Module SOCM034 for 2021/2
- 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 2021/2 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.
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical exercises | 2 short exercises to be completed in class of 15 minutes each | 1-4, 8 | Peer and Oral feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data analysis short report 1 | 25 | 2,000 words plus tables, graphs based on data analysis | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| Data analysis short report 2 | 25 | 2,000 words plus tables, graphs based on data analysis | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| 4,000 word research report | 50 | 4,000 words plus tables, graphs based on data analysis | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data analysis short report 1 | Practical exercise 1 (2,000 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Data analysis short report 2 | Practical exercise 2 (2,000 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| 4,000 word research report | 4,000 word research report | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
