Foundations of Statistical Modelling for Social and Political Sciences

This course offers an introduction to the foundational principles of statistical science, a discipline that underpins much of modern data analysis and decision-making. The focus is on providing a comprehensive understanding of the core concepts and methods that form the basis of statistical thinking and practice.
Designed for students in the social and political sciences, this course aims to equip participants with the essential tools and knowledge to effectively understand and apply statistical methods within their fields. Emphasis is placed on mastering the fundamentals of statistical science, which are crucial for analyzing and interpreting data rigorously and meaningfully.
The course combines theoretical lessons on statistical techniques with practical sessions that emphasize their empirical application using R software. Topics will primarily follow a frequentist approach, with introductory notions of Bayesian methods included to broaden students' perspectives.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a solid set of skills in quantitative research from both a theoretical and practical perspective. They will be able to conduct univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses, and apply the fundamental principles of statistical inference. Additionally, students will be proficient in using the statistical software R and capable of independently carrying out a research project.
Specifically, students will learn to:
· Enter and manage their own datasets for analysis;
· Identify appropriate statistical methods to address theory-driven research questions;
· Conduct their own analyses using R;
· Interpret the results of data analysis.