Statistical reasoning and techniques used by social researchers to summarize data and test hypotheses. Topics include describing data collection, sampling measurement, distributions, cross-tabulations, scaling, probability,correlation/regression and non-parametric tests.
Research Methods I (SPS 311)
Programs\Type | Required | Core Elective | Area Elective |
Conflict Analysis & Resolution Minor | * | ||
Decision and Behavior Minor | * | ||
International Studies | * | ||
International Studies | * | ||
Political Science | * | ||
Political Science and International Relations | * | ||
Political Science and International Relations | * | ||
Political Science (Previous Name: Social and Political Sciences) | * |
CONTENT
OBJECTIVE
This course is designed as an initiation into social science research. As an introduction we focus on questions like: why bother with scientific thinking? What differentiates scientific thinking from its competitors? Where do concepts and theories come from? What is a variable and how do we make sure that it accomplishes the tasks we hope that it would accomplish? How does one go about finding a research topic and designing an inquiry and actually conducting the research and presenting its findings? From the initial steps of formulating a question, designing a convincing way to answer it and then moving into measurement one gets ready to prepare a description of the state of affairs and/or testing a hypothesis by inferential means. We accordingly cover the basic descriptive and inferential statistics as a means for analyzing data.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- On completion of the module, students should be able to a) Formulate research questions and hypotheses. b) Collect, use and analyze data for a specific research project. c) Apply some social science methods in actual research as well as understanding and criticizing the methods used in other studies. d) Identify a solid research design. e) Describe what is meant by a research design, research question, hypothesis, measurement and literature review. f) Identify various research methods and approaches. g) Develop skills to use qualitative and quantitative methods h) Formulate a research design i) Develop a critical approach in evaluating methodology
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ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA
Percentage (%) | |
Final | 35 |
Midterm | 25 |
Quiz | 10 |
Term-Paper | 20 |
Participation | 10 |
RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS
Textbook |
W. Lawrence Neuman, 2006 (6th edition). Social Research Methods, Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Pearson Education Inc. |
Readings |
Geddes, Barbara, 1991, A Game Theoretic Model of Reform in Latin American Democracies, American Political Science Review, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 371-392. |