Week 04 · September 14–16
Define what a comparison means.
Begin with the solar-adoption audit, then sharpen the unit of observation, comparison group, denominator, and interpretation required by the research design.
Classwork 2
Audit Solar Adoption Before Comparing Places
Start by finishing the audit of the observed solar-adoption data. Keep the unit of observation, geographic coverage, timing, and denominator visible before comparing places.
Classwork 3
Measure Rooftop Suitability, Not Adoption
Use the public NREL rooftop-PV technical-potential data to distinguish physical suitability from observed adoption and to build defensible weighted geographic summaries.
This week
Unit
- State what one row and one observation represent.
- Distinguish buildings, projects, households, places, and time periods.
- Match the unit of analysis to the research question.
Comparison
- Define which places or groups are being compared.
- Identify the denominator behind every rate or share.
- Separate meaningful differences from differences in coverage.
Identification
- Distinguish description, prediction, and causal interpretation.
- Name plausible confounders and alternative explanations.
- Keep claims within what the design can support.
By the end of Week 4
Prepare a concise comparison plan containing:
- the unit of observation and outcome;
- the places, groups, or periods to compare;
- the denominator and any exclusions;
- the intended descriptive, predictive, or causal claim; and
- one important threat to interpretation.