Randomized controlled trials are the gold standard for causal inference. Using an experimental and a control group, double-blind and with a placebo, the effect of an intervention can be neatly determined. But this ideal scenario is not always practicable, or even ethically desirable. What if we want to know how effective sex-offender treatments are? Or whether employment makes people happier? In such cases, special methods have to be used to be able to make causal statements.

Course leader
Dr. Steve van de Weijer

Target group
Students of Criminology, Sociology, Psychology, Policing and Education.

Course aim
You can choose an appropriate technique for causal analysis of observational data.You can use SPSS and Stata to analyse that data.You can determine the effect of an intervention.You can summarize the findings for an academic journal.You can present research findings.

Credits info
No ECTS. Certificate of participation issued upon completion.Contact hours: six full course days

Fee info
EUR 950: Includes orientation and course material. Does not include housing.

Scholarships
The Amsterdam Summer School offers twenty scholarships of 500 for highly motivated students. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is 1 April. Application for the scholarship is part of the general online application procedure.

VU University Amsterdam
Address: Study Abroad in Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105 Amsterdam
Postal code: 1081 HV
City: Amsterdam
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://www.studyabroadinamsterdam.nl/en/summerschool/index.asp
E-mail: amsterdamsummerschool@vu.nl
Phone: +31 20 5986506