MAE4054 – Study Designs for Causal Inference

This course aims to discuss avenues, challenges, and limitations in the design of studies that intend to address causal research and evaluation questions.

The course covers experimental designs, quasi-experimental designs, and program evaluations. Key principles are illustrated with real-life example studies to improve the understanding of the assumptions and prerequisites of the methods and to critically discuss their scope.

Upon completion of the course, you:

Knowledge

• recognize the core relevance and challenges in drawing causal inferences from data;
• understand advantages, challenges, and limitations of experimental, quasi-experimental, and evaluation study designs;
• know central design elements and principles of experimental, quasi-experimental, and evaluation study designs.

Skills

• apply specific methodological procedures and techniques to analyze data in line with the study design.

Competencies

• critically read and evaluate the support for causal inferences in empirical studies;
• take a systematic and reasoned approach to designing studies, considering the advantages, challenges, and limitations of the variety of approaches in light of the central research questions and/or evaluation objectives.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

All students in the Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation Master program have equal access to the course. Qualified exchange students or students from other master's programmes at UiO may be considered based on capacity.

Contact us if you want to apply for the course. If you are unsure of whether or not you have sufficient prior knowledge, please send us documentation of previous relevant courses you have taken.

This course combines lectures, seminars (including critical discussions of pro and contras of specific studies), and more practical lab activities.

Obligatory activity:

• 80% attendance in the seminars
• Presentation of a critique of an assigned study and participation in the discussion in the seminars
• Compulsory assignment

Once qualified for participating in the exam, you retain this qualification for the next two times the course is offered.

The exam consists of a 4 hour individual written examination covering all course material and topics.

You need to have successfully completed the obligatory course components before being allowed to sit the exam. If you do not fulfill these requirements, you must submit a written request to apply for an additional assignment prior to sitting the exam. The application must document stated reasons for absence beyond your control.

Previously given exams and grading guides.

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination