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78330-01 - Seminar: Applied Causal Inference with R (1 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Angela Leipold (angela.leipold@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This workshop will be held by Dr. Denis Cohen (Mannheim Centre for European Social Research). This workshop offers a hands-on introduction for social scientists seeking to apply causal inference methods to observational and secondary data. Following a brief recap of foundational concepts of causal inference—including theoretical frameworks of causality, randomization, and bias—we turn to the motivating question of the course: How can we make credible causal claims when we can neither control nor randomize treatment assignment? The course then provides applied introductions to some widely used strategies for causal identification with observational data, including regression discontinuity designs and event study frameworks such as difference-in-differences. Each approach is discussed both in terms of its logic of causal identification and its practical implementation in R, using real-world examples from the social sciences. By the end of the course, participants will be able to critically assess-causal claims and apply core identification strategies in their own empirical research. |
| Comments | The workshop is offered by the Society and Choice PhD program. Maximum number of participants: 15. Selection criteria: 1. PhD students from the SC-PSY PhD program 2. Master Science Tracker (StO 15) resp. Science Tracker Society and Choice (StO24) 3. Currently a PhD candidate in psychology 4. First come - first served SC-PSY rules for withdrawal, absence, or partial course attendance: If you cannot attend a workshop that you have signed up for, please cancel your course registration as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to angela.leipold@unibas.ch. This will allow other PhD students interested in the course to move up from the waiting list. The SC-PSY strongly values fairness. After the university’s official registration period has ended, cancelled course will be assessed with NE. Course registrations can be cancelled until one week before the workshops begins. In the case of late cancellations, participants will not be considered for course registration in the next three months of the lecture periods and will be removed from the registration list of any course they have signed up during these three upcoming months of the lecture periods. If an urgent, unforeseeable, or inevitable event before or during the workshop prevents a participant from attending, a written and substantiated withdrawal request that includes appropriate documentation (e.g. a doctor’s note) must be submitted to angela.leipold@unibas.ch within two days of the work-shop and without being prompted. The program director decides on the approval of the withdrawal request. ECTS-points are awarded only for 100% course attendance. |
| Admission requirements | Doktorat im Bereich Psychologie. Für Masterstudierende im Society&Choice/SWE Science Track: Anmeldung und erfolgreiche Aufnahme in den SWE/S&C Science Track. Siehe: https://psychologie.unibas.ch/de/studium/doktoratsstudium/doktoratsprogramme/sc-psy/science-track/ |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| unregelmässig | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 19.03.2026 | 14.00-18.00 | Missionsstrasse 64a, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Friday 20.03.2026 | 09.00-13.00 | Missionsstrasse 64a, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Modules |
Doctorate Psychology: Recommendations (PhD subject: Psychology) Modul: Science Track Society and Choice (Master's Studies: Psychology) Module: Science Track in Social, Economic, and Decision Psychology (Master's Studies: Psychology (Start of studies before 01.08.2024)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Preparation and follow-up of the contents of the workshop as well as active participation. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Psychology, studiendekanat-psychologie@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Psychology |