2025 IESSR Summer School
on Empirical Social Science Research Methods
(Xi'an Jiaotong University, July 7–18, 2025)
Introduction:
The Summer School on Empirical Social Science Research Methods, organized by the Institute for Empirical Social Science Research (IESSR) at Xi’an Jiaotong University, has served as a vital platform for cultivating academic talent since 2010. With a focus on junior faculty, doctoral students, and master's students, the program welcomes participants from across China and abroad. It invites leading scholars to deliver intensive courses and cutting-edge lectures, combined with interactive discussions to nurture professionals in empirical social science.
Over the past decade, more than 2,000 participants—including scholars from the U.S., U.K., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan—have completed the program and contributed to academic and policy communities.
The 2025 Summer School is divided into two phases:
Advanced Methods Workshop (July 7–11)
Frontier Methods Workshop (July 12–18)
Themed around Social Networks and Social Capital, the curriculum includes four modules:Social Network and Capital Theory,Advanced Statistical Modeling,Causal Inference,Computational Social Science.Each evening includes a two-hour TA session for discussion and Q&A.
I. Schedule & Lecturers
Date: July 7–18, 2025
Venue: Xingqing Campus, Xi'an Jiaotong University
Frontier Lectures on Social Networks and Social Capital
● “New Advances in Relational Sociology”
Prof. Yan-jie Bian, Senior Professor of Humanities at Xi’an Jiaotong University, Head of Sociology
● “Measurement and Chinese Applications of Social Networks and Social Capital”
Assoc. Prof. Xiao-xian Guo, Department of Sociology, School of Humanities, Xi’an Jiaotong University
Advanced Statistical Methods
■ “Categorical Data Analysis”
Assoc. Prof. Lei Zhang, University of Colorado, USA
■ “Analysis of Count Data”
Assoc. Prof. Qiang Fu, University of British Columbia, Canada
Computational Social Science
➢ “Causal Network Analysis”
Prof. Zhang-bo Yang, Department of Sociology, Xi’an Jiaotong University
➢ “Computational Social Science with Large Language Models”
Prof. Yu-cheng Liang, Chair of the Department of Sociology, Sun Yat-sen University
II. Application Procedure
Deadline: July 2, 2025. Submit the application form via the QR code below.
Admission Notice: Applicants will be notified of results by July 5, 2025.
On-site registration will take place on July 6, 2025 at IESSR, Xi’an Jiaotong University.
III. Fees
Students: RMB 2,000 / person
Faculty: RMB 3,000 / person
IV. Materials Provided
Tuition includes access to course handbooks, lecture notes, digital materials, and forum documents. No additional fees will be charged.
V. Notes
Please whitelist [email protected] to ensure smooth email communication.
Completion certificates will be issued on July 18.

Registration QR Code (Scan to Apply)
📩 Contact:
Ms. Chen Ziyi
Phone / Fax: +86-29-82666249
Email: [email protected]
Address: Institute for Empirical Social Science Research
Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Beilin District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China