This course introduces and applies various methods for causal inference in research on postsecondary education. The focus is on topics relevant to education policy, including student aid, the returns to postsecondary education, college transfer, funding, admissions, online instruction, and college quality. The course will cover three quasi-experimental techniques extensively (difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables) and demonstrate the application of several other methods (machine learning, synthetic controls, decomposition, discrete choice models, mixed methods). We will also gain some exposure to the “professional” aspects of education policy research, including the publication process, refereeing articles, and grant applications.
