Published 03 June 2026 · By People's University Committee

This Summer, the People’s University is launching Code Against the Machine, a 13-week course about coding, statistics, and political economy. This summer we’ll be developing our understanding of information technology and computer programming vis-a-vis our application of statistical methods to the study of Canada’s political economy.

The objective of this course is to raise the level of the analysis currently being done by organizers and provide organizers tools to address their concrete problems. This course is beginner-friendly and there is no experience required with respect to coding and statistics. While it’s helpful to have studied political economy before, it is not a requirement and we will provide support and a review. The order of the sessions is as follows:

Week 1 - The History of Machines

Week 2 - Computers

Week 3 - Data Structures and Algorithms

Week 4 - Statistical Science

Week 5 - Data & Variable Construction

Week 6 - Descriptive Statistics I

Week 7 - Descriptive Statistics II

Week 8 - Inferential Statistics & Probability Theory

Week 9 - Hypothesis Testing I

Week 10 - Hypothesis Testing II

Week 11 - Regression Analysis I

Week 12 - Regression Analysis II

Week 13 - Scientific Communication for the Working Class

Week 1:

Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GsAUxsMUBSWdOQ-ykw6IUgN76ZxA3MYfMiW3X1Q837Y/edit

Exercise: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xEFyVSjUVFZp3bYHpXCc4HQjEhzvslQl6DFqmq7r-1Q/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Python notebook : https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1etNVH944iY3AjlNnQCnAM861FlRrVevT

Handout : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pyKbPy4ZzQmeaTDyiTDlcRGh36RXMcrOPySLGgbyXFc/edit?tab=t.fzw5qd5gingx