Postgraduate Module Descriptor

SOCM034: Social Data Science and Policy Analytics

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content and order of syllabus coverage may vary, it is envisaged that it will include the following topics:

Term 1 Seminars

Policy analytics and evidence based decision making: definition and key themes
The politics of the policy process and evidence based decision making
Types of data for policy analytics
Decision making Under Uncertainty
Causal Inference and Mechanisms: principles of research design
Policy Analytics Techniques Regression Models
Policy Analytics Techniques: Logistic and Probit Regression Models

Term 1 Computer-based Analytics Sessions

Data Sources: Secondary Data Analysis
Data Management and Extraction
Basics of Analysis Regression Models
Logit and Probit Models

Term 2 Seminars

Analysis, Evaluation, Cost Benefit and Decision-making
Randomised Control Trials and policy interventions
Meta-analysis: combining evidence and multi-level analysis
Time series analysis
Duration Models

Term 2 Computer-based Analytics Sessions

Designing Surveys
Communicating Evidence
Difference in Differences
Regression Discontinuity Designs

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
38	262

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	24	12 x 2 hours of lectures, seminars and practical labs lectures cover the main concepts and data analysis skills of the course. (Each 12x2 hour session will entail lecture time plus seminars to discuss the material introduced)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	14	7 x 2 hour Computer lab sessions - Application of data analysis techniques to be demonstrated with by teaching assistant.
Guided independent study	66	Reading and preparing for seminars (around 4-6 hours per week);
Guided independent study	196	Researching and writing assessments and assignments (researching, planning and writing the course work).

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

UK Data Services - https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk

NCRM - http://www.ncrm.ac.uk

Other Learning Resources

There are a range of data sets that will be used in the course (available from the UKDS):

British Household Panel Survey: Waves 1-18, 1991-2009

Understanding Society: Waves 1-6, 2009-2015

Please be aware this is suggestive, the data used may vary.

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Agresti, A. and Finlay, B. (2014) Statistical methods for social sciences. Upper Saddle Hall, NJ: Prentice Hall (4th edition).

Argyrous, G. (Ed.) (2009). Evidence for policy and decision-making: a practical guide. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.

Bardach, E. (2011). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Burtless, G (1995) 'The Case for Randomized Field Trials in Economic and Policy Research'. Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring 1995, pp 63-84.

Davis, H., Nutley, S. and Smith, P. (Eds.). What works?: evidence-based policy and practice in public services. Bristol: Policy Press.

Dunn, W. N. (2015). Public Policy Analysis (6th ed.). London: Routledge.

Imai, K. (2017). Quantitative Social Science: An Introduction. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Layard, R. and Glaister, S. (2003). Cost benefit analysis. Cambridge University Press.

Positer, T.H. (2003). Measuring Performance in Public and Nonprofit Organizations. The Jossey-Bass Nonprofit and Public Management Series.

Wholey, J.S, Hatry, H.P. and Newcomer, K.E. (2004). Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation. Jossey Bass Nonprofit & Public Management Series.