Research Design in the Social Sciences
Module SSI2004 for 2023/4

Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSI2004: Research Design in the Social Sciences

This module descriptor refers to the 2023/4 academic year.

Whilst the module’s precise content will vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover the following themes:

- Descriptive and causal logic in social science research.

- The problem of causal inference.

- Experiments: field, laboratory, and survey.

- Survey research.

- Natural experiments and instrumental variables.

- Longitudinal research and difference-in-differences estimation.

- Computational social science.

- Mixed methods for social science research.

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
22	128	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activity	22	11 x 2 hour lectures/workshops
Guided independent study	78	Reading and preparation for classes
Guided independent study	50	Reading, preparation and writing of the assignments

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).