Social Science 534

Quantitative Analysis in Social Science

Thursday 6:30-9:20 p.m.

3006 Academic Building   

         

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. WU Xiaogang  

OFFICE: 3371 Academic Building

PHONE:  23587827

EMAIL: sowu@ust.hk

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment

 

INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT: Mr. Stephen WAN Hoi Ming  

OFFICE: 3001 Academic Building

PHONE: 23587817

EMAIL: sohmsw@ust.hk

OFFICE HOURS: TBA

 

OVERVIEW

This course surveys the statistical models commonly used in empirical social research, building on the topics covered in SOSC 509. We will start with a basic review of multiple linear regression models, and then consider models and methods that should be used when the assumptions of the classical linear regression model are violated. We will cover methods for categorical data analysis, including techniques for binary, ordered and unordered polytomous (dependent) variables, frequency counts, and censored and truncated variables; methods for longitudinal data, including panels and event histories. Additional topics such as hierarchical linear models and structural equation models are also to be introduced to those who seek further training in quantitative analysis.       

 

PREREQUISITE

SOSC509 or its equivalent is required.

 

COURSE WEBSITE AND DISCUSSION BOARD  

I have established a WebCT account for this course (http://webct.ust.hk). You may use your ITSC username and password to log in and find the course syllabus, homework assignments, data sets, and links to other learning resources. You may also post your questions oand exchange ideas with me, IA, or your fellow classmates on the discussion board. I will load the lecture notes on the web by the noon of the day when the lecture is given. You should print out the notes and bring them to the class.

 

READINGS                                                                                        

    

● Required Textbooks

            Jeffrey M. Wooldridge. 2003. Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach (2nd edition) Mason, OH: South-Western.

 

Daniel A. Powers and Yu Xie 2000. Statistical Methods for Categorical Data Analysis. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

  

● Recommended textbook

Scott J. Long and Jeremy Freese 2001. Regression Models for Categorical Dependent Variable Using Stata. College Station, TX: Stata Press.

 

The three books have been ordered via the HKUST bookshop.     

 

● Supplementary Reading Materials

You may be asked to read a few research articles as exemplary applications of the models covered in class. They will be distributed in electronic format. 

 

REQUIREMENTS

You will be assessed through 5 assignments (50% of final grade), a take-home midterm exam (20% of final grade), and a term paper (30%). Stephen, the Instructional Assistant, will help you use STATA to solve homework problems in lab session.

 

COMPUTING

You will be doing substantial amount of data analysis with the aid of a software package called STATA 8.0, which many of you have got familiar with via SOSC509. Other software packages are introduced if necessary. You can either purchase STATA under “STATA Grad Plan” program, or use it in Social Science Computing lab. If you decide to purchase the software, please go to http://www.stata.com/info/order/new/edu/gradplans/gp2-order.html, and tell them the course id is socsci25. You can get it by a discounted price.  

 

You are assumed to have taken SOSC509 and known the basics for using STATA. The tutorial sessions are focused on how to use STATA to estimate and interpret specific models taught in lecture. If you have no experience of using STATA before, you should put some extra effort on the software. Your IA will be available for help.    

 

TOPICS AND TENTATIVE SCHEDULE  

 

Week 1 [5 February] Linear Regression I  

Reading:
            Powers and Xie 2

            Wooldridge 2-4

             

Week 2 [12 February] Linear Regression II

Reading: 

            Wooldridge 6-7

 

Paper Proposal Due (refer to Wooldridge 19)

 

Week 3 [19 February] Linear Regression III 

Reading:

            Wooldridge 8-9 

Week 4 [26 February] Logit and Probit Models  

Reading:

            Powers and Xie 3

            Wooldridge 17.1

            Long and Freese: 3-4

Homework 1 Due

           

Week 5 [4 March] Ordered Logit, Multinomial Logit, and Conditional Logit Models I

Reading:

             Powers and Xie 6 - 7

             Long and Freese 5

 

Week 6 [11 March] Ordered Logit, Multinomial Logit, and Conditional Logit Models II

Reading:

            Powers and Xie 6 & 7

            Wooldridge 17.3

            Long and Freese 6

Homework 2 Due

             

Week 7 [18 March] Poisson Regression, Loglinear Models for Contingency Tables 

Reading:

            Powers and Xie 4

            Long and Freese 7

 

Week 8 [25 March] Censored and Truncated Regression Models

Reading:

            Wooldridge 17.2-17.5

Homework 3 Due

  

Week 9 [1 April] TAKE-HOME MIDTERM EXAM (NO CLASS)

 

[5-10 APRIL, MID-SEMESTER BREAK]

           

Week 10 [15 April] Event History Analysis I   

Reading:

            Powers and Xie 5     

 

Week 11 [22 April] Event History Analysis II   

Reading:

            Powers and Xie 5

    

Week 12 [29 April] Models for Panel and Other Types of Clustered Data

Reading:

            Wooldridge 13-14

Homework 4 Due

 

Week 13 [6 May] Multi-level Models  

Reading:

DiPrete, Thomas A. and Jerry D. Forristal 1994 “Multilevel Models: Methods and Substance” Annual Review of Sociology 20:331-57

            Mason, William 2001 “Multilevel Methods of Statistical Analysis” California Center for

            Population Research Working Paper Series

 

Week 14 [13 May] Structural Equation Models: Endogeneity and Simultaneity   

Reading:

            Wooldridge 15-16  

Homework 5 Due  

 

TERM PAPER DUE AT 12:00 PM, MAY 28

 

 

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Supplementary Reading List

1. Xie, Yu and Emily Hannum 1996 “Regional Variation in Earnings Inequality in Reform-era ChinaAmerican Journal of Sociology 950-92  [Variable transformation, linearity test, analysis of variance/covariance, multi-level model]

 

2. Meng, Xin and Paul Miller 1995 “Occupational Segregation and Its Impact on Gender Wage Discrimination in China’s Rural Industrial Sector” Oxford Economic Papers 47:136-155  [Decomposition, ordered probit and multinomial logit models]

 

3. Entwisle, Barbara, Gail Henderson, et. al. 1995.“Gender and Family Business in Rural China.” American Sociological Review 60:36-57  [Multinomial logit models]           

 

4. Lin, Nan and Yanjie Bian 1991. “Getting Ahead in Urban China.” American Journal of Sociology 97:657-688 [Standardized and unstandardized regression coefficients; loglinear analysis] 

 

5. Greeley, Andrew M. and Michael Hout 1999. “Americans’ Increasing Belief in Life After Death: Religious Competition and Acculturation.” American Sociological Review 64:813-835  [Binary and ordered logit model]

  

6. Kung, James Kai-sing. 2002. “Off-farm Labor Markets and the Emergence of Land Rental Markets in Rural Markets.” Journal of Comparative Economics 30-395-414 [Tobit model]

 

7. Kung, James Kai-sing and Yiu-fai Lee. 2001. “So What If There is Income Inequality? The Distributive Consequence of Nonfarm Employment in Rural China.” Economic Development and Cultural Change 19-46  [Heckman selection models]      

 

8. Zhou, Xueguang, Nancy Tuma, and Phyllis Moen 1997 “Institutional Change and Job-Shift Patterns in Urban China, 1949 to 1994.” American Sociological Review 62:339-65. [Piecewise exponential model]      

 

9. Wu, Xiaogang, and Donald Treiman. 2004 “The Household Registration System and Social Stratification in China 1955-1996.” Demography [in press] [Discrete-time logit model]   

 

10. Peng, Yusheng 2001.Chinese Township and Villages as Industrial Corporations: Ownership, Governance, and Market Discipline.” American Journal of Sociology 106:1338-70. [Multilevel model]

 

11. Hao, Lingxin and Guihua Xie. 2001. “The Complexity and Endogeneity of Family Structure in Explaining Children’s Misbehavior.” Social Science Research 31:1-28 [Fixed effect model]

 

12. Li, Hongbin 2003. “Government’s Budget Constraint, Competition, and Privatization: Evidence from China’s Rural Industry.” Journal of Comparative Economics 31:486-502. [Instrumental variable estimation]