Topics in Quantitative Sociology

Fall 2020 ENSAE

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation for this course is based on three components (one 2-page written commentary, one 4-page written review and participation in class discussion) in addition to class attendance.

The logic of the course requirements is to ensure that with a minimal but reasonable enough effort you get a sufficient exposure to quantitative sociology. My lecture for each session should give you the necessary background, which is why I do not expect from you to read beyond the two weekly case-studies. However, because I have selected good but tough papers for the case-studies, it is expected that you read through them in order to follow and participate in the class discussion. My in-class presentations of applied papers should help clarify each paper. Aided by their written commentaries, students should be able to further enrich the discussion. All this should also give enough background knowledge to prepare the written review for a given week. All in all, this method aims to oblige you to work in-depth (1 commentary + 1 review) on the material for two specific weeks and to get working knowledge for the remaining sessions.

Reading requirements

All readings are available on the course website. Everyone is responsible for having a general understanding of the background reading and the two weekly case-studies so as to be capable to contribute to the class discussion constructively. For the two case-studies, this entails, at a minimum, to skim through a paper’s introduction, theory section, visuals and conclusion (approximately 60 min per article for a total of 2 hours of work per week). Note that while a good comprehension of the statistical issues in a paper may be useful, the emphasis in this course will be on the logic and design of the paper: most fundamental problems in any piece of research largely occur before any model is ever estimated.

How to write your commentary

Each student is required to submit one 2-page critical commentary on the main case-study from a given week, which is different from the one chosen for the review. The purpose of the commentaries, which will be made available on the course website on the day of class, is to provide other students with a critical perspective on the works presented in class. I will also use the commentary to animate the discussion in class and expect authors to participate verbally as well.

The commentary  for a given paper must discuss its's contributions to advancing our knowledge on the reseach question at hand, in terms of theory, methodology, and/or empirical evidence; evaluate its shortcomings. I am looking for two basic things here: how well you understand the article; and whether there are sufficient and convinging elements to justify what you identify as main contributions and shortcomings of the article.

The commentary should not exceed two pages. Note that your commentary must not to summarize the case-study; you simply need to address its strengths and weaknesses.

For illustration, here are examples of a good commentary: ex.1, ex.2. Note that contrary to these examples, you will have to comment on one case-study in two (instead of one) pages.

How to write your review

Each student is required to prepare a written 4-page review of an empirical paper. The review must include the following elements:

A list of papers for review are available for each week. The paper for review must be chosen for a week different from the ones on which the student writes his or her two commentaries.

For illustration, here are examples of excellent student reviews from previous years: ex.1, ex.2, ex.3.

By what deadline to submit your work

Student commentaries are due on Monday night (no later than 23:59) of the week when the case-study is discussed (example: if you choose to present a case-study from week 3, the presentation is due on the Monday night before our class on Wednesday). 

Reviews are due at the end of the semester on Sunday January 5th no later than 23:59. Failure to submit your work on time will result in a 20% penalty of your grade. (The penalty aims to motivate you to finish before midnight and to get a full-night sleep.)

How to submit your work

Use this link to email your commentaries and review as a PDF file with a name formatted as such: [Rev/Com][week#][familyname(s)].pdf . For example: Com3Petev.pdf, Rev4Petev.pdf.

Grading

How to choose your work assignments

For 2-page commentaries: Use this link to complete a survey with your preferences for papers to comment and to review. Based on the survey results and in accordance to the preferences in the class, I will assign each student a paper for review and for two other weeks papers for the two commentaries. 

Complete the survey by Wednesday October 9 (no later than 23:59) to ensure that I take account of your preferences. Work assignments will be published on the course website by midnight on Wednesday October 16.

For 4-page reviews: Use this link (the link will be activated after Oct. 16 when you receive you commentary assignment) to give me a list of 5 papers which you would be happy to review and I will assign you one of them (as I try to avoid multiple people reviewing the same paper). Complete the survey by November 30th (no later than 23:59).

Attention in class (no smartphones, tablets or computers)

More important than class attendance, attention in class is crucial for a good working environment. The course material requires your full attention. The use of smartphones, tablets and computers, which are inevitable distractions for you and to the classmates around you, are therefore not allowed. For a clearer statement of my position by a fellow professors, see link and link.

Class attendance

Every non-justified absence counts for 1% less of your final grade.