Module SOCM034 for 2020/1
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
SOCM034: Social Data Science and Policy Analytics
This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 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.