Instructor: Prof. Xiaofan Liang
Email: [email protected]
Teaching Assistant: Zhixuan Qi
Email: [email protected]
Slack: um-fa26-urp506.slack.com
Canvas: https://canvas.it.umich.edu/
Interactive Syllabus: https://www.xiaofanliang.com/f26urp506
Lecture: T/Th 10:00-11:30am, 1360 A&AB
Office: 2364 A&AB
Instructor Office Hours: Monday 1:30-2:30pm. Tuesday 9-10am. OH are in-person and pre-booked. Zoom is available by request. Each slot is 15mins and feel free to book multiple slots for longer conversations. Book office hours here.
TA Office Hours: Thursday 4-5pm; Friday 4-5pm; in person at 2208K by default; Zoom is available but offline is recommended. Book here [link].
Understanding quantitative methods is essential for urban planners, as these methods enable the analysis of urban data, the evaluation of policy impacts, and the development of evidence-based solutions to complex urban problems. This course provides students with essential methods and techniques integral to planning practice and urban research, with a strong emphasis on data analysis and statistical concepts. Students will learn how to match appropriate methods to specific planning and urban policy research problems and effectively communicate statistical arguments. The course is structured with a series of lectures to discuss statistical and research concepts and hands-on labs to teach technical skills and encourage critical thinking about the weekly topics.
The course covers a range of subjects, including research design, descriptive statistics, probability distribution, statistical tests, multivariate regression, survey design, data ethics, data analysis and communication.
Basic knowledge of intermediate algebra and mathematics is required. Prior knowledge of R or Python is not required, but is advantageous.
Knowledge: Understand how various statistical methods collect, analyze, and interpret data from a variety of sources common to the planning profession.
Skills: Learn to use R for data wrangling, statistical tests, and data visualization.
Critical Thinking: Analyze empirical, data-driven arguments related to contemporary planning issues, and recognize both the underlying systems of values they promote and the specific factual claims they rely upon.
Reading: Lectures will follow the Ewing & Park’s textbook below closely, but purchase is not required. You can access a digital copy of this book online through UMich library. You are also encouraged to read Gaber’s textbook on qualitative methods, but only two chapters will be included in the required reading. A physical copy of this book is available through UMich library. Both of these textbooks are grounded through planning examples and practices. All other readings will either have an open-access link in the syllabus, or a PDF copy on Canvas. All readings will be linked in corresponding weekly folder. There is also an Appendix of weekly reading appended at the end of this syllabus.
Computer: Bringing your own computer is recommended on Tuesday lectures and is required on Thursday labs.
Three-in-one: Students should have three links handy in the bookmarks: 1) the interactive Notion syllabus for course schedule, readings, and lab and assignment descriptions, 2) Canvas for work submission, reading PDFs, and lecture slides, 3) Slack for discussions and for technical help.
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📌 Click All to see all entries. Click Lessons , Labs, and Assignments to switch to those entries separately. Click Calendar to see all due date in the calendar view. Hover over a weekly folder and click ⤢ OPEN to see topics, readings, lecture slides, and to-do lists for the week. This schedule is subject to change. Please check periodically.
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