EC207: Empirical Methods for Economics and Social Sciences

Module code: EC207

Module provider: Economics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Anne Pass , email: a.pass@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The main aim of this module is to develop confidence and competence in some of the statistical and quantitative methods that are normally applied by practitioners in economics and the wider social sciences. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Undertake quantitative problem solving across a range of subjects taught in the Department of Economics
2. Gain skills in using statistical software
3. Gain skills in handling data

Module content

Topics might include the loading and transferring of data, numerical and graphical summaries of data, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, the analysis of variance, OLS regression, and the interpretation of regression output tables and diagnostic tests generated by statistical software. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught in a lecture+seminar format. Recorded lectures covering the main module material will be published on Blackboard and in the following week you will have an applied seminar or computer class. 

Study hours

At least 10 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.