Ahmet Akbiyik

Teaching Assistant

• GOV1737: Evaluating the Impacts of Public Policies: How to Design and Implement Randomized Controlled Trials (by Michael Hiscox, Spring 2024, Harvard University)
  
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  During the course, I worked closely with students to help them not only design and implement randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and survey experiments but also develop the skills necessary to effectively communicate their results to various stakeholders. I guided students through the process of translating complex findings into clear, actionable insights that could be understood by both academic and non-academic audiences, including policymakers, government officials, and non-governmental organizations. We focused on developing strategies to convey the practical implications of their research, emphasizing the importance of tailoring presentations and reports to the specific interests and needs of different stakeholders. I provided support in structuring their arguments, using data visualization techniques to highlight key results, and framing their findings in a way that underscored the value and impact of their policy interventions.



• GOV50: Data (by Matt Blackwell, Fall 2023, Harvard University)
  
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  During the course, I worked closely with students to help them grasp the fundamentals of causal inference and how to effectively use R, GitHub, and other essential tools for social science analysis. My role involved not only guiding students through the technical aspects of these tools but also ensuring that they developed a deep understanding of the underlying concepts. I provided support and instruction as students navigated the complexities of their own research projects, helping them to apply the techniques they learned in practical and meaningful ways. By the end of the course, the teaching team's aim was to ensure that each student had gained both the technical skills and the confidence needed to independently conduct robust social science research and effectively communicate their insights.



• Survey Research Methods (by Chase Harrison, Spring 2023, Harvard University)
  
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  In this course, I assisted students in understanding how to effectively design, conduct, and analyze surveys to generate original data and answer complex questions. I guided students through the process of recognizing when and how surveys could be used as valuable data sources, interpreting survey results, and analyzing data while accounting for various sources of error. Additionally, I emphasized the importance of crafting the right questions, including how to approach sensitive topics thoughtfully and respectfully. Throughout the course, I supported student groups as they collaborated on creating and analyzing their own surveys on topics of their choice, ensuring they gained hands-on experience in survey research.



• Quantitative Research Methods (by Taylor Boas, Fall 2019, Boston University)
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In this course, I played role in helping students understand and apply quantitative research methods, which are essential tools for political scientists and social scientists to test empirical claims about the world. I guided students through the foundational concepts of probability, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis, which form the basis of nearly all quantitative analysis in the social sciences. My teaching emphasized both the theoretical aspects, such as the concepts, logic, and mathematics underlying statistics, and the practical applications, where we used software to analyze data and implement the techniques learned in class. Additionally, I was responsible for teaching R to graduate students, ensuring they developed the skills needed to perform sophisticated data analysis. I also focused on helping students critically assess the quantitative work done by other scholars, equipping them with the ability to evaluate research rigorously.

ahmetakbiyik@g.harvard.edu