection process.

This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access). Priority will be given to ID students who have this course as semi-core, followed by MY degrees and ID joint-degree students.

For information on how to apply for a place on this course, including deadlines, please see: Methodology Courses - LSE

 Please refrain from emailing the course convener with personal expressions of interest, as these do not impact the selection process."

Students should have basic numeracy, but the course does not require advanced mathematical knowledge. Some practical sessions will involve use of the spreadsheet EXCEL. IT Training provides numerous self-paced student supervised workshops on EXCEL and downloadable course guides. Students with no prior experience of EXCEL are advised to attend one of these workshops before the course.

This course provides an introduction to the key concepts and methods required for population analysis and the understanding of population issues. The course will explain the dynamics of population change and enable students to learn basic methods for measuring population structure and the determinants of population size and change (fertility, mortality and migration). The course will also provide an introduction to population projections and describe and evaluate how demographic data are collected and used. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and interpretation of demographic data and demographic indicators, as well as the methods of population analysis required to understand the major population issues the World is facing at present.

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

Course is taught in a computer room for with 3 hours sessions of interactive learning for 10 weeks in the Autumn Term.

There will be a revision lecture in week 11.

Students will be expected to complete exercises, write one essay and complete one mock exam during the AT.

• Demography: Measuring and Modeling Population Processes by S H Preston, P Heuveline and M Guillot, 2001.

This will be used as a reference text in the course. Students may also find it helpful to consult some of the other standard texts available including:

• Essential Demographic Methods by Kenneth W. Wachter, 2014 (recommended);
• Demographic Methods by Andrew Hinde, 1998;
• Demographic Methods and Concepts by Donald Rowland, 2003 (less advanced);
• Methods and Models in Demography by C Newell, 1988 (less advanced).

Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the January exam period.