Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA Urban Studies programme.
Description
This is an applied course in the sense that throughout the course all the material will be taught within the context of actual problems and it is an embedded course in the sense that these actual problems are selected from Urban Research.
This emphasis on applied dimension will be complemented with an intuitive approach to the statistical content. Accordingly linear modelling paradigm will be entirely shown as an exercise in crafting regression equations. This equation based perspective will allow students to easily operationalize linear models as problem solving devices that can be used to test causal claims.
Against this background the course will start with simple linear regression and its core assumptions (linearity in parameters, homoskedasticity, independence and normality of conditional errors) and how they should be checked. The second step is entering into the multivariate setting to show how categorical variables can be operationalized and interactions should be incorporated into the regression equation. The third step is introducing binary response variables and showing logistic regression model as the remedy. The final episode is outlining of multilevel modelling.
Each class will consists of a theory part (explained against the background of an actual problem derived from Urban Research) followed by a practice session in classroom. In the practice session both actual and simulated datasets will be analyzed as implementation of the theory part. Entire implementation will be performed by using R language. Having experience with R language is an advantage but it is not a prerequisite. Students with no experience in R will learn it in practice sessions.
Course objectives
General learning outcomes
See tab Additional information for the overview of the programme's general learning outcomes. In the assessment methods below is outlined which general learning outcome will be tested through which method.
Course objectives, pertaining to this course
- Developing a critical understanding of Linear Models within the context of regression paradigm
- Being able to craft and examine regression equations by checking the assumptions and by being aware of the underlying estimation methods
- Implementing Linear Models to solve real Urban Research problems
- Learning the craft of reading model outcomes in order to make proper and credible interpretations
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lecture + Implementation session in each meeting.
Assessment method
Assessment
Students need to write a complete Scientific Essay; that answers a given question derived from Urban Research by outlining the contours of the relevant literature; articulating hypotheses; developing a Linear Model; making its interpretation; and making an assessment of the hypotheses on the basis of this interpretation; discussing potential implications. For this essay each student will get a unique (simulated data set) that will pose technical and substantive challenges.
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Scientific Essay | 90% |
| Active Participation in classroom discussions | 10% |
End grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note that the end grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of all assessment components.
Resit
Failing the Scientific Essay will require students to repeat the same exercise with another dataset and question.
If students need to retake any course for a second time, they are required to retake all elements of the course assessment, and may not carry over individual assessment grades from previous years.
Faculty regulations concerning participation in resits are listed in article 4.1 of the Faculty Course and Examination Regulations.
Feedback and inspection
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organised.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
- Enrolment through My Studymap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Student Affairs Office for BA Urban Studies.
Remarks
To be announced.