Program Overview

Program Overview

The Geospatial Social Science Analysis course is a hands-on, one-week program designed to provide participants with the knowledge and tools to apply spatial econometric models to their research. This course is part of the Methods School 2025 and will run from Monday to Friday, 7-11 July 2025.

Course Description

Space is crucial to explaining many political phenomena. This course prepares participants to carefully theorize about spatial processes and more effectively test theoretical expectations about patterns of spatial interdependence. Participants will gain experience estimating various spatial models to help them answer theoretically significant and policy-relevant questions.

Dates and Location

• The course will run from Monday to Friday, 7-11 July 2025.
• The course is scheduled for 9:00 am - 12:30 pm.
• The classroom location is the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Instructor

The instructor for this course is Edward Goldring, from The University of Melbourne.

Detailed Description

The course begins by exploring how prominent theories of social science argue that the processes of nearby or similar units are related. The second and third days focus on issues of model specification unique to these models. The fourth day emphasizes how to estimate a variety of simple spatial econometric models. The final day explores techniques to provide meaningful quantities of interest from these models.

Prerequisites

While there are no formal prerequisites, it would be beneficial if participants have an understanding of regression analysis.

Requirements

• Participants are expected to have access to an internet-connected computer.
• Participants are expected to be able to use the statistical software Stata for this course.

Core Readings

• Beck, Nathaniel, Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, and Kyle Beardsley. 2006. “Space Is More than Geography: Using Spatial Econometrics in the Study of Political Economy.” International Studies Quarterly 50(1): 27-44.
• Neumayer, Eric, and Thomas Plumper. 2016. “W.” Political Science Research and Methods 4(1): 175-193.
• Vega, Solmaria Halleck, and J. Paul Elhorst. 2015. “The SLX Model.” Journal of Regional Science 55(3): 339-363.
• Ward, Michael D., and Kristian Skrede Gleditsch. 2008. Spatial Regression Models. Sage Publications.

Suggested Readings

• Darmofal, David. 2015. Spatial Analysis for the Social Sciences. Cambridge University Press.
• Fortunato, David, Clint S. Swift, and Laron K. Williams. 2018. “All Economics is Local: Spatial Aggregations of Economic Information.” Political Science Research and Methods 6(3): 467-487.
• Franzese, Robert J., and Jude C. Hays. 2007. “Spatial Econometric Models of Cross-Sectional Interdependence in Political Science Panel and Time-Series-Cross-Section Data.” Political Analysis 15(2): 140-164.
• Gailmard, Sean. 2014. Statistical Modeling and Inference for Social Science. Cambridge University Press.
• Goldring, Edward, and Sheena Chestnut Greitens. 2020. “Rethinking Democratic Diffusion: Bringing Regime Type Back In.” Comparative Political Studies 53(2): 319-353.
• Kayser, Mark Andreas, and Michael Peress. 2012. “Benchmarking Across Borders: Electoral Accountability and the Necessity of Comparison.” American Political Science Review 106(3): 661-684.
• Kellstedt, Paul M., and Guy D. Whitten. 2009. The Fundamentals of Political Science Research. Cambridge University Press.
• Moore, Will H., and David A. Siegel. 2013. A Mathematics Course for Political & Social Research. Princeton University Press.
• Plumper, Thomas, and Eric Neumayer. 2010. “Model Specification in the Analysis of Spatial Dependence.” European Journal of Political Research 49(3): 418-442.
• Williams, Laron K. 2015. “It’s All Relative: Spatial Positioning of Parties and Ideological Shifts.” European Journal of Political Research 54(1): 141-159.
• Williams, Laron K., and Guy D. Whitten. 2015. “Don’t Stand So Close to Me: Spatial Contagion Effects and Party Competition.” American Journal of Political Science 59(2): 309-325.
• Williams, Laron K., Katsunori Seki, and Guy D. Whitten. 2016. “You’ve Got Some Explaining to Do: The Influence of Economic Conditions and Spatial Competition on Party Strategy.” Political Science Research and Methods 4(1): 47-63.
• Zhukov, Yuri, and Brandon M. Stewart. 2013. “Choosing Your Neighbors: Networks of Diffusion in International Relations.” International Studies Quarterly 57(2): 271-287.