Political Science 366 Donovan Research in Politics AH 418 /X3018 Fall, 1995 Office hours: T, W, Th, F 11:00-12:00 Course Purposes: This course is intended survey to some basic methods of empirical political analysis. We will learn how to formulate research questions and collect data related to these questions. You will also be introduced to statistical techniques and computer applications that allow you to "test" certain political questions. This is not a comprehensive course in political research. Our attention, for the most part, is limited to issues that can be assessed with basic quantitative techniques. You will be required to complete assignments involving basic mathematical calculations. We will also spend some time learning about computer-accessible (INTERNET) resources that might prove useful in political science research. Students are not expected to have any familiarity with computers, however Political Science 260 (or equivalent) is a pre-requisite for entry into the class. This is not a math course, however you should be comfortable doing basic math (summation, subtraction, division, multiplication). Very basic algebra will be introduced in class. Students should be able to overcome any computer phobias rather quickly. One goal for this course is to have students formulate and execute research projects that include collection and analysis of your own data. Students will be divided into groups for the purpose of these projects. Course Text: (Available in the bookstore) Evans, James D. Straightforward Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. Brooks Cole. Additional Resources: Some assigned reading material will be placed on reserve and found on the Internet. The Student Version of Systat for Macintosh will be available in the Fine Arts 101 on 24 Power Macs. The lab is reserved for Pol Sc 366 on Friday afternoons. A wanna-be Mac (Windows) version of the same program will also be available in either the AH lab or the ET lab. Tasks: There are approximately 1000 points possible. Your grade will be based upon exams that measure comprehension of lecture and reading material, as well as on successful completion of statistics and computer assignments. On Monday of each week, review questions will be assigned to the class. Students will be expected to submit answers to these questions on Friday the same week. Students will also complete one short essay and contribute to a final group research project. The first essay will deal with the methodology behind the CMU (Georgetown Law Review) study of pornography on the Internet. The essay is due Friday October 27th. Students wishing to write an essay on another topic may do so after having the topic approved by Donovan (A possible alternative is an investigation of Ross Perot's in- house 1992 election poll). The group research paper will be due Monday, November 27th. Students will present the results of their research during the final week of the quarter. Work on the group projects must begin early in the quarter. A timetable will be provided in a separate handout. Course Grade: Midterms: 20% 2 @ 100 points ea. (200 total) Review Questions 10% 6 @ 16 points ea. ( 96 total) Essay 15% 150 points (150) Computer Tasks: 15% 3 @ 50 points ea. (150 total) Group Research Project: 20% 200 points (200) Final: 20% 200 points (200) 996 points These parameters are subject to minor changes so that grades may be adjusted to reflect participation in class discussions. Course Outline: All dates subject to change Week One: (Sept. 27 and Sept. 29) Introduction/Course Admin. Political Research Theories & Hypotheses Basic Elements of Research and Research Design readings: Evans, Chapter 1 and 2 Week Two: (Oct 2 - Oct. 6) Descriptive Statistics Frequency distributions Central Tendency and Dispersion readings: Evans Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 Lab session Oct 6th, review questions due in class (#1) First computer task assigned (Due_____________) Week Three: (Oct. 9 - Oct. 13) The Normal Distribution/Normal Curve (zzzzzzzzzzzzzz) Relative Measures readings: Evans Chapter 5 Lab session Oct. 13th, review questions due in class (#2) Week Four: (Oct. 16 - Oct. 20) First Midterm Monday October 16th Sampling Distribution Hypothesis Testing/Inference Statistical Significance readings: Evans, Chapters 8 and Chapters 9 (parts TBA) Lab session Oct. 20th, review questions due in class (#3) Second computer task assigned (Due___________________) Week Five: (Oct. 23 - 27) T-Tests Correlation readings: Evans, Chapters 10 & 11 (parts TBA) Chapter 6 Discussion section. Essay due Friday, October 27th Week Six: (Oct. 30 - Nov. 3rd.) Regression ANOVA readings: Evans Chapters 7 and 12 Article on reserve: Congressional elections. Article on reserve (Schroeder, et al) Lab session Nov 3. Review questions due in class (#4) Third computer task assigned (Due_____________ ) Week Seven: (Nov. 6 - Nov. 10) Chi-Square and Non Parametrics readings: Evans, Chapter 15. Article on reserve TBA Lab session. Review questions due in class (#5) Week Eight: (Nov.13 - Nov 17) Data analysis for group projects readings: Evans, Chapter 16 Lab session Nov. 17, Review questions due in class (#6) Week Nine: (Nov. 20th) Lab session Nov 20th Holiday Wed & Fri. Week Ten. (Nov. 27 - Dec 1) GROUP PAPERS DUE (Monday Nov 27th) Group Presentations all week. Week Eleven (Dec 4 - Dec. 8) Review Readings: TBA Final: Wed December 13th, 3:30-5:30pm. Group Research Projects: Information about research projects will be given in a separate handout