ASTK15638U SEMINAR: Advanced Quantitative Methods in Political Science
This course introduces graduate students to quantitative methods in political science. During the first half of the course, the course focuses on linear regression models. The topics covered include discussions of the mathematical bases for such models, their estimation and interpretation, model assumptions and techniques for addressing violations of those assumptions, and topics related to model specification and functional forms. During the second half of the course, students will be introduced to likelihood as a theory of inference, including models for binary and count data.
The course will be structured according to the following headlines:
- Introduction
- Visualizing Data.
- Getting data from the Web
- Fundamentals of Probability.
- Sampling and Statistical Inference
- Linear Regression:
- Linear Regression: Interpreting Substantive Effects via the Simulation Method
- Linear Regression: Diagnostics
- Non-linear probability models - The likelihood theory of statistical inference
- Binary data
- Multinomial Choice
- Count data
- Missing Data
- Conclusion
The course will primarily support and use two software packages in the course: R and Stata. For the majority of problems, R will be the software package of choice.
The main goals of this course are to enable students to develop sound critical judgment about quantitative studies of political problems, to interpret quantitative analyses in published work, to understand the logic of statistical inference, to recognize and understand the basics of the linear regression model.
Since the aim of the course is to enable students to conduct their own statistical analysis, the course is a good basis and starting point for any other project in the program involving statistical methods. In addition, the course is highly relevant for any students who aims for a career, which involves data analysis.
The course will not use a single textbook. Selected readings will be made available at the start of the course. In general the following books are useful for this course:
Wooldridge, Jeffrey. 2009. Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach. 4th edition. South-Western College Pub.
Kennedy, Peter. 2008. A Guide to Econometrics. 6th edition. Blackwell Publishing.
Fox, John. 2008. Applied Regression Analysis and Generalized Linear Models. 2nd edition. Sage.
King, Gary. 1989. Unifying Political Methodology. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- Total
- 28
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignmentIndidividuel seminar assignment
- Marking scale
- passed/not passed
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
Passed/Not-passed
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- ASTK15638U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- .
- Study board
- Department of Political Science, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Political Science
Course responsibles
- Lars Kai Mäder (2-737447706d7a35727c356b72)
Fagkoordinator: Peter Nedergaard