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Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 14 hours
  • Course by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • Offered by

About

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

Modules

Welcome

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Meet and Greet your peers!

1 Videos

  • Course Overview

2 Readings

  • Assignments & Grading
  • Suggested Reading List (Optional)

Lecture: What is social science?

    • 7 Videos
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7 Videos

  • 1.1 Overview
  • 1.2 Why social science is a science
  • 1.3 Theory and evidence in social science
  • 1.4 The origins of social science
  • 1.5 Social science as a new way to study society
  • 1.6 Differences between social science and other disciplines
  • 1.7 Summary

Week 1 Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Interest in social science

Week 1 Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 1 - What is social science?

Week 1 Suggested Reading (Optional)

    • 2 Readings
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2 Readings

  • Week 1 General Reading List
  • Week 1 Classics Reading List

Lecture: The Big Questions

    • 7 Videos
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7 Videos

  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Inequality
  • 2.3 Family
  • 2.4 Social context and individual outcomes
  • 2.5 Divergence
  • 2.6 Political and social change
  • 2.7 Summary

Week 2 Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • The Big Questions

Week 2 Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 2 - The Big Questions

Week 2 Suggested Reading (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 2 The Big Questions Reading

Lecture: Social Science Research on China

    • 7 Videos
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7 Videos

  • 3.1 Overview
  • 3.2 Change and continuity
  • 3.3 Family
  • 3.4 Population aging
  • 3.5 Migration
  • 3.6 Education, Health, and Wellbeing
  • 3.7 Summary

Week 3 Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Notable changes in (Chinese) society

Week 3 Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 3 - Social science research on China

Week 3 Extra Resources (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 3 Social Science Research on China Resources

Lecture: The Social Science Disciplines

    • 7 Videos
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7 Videos

  • 4.1 Overview
  • 4.2 Sociology
  • 4.3 Political Science
  • 4.4 Economics
  • 4.5 Anthropology
  • 4.6 Other disciplines
  • 4.7 Summary

Week 4 Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Social science disciplines

Week 4 Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 4 - Social science disciplines

Week 4 Suggested Reading (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 4 Social Science Disciplines Reading

Lecture: Study Designs

    • 8 Videos
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8 Videos

  • 5.1 Overview
  • 5.2 What is a study?
  • 5.3 Experimental and observational studies
  • 5.4 Cross-sectional studies
  • 5.4 Longitudinal studies
  • 5.6 Qualitative and quantitative studies
  • 5.7 Macro and micro studies
  • 5.8 Summary

Week 5 Study Designs Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Study Designs

Week 5 - Study Designs Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 5 Study Designs

Week 5 Suggested Reading (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 5 Study Designs Reading

Lecture: Challenges

    • 8 Videos
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8 Videos

  • 6.1 Overview
  • 6.2 Representativeness
  • 6.3 Selection bias
  • 6.4 Omitted variables
  • 6.5 Reverse causality
  • 6.6 The ecological fallacy
  • 6.7 Validity of measures
  • 6.8 Summary

Week 6 Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Challenges in social science research

Week 6 Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 6 - Challenges

Week 6 Suggested Reading (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 6 Causation vs Correlation

Lecture: Cause and Effect

    • 8 Videos
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8 Videos

  • 7.1 Overview
  • 7.2 Experimental designs
  • 7.3 Cause and effect in observational studies
  • 7.4 Control variables
  • 7.5 Natural/quasi experiments
  • 7.6 Instrumental variables
  • 7.7 Matching approaches
  • 7.8 Summary

Week 7 Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Cause and effect

Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Week 7 - Cause and effect

Week 7 Suggested Reading (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 7 Measuring Causal Relationships

Final Exam

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final Exam

Part 1 Farewell

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Post-course survey

1 Videos

  • Concluding Remarks

Auto Summary

This foundational course, led by Coursera, delves into social science approaches to Chinese society, tailored for non-experts looking to critically evaluate social science research. Over 840 minutes, it covers the origins, paradigms, and methodologies of social sciences, emphasizing challenges in establishing cause and effect. Ideal for personal development, it offers starter and professional subscription options. Complete Part 1 to become an informed consumer of social science research before advancing to Part 2.

Cameron Campbell
Instructor

Cameron Campbell