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MACS 30200 - Perspectives on Computational Research (Spring 2017)

Dr. Richard Evans Dr. Benjamin Soltoff Daniel Hedblom (TA) Laila Noureldin (TA)
Email rwevans@uchicago.edu soltoffbc@uchicago.edu hedblom@uchicago.edu lhnoureldin@uchicago.edu
Office 250 Saieh Hall 249 Saieh Hall 248 Saieh Hall Harris School (Cafe)
Office Hours W 2:30-4:30pm Th 2-4pm M 1-3pm F 11:30-1:30
GitHub rickecon bensoltoff hedblomdaniel lailanoureldin
  • Meeting day/time: MW 11:30-12:50pm, Saieh Hall, Room 247
  • Office hours also available by appointment

Course description

This course focuses on applying computational methods to conducting social scientific research through a student-developed research project. Students will identify a research question of their own interest that involves a direct reference to social scientific theory, use of data, and a significant computational component. The students will collect data, develop, apply, and interpret statistical learning models, and generate a fully reproducible research paper. We will identify how computational methods can be used throughout the research process, from data collection and tidying, to exploration, visualization and modeling, to the final communication of results. The course will include modules on theoretical and practical considerations, including topics such as epistemological questions about research design, writing and critiquing papers, and additional computational tools for analysis.

Grades

Assignment Points Quantity Total points
Proposal 10 1 10
Literature review 15 1 15
Methods/initial results 15 1 15
Peer evaluations of posters 2 5 10
Poster presentation 30 1 30
Final paper 40 1 40
Problem set 10 3 30
Total Points 150

Students will turn assignments in via their own public GitHub repository named MACS30200proj. The directory structure of this repository should be the following.

  • github.com/yourgithubhandle/MACS30200proj
    • ProblemSets
      • PS1
      • PS2
      • PS3
    • Proposal
    • LitReview
    • Theory
    • MethodsResults
    • Poster
    • FinalPaper

Disability services

If you need any special accommodations, please provide us with a copy of your Accommodation Determination Letter (provided to you by the Student Disability Services office) as soon as possible so that you may discuss with me how your accommodations may be implemented in this course.

Course schedule (lite)

Date Day Topic Assignment due dates
Mar. 27 M Overview of term
Mar. 29 W Reproducibility in science
Apr. 3 M Abstract/intro/conclusion
Apr. 5 W Proposal presentations Proposal slides & present
Apr. 10 M Abstract/intro/conclusion
Apr. 12 W Data section of paper
Apr. 17 M Data section of paper
Apr. 19 W Theory section of paper Data PS
Apr. 24 M Computational results section of paper Literature review section
Apr. 26 W Computational results section of paper
May 1 M Workshop papers/office visits
May 3 W Diagnostic tests for OLS Computation PS
May 8 M Interaction terms
May 10 W Missing data and multiple imputation
May 15 M Multilevel data Hodgepodge PS
May 17 W p-hacking Methods/initial results
May 22 M Frequentist vs. Bayesian schools of inference
May 24 W Effective presentations (poster/slides)
May 29 M No class (Memorial Day)
May 31 W In-class poster presentations
Jun. 1 Th Poster presentations
Jun. 4 Su Final paper due at 11:59pm

References and Readings

All readings are required unless otherwise noted. Adjustments can be made throughout the quarter; be sure to check this repository frequently to make sure you know all the assigned readings.

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