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The American University in Cairo

Political Science 2104-02Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science

Spring 2017Al Waleed CP 62

Monday and Thursday 2:00-3:20

Dr. Gamal A. Gawad SoltanOffice Hours: Sunday and Wednesday 1:30-2:30

Monday 3:30-4:30And By Appointment

Office: HUSS 2036Email: gsoltan@aucegypt.edu

Course Description

The goal of this course is to introduce students to qualitative and quantitative (empirical) research methods widely used in political science and other social science sister disciplines. The skills learnt in this class should enhance both the career and academic potentials of students. In addition, methods taught in this class should help students write quality term papers in political science classes.

Qualitative methods include several methods, including literature review, archival work, content analysis, different modes of observation, personal interview, and focus groups. Many of these methods will be covered in this course.

Quantitative methods are statistical methods. Students will be introduced, step by step, to preliminary techniques of reading and interpreting tables and charts, in addition to introductory descriptive and analytical quantitative techniques. Students will be given the opportunity to learn and get trained to use a powerful statistical package designed to serve the needs of social science researchers.

Textbooks

A number of textbooks, all by the same author, can be consulted in this class. Students can alternate between the different books to get used to

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different treatments of the subject and also according to availability. The books can be found the library’s reserve section.

Earl Babbie, The Basics of Social Research, 3rd edition (Reserve)

Earl Babbie, The Basics of the social research, 6th edition (Reserve)

Below, these two books are referred to as “Basics” and distinction between them is made by the edition.

Earl Babbie, Introduction to social research, 5th edition (Reserve)

Below, this book is referred to as “Introduction”.

In addition, The following statistics reference is placed on reserve for students to consult.

Joseph F. Healey, Statistics: A Tool for Social Research

The particular chapters to be consulted from this book will be announced in due time in class and on blackboard.

Course Requirements and Student Evaluation

Attendance and Participation: According to the AUC’s policy, attendance is integral part of the learning process. Missing more than the equivalent of three weeks of class without acceptable excuses puts the student at the risk of penalty. However, the AUC’s policy does not reward students just for attendance. Active attendance, on the other hand is highly encouraged. Students who actively take part in in class activities and discussions can win a maximum of 10% of the total grade.

Weekly Assignments: Each student should respond to five assignments during the semester. Students will be assigned to two groups to alternate responding to the weekly assignments. This exercise begins at week no. 2. The due date for each assignment is the second class period in the following week. Typed hard copy of the assignments should be submitted in class on due date. Each day of delay will cost a deduction of 0.5% of the total grade.

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Late assignments are not accepted beyond the due date of the following assignment. Each assignment is worth 5% of the total grade. A total of 25% of the total grade is allocated to this exercise.

Midterm Exams: One midterm exam will be administered as scheduled. The midterm exam is worth 15% of the total grade.

Hands-on Methods Exercises: In these assignments the students are given the chance to experience firsthand some methods of data collection and analysis. Three assignments are included in this exercise:

1. Using and documenting archival data2. Text analysis3. Interviewing

The exercises together make 30% of the total grade.

Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam will be administered during the finals' week. The final exam is worth 20% of the total grade.

Points in this class are distributed as the followingParticipation 10%Weekly Assignments 25%Methods exercises reports 30%Midterm 15%Final Exam 20%

The following is the grading scheme in this classD 50-59%C 60-74%B 75-89%A 90-100%

Topics and Readings

Week 1 (Week of January 29th)Human Inquiry and Science (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 1) ORBeginning Principles (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 1)

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Week 2 (week of February 5th) Paradigm, Theory, and Research (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 2)ORResearch and Theory (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 2)

Week 3 (week of February 12th)Research Design (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 4) ORStructuring Research Project (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 3)

Week 4 (week of February 19th)Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement (Babbie, Ch. 5) ORSocial Measurement ((Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 4)

Week 5 (week of February 26th)Feb 27th is the due date to submit the archival data report.

Indexes, Scales, and Typologies (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 6) OR

Composite Measure (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 5)

Week 6 (week of March 5th)

The Logic of Sampling (Babbie, Basics, Ch.7) ORSampling (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 6)

Week 7 (week of March 12th)

Experiments (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 8) ORSocial Experiments (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 7)

Week 8 (week of March 19th)

MIDTERM EXAM (Monday March 20 th )

Week 9 (week of March 26th)

March 27th is the due date to submit the interview report.Survey Research (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 9) ORSurvey Research (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 8)

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Week 10 (week of April 2nd)Qualitative Field Research (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 10 ONLY in 6th edition)ORField Research (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 9)

Week 11 (week of April 9th)Spring Break Week 12 (week of April 16th)Unobtrusive Research (Babbie, Basics, Ch. 11 in 6 th edition and Ch. 10 in 3 rd edition) ORNonreactive Methods (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 10)

Week 13 (week of April 23rd)Evaluation Research (Babbie, Basics,Ch. 12 in 6 th edition and Ch. 11 in 3 rd edition ) OREvaluation Research (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 11)

Week 14 (week of April 30th)May 4th. is the due date to submit the text analysis report.Qualitative Data Analysis (Babbie, Basics,Ch. 13 in 6 th edition and Ch. 14 in 3 rd edition) ORAnalyzing Qualitative Data (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 12)

Week 15 (week of May 7th)Reading and Writing of Social Research (Babbie, Basics,Ch. 15 in 6 th edition) ORSocial Research Literature (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 14)

Week 16 (week of May 14th)The Ethics and Politics of Social Research (Babbie, Basics,Ch. 3 in 6th edition)OREthical and Political Issues (Babbie, Introduction, Ch. 15)