Abstract

As researchers (PhD, masters students and instructors), we often faces problem when it comes to establish causation. This being especially the case for researchers in social sciences (Economics, Development Studies, Business and Humanity). Professor Ronald Fisher developed three principles of an experimental design (replication, randomization and error control) which when applied to an experiment guarantees a researcher to establish causation of a treatment in a given experiment. Experiments utilizing such principles, especially randomization are plausibly possible in Biostatistics/Biometry and rarely conceivable in social sciences!

Unfortunately most of us apply carelessly the t-tests, ANOVA tests and the like and proudly draw conclusions from our studies without ensuring that our studies have adhered to such principles. This is a problem to both the students and the supervisors (experience from SUALISA!!!)

However in some cases, randomization is nearly impossible especially in social sciences studies. How do we then establish causations under such scenarios?? There is misconception among students that Impact Evaluation studies are different from scholarly studies, No! they are one and the same. A true scholar will seek evidence to ascertain his/her study conclusions.  Come for listening and/or practicing Impact evaluation studies which usually seek evidence for an effectiveness of a particular program/Intervention on the targeted individuals.

You will be introduced to among other things, sample size calculation, randomization procedures, propensity score matching, and instrumental variable approach to detect causation of a program in observational studies.

Week one will cover statistical topics associated with Impact Evaluation while week two will cover the basic methods for Impact Evaluation.

Registration

The registration fee is 10,000/=Tshs, per a course. Registration would be made upon your arrival in a venue at iAGRI building. Please contact   Maria Celestine via the following address to confirm your participation and your course of interest:

Email:   mary.b.celestine@gmail.com

Mobile: 0713-301033

Who should attend? Postgraduate students and instructors are highly encouraged to attend. You are all welcomed to attend.

How you will benefit from the course(s): Each course is a two-hour course, which will provide participants with practical skills to be able to effectively implement a real-life related problem needing statistical skills application.

Venue: The venue for all of these courses would be in iAGRI building