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70 changes: 35 additions & 35 deletions README.md
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[![Empirical Methods](assets/promo/promo.001.jpeg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFkcCqmlLms "17-803 Empirical Methods")
(thanks for the promo, [@JoshQuicksall](https://twitter.com/JoshQuicksall)!)

**This is the Fall 2022 offering of this course. For older versions, see here: [Spring 2021](spring-2021/)[Fall 2018](fall-2018/).**
**This is the Spring 2024 offering of this course. For older versions, see here: [Fall 2022](fall-2022/) [Spring 2021](spring-2021/)[Fall 2018](fall-2018/).**

### Overview

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ After completing this course, you will:
As a side effect, this course helps you develop a healthy dose of skepticism towards scientific results in general. Does the study design really allow the authors to make certain claims? Does the analysis technique? Is the evidence provided as strong as it could be? Are there fundamental flaws and threats to validity?

### Coordinates
- Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:05-4:25pm, Eastern Time
- Assignments, private announcements: [Canvas](https://canvas.cmu.edu/courses/31674)
- Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30-4:50pm, Eastern Time in WEH 4708
- Assignments, private announcements: [Canvas](https://canvas.cmu.edu/courses/39794)
- Slides: this website
- Reading materials: [Shared Google Drive folder](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lSOQlbw-cRmT47_itpIJkTZua_IASNgB?usp=sharing) accessible with CMU login
- Instructor: [Bogdan Vasilescu](https://bvasiles.github.io)
- Teaching assistant: [Hongbo Fang](https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2022/june/open-source-software.html)
<!-- - Teaching assistant: -->

### Course Syllabus and Policies
The [syllabus](syllabus.md) covers course overview and objectives, evaluation,
Expand All @@ -55,40 +55,40 @@ written project reports, and in-class presentations.

### Schedule

Below is a preliminary schedule for Fall 2022. Each link points to a dedicated page with materials and more details.
Below is a preliminary schedule for Spring 2024. Each link points to a dedicated page with materials and more details.
All videos are published on [this YouTube channel](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuPUOEODcOmsS409iKohAewobtQswdI7M).

*Note*: The schedule is subject to change and will be updated as the semester progresses.

| Date | Topic | Notes |
| :------------- |:--------|:-------- |
Tue, Aug 30 | [Introduction](pages/aug30-intro.md) | [slides](slides/01-intro.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/IDtePCle3Qc)
Thu, Sep 1 | [Formulating research questions](pages/sep01-rqs.md) | [slides](slides/02-rqs.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/tQDMPCnd7rc)
Tue, Sep 6 | [The role of theory](pages/sep06-theory.md) | [slides](slides/03-theory.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/NEgRVKd1zzI)
Thu, Sep 8 | [Literature review](pages/sep08-litreview.md) | [slides](slides/04-litreview.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/DWImirSZXaA)
Tue, Sep 13 | [Conducting interviews](pages/sep13-interviews.md) | [slides](slides/05-interviewing.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/OJRXFEe80Rk)
Thu, Sep 15 | [Exemplar interview papers](pages/sep15-interviews-examples.md) | [slides](slides/06-interviewing-examples.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/7IXzoeohyLE)
Tue, Sep 20 | [Qualitative data analysis](pages/sep20-coding.md) | [slides](slides/07-qualitative-coding.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/Wfi1s66Ig34)
~~Thu, Sep 22~~ | ~~Class cancelled for the [S3D launch event](https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2022/isr-s3d-rebrand)~~ |
Tue, Sep 27 | [Survey design](pages/sep27-surveys.md) | [slides](slides/08-survey-design.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/Iymyk26pOaQ)
Thu, Sep 29 | In-class activity: qualitative coding & thematic analysis | no slides • no video
Tue, Oct 4 | Project proposal presentations | no slides • no video
Thu, Oct 6 | [Mixed-methods designs](pages/oct06-mixed-methods.md) | [slides](slides/10-mixed-methods.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/jzjjhUwocrM)
Tue, Oct 11 | [Experimental design (part I)](pages/oct11-causal-relationships.md) | [slides](slides/11-experiments-1.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8XDgb8Mxnw)
Thu, Oct 13 | [Experimental design (part II)](pages/oct13-counterbalancing.md) | [slides](slides/12-experiments-2.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtyjsgWsgNU)
~~Tue, Oct 18~~ | ~~Fall break, no class~~ |
~~Thu, Oct 20~~ | ~~Fall break, no class~~ |
Tue, Oct 25 | [Experimental design (part III)](pages/oct25-experiment-stats.md) | [slides](slides/13-experiments-3.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8vNy3m3vU)
Thu, Oct 27 | [Intro to regression modeling](pages/oct27-regression-pt1.md) | [slides](slides/14-regression-1.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/HTC7dPY-F34)
Tue, Nov 1 | [Diagnostics, factors, std coefficients](pages/nov01-regression-pt2.md) | [slides](slides/15-regression-2.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p8wtSmwkEE)
Thu, Nov 3 | [Simpson’s paradox, exemplar papers, in-class activity](pages/nov03-regression-pt3.md) | [slides](slides/16-regression-3.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/icvF44USI_s)
Tue, Nov 8 | [Interrupted time series design](pages/nov08-its.md) | [slides](slides/17-time-series.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/wuDfI71oPVs)
Thu, Nov 10 | [In-class activity: interrupted time series analysis](pages/nov10-its-activity.md) | [slides](slides/18-time-series-activity.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/PzQphPhwD3E)
Tue, Nov 15 | [Social network analysis (part I)](pages/nov15-sna-pt1.md) | [slides](slides/19-social-networks-1.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/2Da82Nc2cYY)
Thu, Nov 17 | [Social network analysis (part II)](pages/nov17-sna-pt2.md) | [slides](slides/20-social-networks-2.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/LeRhO2QUZaU)
Tue, Nov 22 | [Diff-in-diff + CausalImpact](pages/nov22-diff-in-diff.md) | [slides](slides/21-diff-in-diff.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/IZXPdvceOZQ)
~~Thu, Nov 24~~ | ~~Thanksgiving, no class~~ |
Tue, Nov 29 | [Research vs researcher](pages/nov29-research-vs-researchers.md) | [video](https://youtu.be/q83a9O3WY2Q)
Thu, Dec 1 | [Agree to disagree](pages/dec01-agree-to-disagree.md) | [video](https://youtu.be/nE0AHonCsWA)
Tue, Dec 6 | Final presentations (part I) | [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ADiATHlUdxITsblR_BCqW7nvZ3I3HJc2xkM1BMishG0/edit?usp=sharing)[video](https://youtu.be/GjJgy9eLZO0)
Thu, Dec 8 | Final presentations (part II) | [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ADiATHlUdxITsblR_BCqW7nvZ3I3HJc2xkM1BMishG0/edit?usp=sharing)[video](https://youtu.be/1UeCqSxmLlY)
Tue, Jan 16 | Introduction |
Thu, Jan 18 | Formulating research questions |
Tue, Jan 23 | The role of theory |
Thu, Jan 25 | Literature review |
Tue, Jan 30 | Conducting interviews |
Thu, Feb 1 | TBD |
Tue, Feb 6 | Exemplar interview papers |
Thu, Feb 8 | Qualitative data analysis |
Tue, Feb 13 | Survey design |
Thu, Feb 15 | In-class activity: qualitative coding & thematic analysis |
Tue, Feb 20 | Project proposal presentations |
Thu, Feb 22 | Mixed-methods designs |
Tue, Feb 27 | Experimental design (part I) |
Thu, Feb 29 | Experimental design (part II) |
~~Tue, Mar 5~~ | ~~Spring break, no class~~ |
~~Thu, Mar 7~~ | ~~Spring break, no class~~ |
Tue, Mar 12 | Experimental design (part III) |
Thu, Mar 14 | Intro to regression modeling |
Tue, Mar 19 | Diagnostics, factors, std coefficients |
Thu, Mar 21 | Simpson’s paradox, exemplar papers, in-class activity |
Tue, Mar 26 | Interrupted time series design |
Thu, Mar 28 | In-class activity: interrupted time series analysis |
Tue, Apr 2 | Social network analysis (part I) |
Thu, Apr 4 | Social network analysis (part II) |
Tue, Apr 9 | Diff-in-diff + CausalImpact |
~~Thu, Apr 11~~ | ~~Carnival, no class~~ |
Tue, Apr 16 | Research vs researcher |
Thu, Apr 18 | Agree to disagree |
Tue, Apr 23 | Final presentations (part I) |
Thu, Apr 25 | Final presentations (part II) |
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[![Empirical Methods](assets/promo/promo.001.jpeg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFkcCqmlLms "17-803 Empirical Methods")
(thanks for the promo, [@JoshQuicksall](https://twitter.com/JoshQuicksall)!)

**This is the Fall 2022 offering of this course. For older versions, see here: [Spring 2021](spring-2021/)[Fall 2018](fall-2018/).**

### Overview

Empirical methods play a key role in the design and evaluation of tools and technologies,
and in testing the social and technical theories they embody. No matter what your
research area is, chances are you will be conducting some empirical studies as
part of your work. Are you looking to evaluate a new algorithm? New tool?
Analyze (big) data? Understand what challenges practitioners face in some domain?

This course is a survey of empirical methods designed primarily for computer
science PhD students, that teaches you how to go about each of these activities
in a principled and rigorous way.
You will learn about and get hands-on experience with a core of qualitative and
quantitative empirical research methods, including interviews, qualitative coding,
survey design, and many of the most useful statistical analyses of (large-scale)
data, such as various forms of regression, time series analysis, and causal inference.
And you will learn how to design valid studies applying and combining these methods.

There will be extensive reading with occasional student presentations about
the reading in class, homework assignments, and a semester-long research
project for which students must prepare in-class kickoff and final presentations
as well as a final report.

After completing this course, you will:

- become a more sophisticated consumer of empirical research, both in your field and outside
- develop the methodological skills that can help you design and carry out empirical components in your own research program
- be able to analyze empirical data, draw conclusions, and present results
- be able to read, summarize, present, but most importantly critique academic empirical research papers on a deep technical level

As a side effect, this course helps you develop a healthy dose of skepticism towards scientific results in general. Does the study design really allow the authors to make certain claims? Does the analysis technique? Is the evidence provided as strong as it could be? Are there fundamental flaws and threats to validity?

### Coordinates
- Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:05-4:25pm, Eastern Time
- Assignments, private announcements: [Canvas](https://canvas.cmu.edu/courses/31674)
- Slides: this website
- Reading materials: [Shared Google Drive folder](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lSOQlbw-cRmT47_itpIJkTZua_IASNgB?usp=sharing) accessible with CMU login
- Instructor: [Bogdan Vasilescu](https://bvasiles.github.io)
- Teaching assistant: [Hongbo Fang](https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2022/june/open-source-software.html)

### Course Syllabus and Policies
The [syllabus](syllabus.md) covers course overview and objectives, evaluation,
time management, late work policy, and collaboration policy.

### Learning Goals
The [learning goals](learning-goals.md) describe what I want students to know
or be able to do by the end of the semester.
I evaluate whether learning goals have been achieved through assignments,
written project reports, and in-class presentations.


### Schedule

Below is a preliminary schedule for Fall 2022. Each link points to a dedicated page with materials and more details.
All videos are published on [this YouTube channel](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuPUOEODcOmsS409iKohAewobtQswdI7M).

*Note*: The schedule is subject to change and will be updated as the semester progresses.

| Date | Topic | Notes |
| :------------- |:--------|:-------- |
Tue, Aug 30 | [Introduction](pages/aug30-intro.md) | [slides](slides/01-intro.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/IDtePCle3Qc)
Thu, Sep 1 | [Formulating research questions](pages/sep01-rqs.md) | [slides](slides/02-rqs.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/tQDMPCnd7rc)
Tue, Sep 6 | [The role of theory](pages/sep06-theory.md) | [slides](slides/03-theory.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/NEgRVKd1zzI)
Thu, Sep 8 | [Literature review](pages/sep08-litreview.md) | [slides](slides/04-litreview.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/DWImirSZXaA)
Tue, Sep 13 | [Conducting interviews](pages/sep13-interviews.md) | [slides](slides/05-interviewing.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/OJRXFEe80Rk)
Thu, Sep 15 | [Exemplar interview papers](pages/sep15-interviews-examples.md) | [slides](slides/06-interviewing-examples.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/7IXzoeohyLE)
Tue, Sep 20 | [Qualitative data analysis](pages/sep20-coding.md) | [slides](slides/07-qualitative-coding.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/Wfi1s66Ig34)
~~Thu, Sep 22~~ | ~~Class cancelled for the [S3D launch event](https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2022/isr-s3d-rebrand)~~ |
Tue, Sep 27 | [Survey design](pages/sep27-surveys.md) | [slides](slides/08-survey-design.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/Iymyk26pOaQ)
Thu, Sep 29 | In-class activity: qualitative coding & thematic analysis | no slides • no video
Tue, Oct 4 | Project proposal presentations | no slides • no video
Thu, Oct 6 | [Mixed-methods designs](pages/oct06-mixed-methods.md) | [slides](slides/10-mixed-methods.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/jzjjhUwocrM)
Tue, Oct 11 | [Experimental design (part I)](pages/oct11-causal-relationships.md) | [slides](slides/11-experiments-1.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8XDgb8Mxnw)
Thu, Oct 13 | [Experimental design (part II)](pages/oct13-counterbalancing.md) | [slides](slides/12-experiments-2.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtyjsgWsgNU)
~~Tue, Oct 18~~ | ~~Fall break, no class~~ |
~~Thu, Oct 20~~ | ~~Fall break, no class~~ |
Tue, Oct 25 | [Experimental design (part III)](pages/oct25-experiment-stats.md) | [slides](slides/13-experiments-3.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8vNy3m3vU)
Thu, Oct 27 | [Intro to regression modeling](pages/oct27-regression-pt1.md) | [slides](slides/14-regression-1.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/HTC7dPY-F34)
Tue, Nov 1 | [Diagnostics, factors, std coefficients](pages/nov01-regression-pt2.md) | [slides](slides/15-regression-2.pdf)[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p8wtSmwkEE)
Thu, Nov 3 | [Simpson’s paradox, exemplar papers, in-class activity](pages/nov03-regression-pt3.md) | [slides](slides/16-regression-3.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/icvF44USI_s)
Tue, Nov 8 | [Interrupted time series design](pages/nov08-its.md) | [slides](slides/17-time-series.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/wuDfI71oPVs)
Thu, Nov 10 | [In-class activity: interrupted time series analysis](pages/nov10-its-activity.md) | [slides](slides/18-time-series-activity.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/PzQphPhwD3E)
Tue, Nov 15 | [Social network analysis (part I)](pages/nov15-sna-pt1.md) | [slides](slides/19-social-networks-1.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/2Da82Nc2cYY)
Thu, Nov 17 | [Social network analysis (part II)](pages/nov17-sna-pt2.md) | [slides](slides/20-social-networks-2.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/LeRhO2QUZaU)
Tue, Nov 22 | [Diff-in-diff + CausalImpact](pages/nov22-diff-in-diff.md) | [slides](slides/21-diff-in-diff.pdf)[video](https://youtu.be/IZXPdvceOZQ)
~~Thu, Nov 24~~ | ~~Thanksgiving, no class~~ |
Tue, Nov 29 | [Research vs researcher](pages/nov29-research-vs-researchers.md) | [video](https://youtu.be/q83a9O3WY2Q)
Thu, Dec 1 | [Agree to disagree](pages/dec01-agree-to-disagree.md) | [video](https://youtu.be/nE0AHonCsWA)
Tue, Dec 6 | Final presentations (part I) | [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ADiATHlUdxITsblR_BCqW7nvZ3I3HJc2xkM1BMishG0/edit?usp=sharing)[video](https://youtu.be/GjJgy9eLZO0)
Thu, Dec 8 | Final presentations (part II) | [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ADiATHlUdxITsblR_BCqW7nvZ3I3HJc2xkM1BMishG0/edit?usp=sharing)[video](https://youtu.be/1UeCqSxmLlY)
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### Learning Goals for 17-803 Empirical Methods

The following gives an overview of the (high-level) learning goals of 803. All learning goals are roughly written in a form "after taking this class, the student should be able to ...".

- Summarize and interpret a body of literature on a particular topic; identify gaps in the literature; write a literature review
- Formulate and motivate research questions
- Understand what research designs and research methods are available for empirical research
- Compare the suitability of different research designs and research methods in different scenarios; explain the relative strengths and weaknesses
- Design empirical studies for different purposes (e.g., evaluating a tool, understanding a phenomenon); choose appropriate methods and defend the choice
- Combine research methods in a mixed-methods design
- Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data
- Design interview protocols and user surveys
- Code qualitative data
- Mine data from online repositories
- Run statistical tests and interpret results
- Build, validate, and interpret regression models
- Draw conclusions from empirical data
- Present results verbally and in writing
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