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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies)

Postgraduate Course: Longitudinal Data Analysis (PGSP11487)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThere is now a great deal of longitudinal data available to social science researchers and many questions, particularly those that consider temporal relationships, are better addressed using longitudinal rather than cross-sectional data. This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of statistical approaches to analyzing longitudinal data. The course will have a practical focus and introduce students to analyzing existing large-scale household panel datasets. These datasets will include the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society (the UK Household Longitudinal Survey). The course will be taught using Stata software.
Course description Topics covered

1. Introduction to longitudinal data and longitudinal data analyses
2. Examples of existing longitudinal datasets (e.g. the British Household Panel Survey; Understanding Society the UK Household Longitudinal Study)
3. Approaches to longitudinal data analysis (e.g. repeated cross-sectional analysis; cohort analysis; panel modelling; duration analysis; dynamic models)
4. Managing longitudinal social survey data analysis (e.g. understanding the workflow)
5. Using Stata software to analyze longitudinal data
6. Exploring existing longitudinal data
7. Modelling longitudinal data
8. Interpreting results from longitudinal data analyses
9. Presenting results from longitudinal data analyses
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in the organisation and management of large and complex longitudinal datasets
  2. Critically assess the suitability of variables and measures within complex longitudinal datasets for social science research
  3. Creatively and independently plan and design a study using existing longitudinal data
  4. Undertake critical analysis of longitudinal data using statistical models
  5. Creatively cast scientific questions in longitudinal terms and interpret and report related analyses of longitudinal data
Reading List
Core Text: Gayle, V. and Lambert, P. 2018. What is Quantitative Longitudinal Data Analysis? London: Bloomsbury Press. ISBN978-1-4725-1540-7

Davies, R.B. 1994. From Cross-Sectional to Longitudinal Analysis¿, in Analyzing Social and Political Change. Edited by A. Dale and R.B. Davies. London: Sage. ISBN: 0803982984. (An excellent chapter in excellent book).

Kohler, U. and Kreuter, F. 2009. Data Analysis Using Stata (Second Edition). College-Station Texas: Stata Press. ISBN 9781597180467. (A very good book, ideal for students working in Stata).

Long, J.S. 2009. The Workflow of Data Analysis Using Stata. College-Station Texas: Stata Press. ISBN 9781597180474. (A great book on the practice of data analysis and data management).

Longhi, S., & Nandi, A. 2014. A practical guide to using panel data. Sage. ISBN-10: 1446210871. (A stellar tome!!).

Skrondal, A. and Rabe-Hesketh, S. 2004. Generalized Latent Variable Modelling: Multilevel, Longitudinal and Structural Equations Models. New York: Chapman and Hall. ISBN: 1-58488-000-7. (A very advanced, dense text which summarizes a wide array of statistical models which may be used for longitudinal analyses, highlighting the technical connections between them).

Singer, J.D. and Willett, J.B. 2003. Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis: Modelling change and event occurrence. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0-19-515296-4. (Wide coverage illustrating a selection of relatively advanced analytical strategies, although with less applied guidance than the title might suggest).

Taris, T. W. 2000. A Primer in Longitudinal Data Analysis. London: Sage. ISBN: 0761960260. (Excellent accessible explanations of many panel analysis methods)

Treiman, D. J. 2009. Quantitative Data Analysis ¿ Doing Social Research to Test Ideas. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9780470380031. (Overall an excellent book).
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Generic cognitive skills (e.g. evaluation, critical analysis).
Communication, numeracy and IT skills.
Autonomy, accountability and working with others.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiser Course secretaryMs Cath Thompson
Tel: (0131 6)51 3892
Email: cthomps7@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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