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Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1

Approx. 14 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an introduction to the social sciences and their application to the study of Chinese society. Topics covered include family and marriage, education, political economy, and social change.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the social sciences and their application to Chinese society
Explore topics such as family and marriage, education, political economy, and social change
Gain a better understanding of Chinese society and culture

Learning Outcomes

Understand the social sciences and their relevance to Chinese society
Gain knowledge of key topics such as family and marriage, education, political economy, and social change
Develop a deeper understanding of Chinese society and culture

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of Chinese culture and history
Interest in social sciences and Chinese society

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

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Introduction to Chinese Law and Society
Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1
Chinese Culture and Contemporary China

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Dr. Martin K. Whyte
Dr. Deborah Davis

Related Books

Description

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.

Outline

What is social science?
Course Overview
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
Assignments & Grading
Suggested Reading List (Optional)
Week 1 General Reading List
Week 1 Classics Reading List
Week 1 - What is social science?

The Big Questions
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 The Big Questions Reading
Week 2 - The Big Questions

Social Science Research on China
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 Social Science Research on China Resources
Week 3 - Social science research on China

The Social Science Disciplines
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 Social Science Disciplines Reading
Week 4 - Social science disciplines

Study Designs
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 Reading
Week 5 Study Designs

Challenges
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 Causation vs Correlation
Week 6 - Challenges

Cause and Effect
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 Measuring Causal Relationships
Week 7 - Cause and effect

Final Exam
Concluding Remarks
Final Exam
Post-course survey

Summary of User Reviews

The Social Science Study of Chinese Society course on Coursera has received positive reviews from users. Many users found the course to be well-structured and informative.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course was well-structured and informative.

Pros from User Reviews

The course provides a comprehensive overview of Chinese society and culture.
The course materials are engaging and interactive.
The instructors are knowledgeable and responsive to student questions.
The course is self-paced, allowing students to learn at their own pace.
The course is free to audit, making it accessible to everyone.

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course content to be too basic.
The course focuses mainly on mainland China, neglecting other regions.
Some users found the course materials to be outdated.
The discussion forums can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
The course assignments can be time-consuming and challenging.

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