The student will be able to use the statistical tools to compose in a single synthetic indicator from
variables of a different nature in order to obtain a measure
quantitative of the studied socio-economic phenomenon; will know
operate - through compound indicators - comparisons between countries and between
individuals; will have acquired the critical sense and statistical techniques to select the most suitable variables a
measure the chosen concept.
Iezzi, D. F. (2014). Statistica per le scienze sociali dalla progettazione dell'indagine all'analisi dei dati. Roma: Carocci.
Slides and other material provided during the course.
Learning Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the statistical methodology e
the technical equipment necessary for:
a) the construction of simple and compound indicators in the socio-economic field;
b) the interpretation and correct use of the most common socio-economic indicators in the official national statistics, in the Reports of the European Union, of the international Organizations and of the main non-governmental Organizations operating in international cooperation;
c) understand the main statistical indicators for development
present in the international scientific literature of area
socio-economic and related to cooperation and development issues.
The teaching methodology will mainly try to stimulate the
ability to work students, both independently and in groups,
and to enable them to finalize their knowledge in the development and interpretation of development indicators.
Prerequisites
Basic Course in Statistics.
Teaching Methods
Classroom setting (teacher up front giving a lecture/demo). Classroom exercises will be integrated into frontal lessons.
Further information
Use of e-learning platform Moodle where, in particular, will be upload the
teaching materials.
Type of Assessment
The final exam is designed to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and
skills through a written exam lasting 1 hour 30' without
the opportunity to look at notes or books. The exam consists of 8 questions: open questions concerning the arguments of the course; construction or interpretation of graphs, indicators, ratios; exercises of descriptive statistics; exercises on the construction of the questionnaire. Each question scores 4 points.
Course program
Evaluation of the statistical concepts knowledge required for the course.
Indicators as tools for assessing complex phenomena and socio-economic development.
Types of indicators. Properties of the indicators.
The data construction process: measure latent variables, choose the variables to measure a
multidimensional concept.
Linear and non-linear transformations for the comparability of data (normalization,
standardization, ...).
Methods for the synthesis of indicators: choice of the aggregation function and the system of
weighting.
The construction of a composite indicator in the presence of ordinal variables.
Some composite indicators used in the socio-economic field: particular reference to the
useful indicators for making comparisons also at international level. Indices of human development,
Indices of quality of life, indicators of well-being, TAI, etc. Comparison of rankings.
Analysis of case studies. In particular: construction of indicators
for development by addressing the process of choice, transformation, weighting and aggregation.
Discussion in the classroom on concrete cases of compound indicators used in the national and
international.