Schedule
The schedule below is a tentative outline of our plans for the module. If we need more time for digestion, there is flexibility in our plans to allow for that.
Before each class period, please watch the indicated videos, complete required readings, and complete the associated Moodle checkpoint. Checkpoints are due at 2pm CST on the indicated day.
For the most part, readings listed here are suggestions. They refer to sections in the PRIMER and WHATIF books (see References) and may be useful for alternate presentations of the concepts. When a reading is required, it will marked as (REQD).
| Week 1: Foundational Ideas (9/2 - 9/4) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day(s) | Topic | Videos/Readings | Slides | Checkpoint | Solutions |
| 9/2 | Motivation and Review | link | |||
| 9/3 | Exchangeability |
Defining Causal Effects Exchangeability WHATIF: 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2 |
PDF |
link | link |
| 9/4 | Study Designs |
Study Designs in Causal Inference WHATIF: 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2 |
link | link | |
| Homework 1 due Sunday, 9/6 at midnight CST | |||||
| Week 2: Causal Graphs (9/8 - 9/11) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day(s) | Topic | Videos/Readings | Slides | Checkpoint | Solutions |
| 9/8 | Causal Graphs as Statistical Models |
Introduction to Causal Graphs Causal Graphs as Statistical Models PRIMER: 1.4, 1.5 |
PDF |
link | link |
| 9/9 | Key Structures in Causal Graphs |
Key Structures in Causal Graphs PRIMER: 2.1 - 2.3 WHATIF: 6.1 - 6.3, 6.5 |
link | link | |
| 9/10 | Graphical Structure of Confounding |
Causal and Noncausal Paths D-Separation PRIMER: 2.4 WHATIF: 7.1 - 7.4, 7.6 |
PDF |
link | link |
| 9/11 | Graphical Structure of Selection Bias |
(REQD) WHATIF: 8.1 - 8.3 Optional: 8.4 - 8.6 |
link | ||
| Homework 2 due Sunday, 9/13 at midnight CST | |||||
| Week 3: Causal Graphs and Estimating Causal Effects (9/14 - 9/18) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day(s) | Topic | Videos/Readings | Slides | Checkpoint | Solutions |
| 9/14 | Digestion day: Causal graphs and study designs | Group discussion/reflection can be turned in as "mini-homework" for earning Mastery on causal graphs + study design objectives. | |||
| 9/15 | The Smoking-Birthweight Paradox | (REQD) reading: The Birth Weight "Paradox" Uncovered? | link | ||
| 9/16-9/17 | Regression for Estimating Causal Effects |
Asking Clear Questions and Building Graphs Estimating Causal Effects: Regression |
PDF |
link | |
| 9/18 | Inverse Probability Weighting |
Estimating Causal Effects: Inverse Probability Weighting WHATIF: 2.4 (parallels video) PRIMER: 3.6 (analgous viewpoint but different language than WHATIF) |
link | link | |
| Homework 3 due Sunday, 9/20 at midnight CST | |||||
| Week 4: Estimation and Sensitivity Analyses (9/21 - 9/25) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day(s) | Topic | Videos/Readings | Slides | Checkpoint | Solutions |
| 9/21, 9/23 | Inverse Probability Weighting in Practice | (REQD): WHATIF: 12.1, 12.2, 12.4 | link | ||
| 9/24 | Time-Varying Treatments | (REQD) WHATIF: 19.1 - 19.4 | link | link | |
| Homework 4 due Sunday, 9/27 at midnight CST | |||||
| Week 5: Sensitivity Analyses and Mediation (9/28 - 10/2) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day(s) | Topic | Videos/Readings | Slides | Checkpoint | Solutions |
| 9/28 | Sensitivity Analyses for Unmeasured Variables | Sensitivity Analyses for Unmeasured Variables | link | ||
| 9/29 | Causal Discovery | Causal Discovery | link | ||
| 10/1 | Mediation Analysis |
Mediation Analysis (watch by 10/1) How racial discrimination in law enforcement actually works (REQD for 10/2) |
link | link | |
| Homework 5 due Sunday, 10/4 at midnight CST | |||||
| Week 6: Instrumental Variables Analysis (10/5 - 10/9) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day(s) | Topic | Videos/Readings | Slides | Checkpoint | Solutions |
| 10/5 - 10/6 | Instrumental Variables Analysis |
Lecture video WHATIF Chapter 16, PRIMER 3.8 Instrumental variable methods for causal inference by Baiocchi, Cheng, and Small |
link | ||
| Homework 6 due Sunday, 10/11 at midnight CST | |||||