Admission requirements
The course is a sequel to the course Causal inference I. Students are expected to be familiar with formulating causal questions within the potential outcome framework, assessing causal assumptions that are needed to identify a causal effect, visualizing such assumptions using directed acyclic graphs, and applying computational methods to account for confounding (outcome regression and inverse probability weighting) in statistical software.
Description
Understanding what causes what, is the starting point of understanding the world around us. In Causal Inference I, we focused on causal questions regarding the average effects of point interventions. In Causal Inference II, we extend our focus to more complex data settings that are encountered in practice and explore recent advances in causal machine learning. Several advanced methods are offered, and students choose to study one particular method in detail. Topics include causal mediation analysis, causal discovery with graphical models, doubly robust methods, time-varying exposures and instrumental variable analysis. Students work during the course on a deeper understanding of their chosen topic, including applying it to case study data and explaining the topic to the other students.
Course Objectives
After successful completion students are able to:
Independently evaluate scientific literature to learn a new causal inference method
Apply an advanced causal inference method to case study data, including
- Formulating the research question
- Evaluating whether the necessary causal assumptions hold
- Programming the method in statistical software
- Interpreting results and drawing conclusions
Explain newly derived knowledge to peer students
Report on a causal analysis method and the results of a case study analysis both orally and in writing.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of Instruction
Student groups teach their chosen topic to the other students. Preparation tasks include: literature reading, data analysis, preparing presentations, report writing. Each group is coached by a topic expert.
Assessment method
Assessment consists a group assignment presented in a written report (30%), a final presentation (individual, 20%), plus an oral exam (individual, 50%).
Partial grades cannot be carried over to the next academic year, the grades should be obtained within the same year.
Reading list
The list of literature will be posted on Brightspace.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
n.van_geloven@lumc.nl
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.