Introduction to Empirical Methods in Political Science (210-0-1)
Instructors
Pilar Manzi Gari
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-329: Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Overview of class
This course introduces students to the institutions and processes of American national government. The course explores the following core questions: What are the philosophical foundations of the American republic? How does America's constitutional design shape the functioning of the nation's institutions? What are the basic roles of the legislative, executive and judicial branches? What is the history of political parties in America? How are American public policies made?
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
Seminar
Evaluation Method
Weekly Assignments (15% each) Final Exam/Paper (30%) Participation (10%)
Class Materials (Required)
The Fundamentals of Political Science Research. Paul M. Kellstedt and Guy D. Whitten. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2nd Edition. ISBN-13: 978-1107621664. Paperback.
Class Attributes
Formal Studies Distro Area