Introduction to Empirical Methods in Political Science (210-0-20)
Instructors
Robin Alexandra Bayes
Meeting Info
Annenberg Hall G15: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
This course provides an introduction to the empirical methods political scientists use to answer questions about politics, and the reasons why such methods matter. After exploring how hard it is to make good descriptive and causal inferences about politics, we will examine three basic strategies for overcoming the obstacles to reliable knowledge about the political world: experimentation, large N or quantitative studies (AKA statistics), and small N studies that use qualitative reasoning.
Learning Objectives
- At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand and explain why descriptive and causal inference are difficult tasks in political science.
- Identify possible weaknesses in academic or other descriptive and causal claims about politics.
- Understand and explain the strengths and weaknesses of various research designs for causal inference about politics: experiments, surveys, regression, and case studies.
- Apply all of these tools to critically evaluating examples of political science research.
- Speak and write with precision about how empirical evidence matters to your own questions about politics.
Teaching Method
Lecture and discussion section
Class Attributes
Formal Studies Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-329: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - Parkes Hall 214: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Hall 112: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Hall 118: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM