Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1
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Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
À propos de ce cours
This course seeks to turn learners into informed consumers of social science research. It introduces concepts, standards, and principles of social science research to the interested non-expert. Learners who complete the course will be able to assess evidence and critically evaluate claims about important social phenomena. It reviews the origins and development of social science, describes the process of discovery in contemporary social science research, and explains how contemporary social science differs from apparently related fields. It describes the goals, basic paradigms, and methodologies of the major social science disciplines. It offers an overview of the major questions that are the focus of much contemporary social science research, overall and for China. Special emphasis is given to explaining the challenges that social scientists face in drawing conclusions about cause and effect from their studies, and offers an overview of the approaches that are used to overcome these challenges. Explanation is non-technical and does not involve mathematics. Statistics and quantitative methods are not covered.
Explore the big questions in social science and learn how you can be a critical, informed consumer of social science research.
Course Overview video: https://youtu.be/QuMOAlwhpvU
After you complete Part 1, enroll in Part 2 to learn how to be a PRODUCER of Social science research.
Part 2: https://www.coursera.org/learn/social-science-research-chinese-society
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
What is social science?
Welcome to Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1! Part 1 focuses on being a CONSUMER of social science research. Take some time to review the Course Overview video and the assignments for this course. In Week 1, we will explore What is Social Science. By the end of this week, you will be able to understand the differences between social science from humanities, natural and life sciences, outline the origins of social science and have a grasp of key definitions and terms.
8 videos (Total 36 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
1.1 Overview2m
1.2 Why social science is a science6m
1.3 Theory and evidence in social science7m
1.4 The origins of social science4m
1.5 Social science as a new way to study society3m
1.6 Differences between social science and other disciplines7m
1.7 Summary1m
4 readings
Assignments & Grading3m
Suggested Reading List (Optional)10m
Week 1 General Reading List10m
Week 1 Classics Reading List10m
1 practice exercises
Week 1 - What is social science?14m
2
Section
The Big Questions
In Week 2, we will focus on The Big Questions. By the end of this week, you should have some sense of the range of questions that are the focus of much social science research. The next week, Week 3, will expand on China specific research.
7 videos (Total 39 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
7 videos
2.2 Inequality5m
2.3 Family7m
2.4 Social context and individual outcomes9m
2.5 Divergence7m
2.6 Political and social change3m
2.7 Summary2m
1 readings
Week 2 The Big Questions Reading10m
1 practice exercises
Week 2 - The Big Questions14m
3
Section
Social Science Research on China
In Week 3, we will focus on Social Science Research on China. By the end of this week, you should have some sense of major topics in current social science research on China.
7 videos (Total 44 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
7 videos
3.2 Change and continuity7m
3.3 Family8m
3.4 Population aging5m
3.5 Migration4m
3.6 Education, Health, and Wellbeing11m
3.7 Summary3m
1 readings
Week 3 Social Science Research on China Resources10m
1 practice exercises
Week 3 - Social science research on China14m
4
Section
The Social Science Disciplines
In Week 4, we will focus on The Social Science Disciplines. By the end of this week, you should have a better understanding of the emphases of each of the major social science disciplines, and the differences between the disciplines.
7 videos (Total 59 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
7 videos
4.2 Sociology15m
4.3 Political Science14m
4.4 Economics13m
4.5 Anthropology6m
4.6 Other disciplines5m
4.7 Summary1m
1 readings
Week 4 Social Science Disciplines Reading10m
1 practice exercises
Week 4 - Social science disciplines14m
5
Section
Study Designs
In Week 5, we will focus on Study Designs. By the end of this week, you should understand the differences between the most common types of study, and have some sense of the settings in which each is most relevant.
8 videos (Total 59 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
8 videos
5.2 What is a study?9m
5.3 Experimental and observational studies5m
5.4 Cross-sectional studies7m
5.4 Longitudinal studies15m
5.6 Qualitative and quantitative studies10m
5.7 Macro and micro studies6m
5.8 Summary2m
1 readings
Week 5 Study Designs Reading10m
1 practice exercises
Week 5 Study Designs14m
6
Section
Challenges
In Week 6, we will focus on Challenges. By the end of this week, you should be able to have a better understanding of key challenges to interpreting results from social science research, and be able to reflect on potential problems with study design.
8 videos (Total 61 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
8 videos
6.2 Representativeness9m
6.3 Selection bias12m
6.4 Omitted variables8m
6.5 Reverse causality2m
6.6 The ecological fallacy9m
6.7 Validity of measures10m
6.8 Summary2m
1 readings
Week 6 Causation vs Correlation10m
1 practice exercises
Week 6 - Challenges14m
7
Section
Cause and Effect
In Week 7, we will focus on Cause and Effect. By the end of this week, you should understand the basic approaches that social scientists follow in trying to establish that an observed relationship reflects cause and effect.
8 videos (Total 71 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
8 videos
7.2 Experimental designs14m
7.3 Cause and effect in observational studies7m
7.4 Control variables12m
7.5 Natural/quasi experiments14m
7.6 Instrumental variables7m
7.7 Matching approaches9m
7.8 Summary1m
1 readings
Week 7 Measuring Causal Relationships10m
1 practice exercises
Week 7 - Cause and effect14m
8
Section
Final Exam
You've reached the final exam week! Complete the final exam and post-course survey. Your feedback can help us improve future iterations of the course.
Good luck on the exam and hope to see you in Social Science Approaches Part 2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/social-science-research-chinese-society
1 video (Total 6 min), 2 quizzes
1 videos
2 practice exercises
Final Exam0m
Post-course survey42m
Instructor
Cameron Campbell
Professor of Social ScienceAbout The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
HKUST - A dynamic, international research university, in relentless pursuit of excellence, leading the advance of science and technology, and educating the new generation of front-runners for Asia and the world.
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