Political Science Research Methods and Analysis (GOVT 300 ... · Political Science Research Methods and Analysis (GOVT 300 – Face to Face & DE Hybrid) School of Policy, Government,

Political Science Research Methods and Analysis (GOVT 300 – Face to Face & DE Hybrid)

School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs – George Mason University 2015

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Instructor: Delton T. Daigle, PhD (All Sections) [email protected] Office: Robinson A230 Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm (or by a mutually agreed upon appointment). Office phone: (703) 993-5610 Lecture location: MTB 1005 TA Emails:

TA Name TA Email

Matt Snyder (F2F) [email protected]

Erica Seng-White [email protected]

Austin Hofeman (DL-205 & 206) [email protected]

Labs: Face to Face Students (GOVT 300 – 001):

Attendance in labs for students in GOVT 300 – 001 is mandatory. There will be no meeting the first week of class, and then all meetings, topics, and readings will follow the course schedule below. You must attend your registrar scheduled lab section.

Distance-Hybrid Students (GOVT 300 – DL1 and DL2):

Open Lab: The location of the drop-in lab for GOVT 300 DL1 is Innovation 203. Lab Times: Labs will run on Monday AND Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:20PM on a drop-in basis with the

exception of the first lab (which is mandatory attendance for all registered students). You must attend the FIRST week lab on either August 31st or September 2nd. Failure for a Distance-Hybrid student to attend one of these labs may lead to them being deregistered from GOVT 300.

Exams:

Exam Face to Face

(GOVT 300 – 001) Distance Hybrid

(GOVT 300 – DL1 & DL2)

Midterm Thursday October 15th, 2015 3:00 – 4:15PM MTB 1005

TBA, either Thursday October 15th, or Friday, October 16th. Time and Location to be determined by the Registrar after the 2nd week of classes.

Final Thursday Dec. 17th, 2015 1:30 – 4:15PM MTB 1005

TBA, either Wednesday Dec. 17th or Thursday Dec. 18th. Time and Location to be determined by the Registrar after the 2nd week of classes.

mailto:[email protected]






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Course Description:

Is economic development a pathway to government stability or effective governance? Why do people vote? Why do voters prefer one candidate over another? Are states with higher education levels more likely to legalize marijuana? Pundits argue one way or the other in trying to explain answers to these sorts of questions, but the scientific method provides the strongest evidence in support of any explanation. As a result, social scientists have adopted the methods of the natural sciences to support their knowledge claims. GOVT 300 is a course that teaches the basic methodology used by contemporary political scientists and the underlying logic of hypothesis testing. Students develop experience with contemporary statistical software, mathematical models of human behavior, and the ethics of conducting research on human subjects. This course also fulfills the general education requirement for information technology. This course is designed to do more than give you some rudimentary background on how to “crunch numbers”. While we will be doing significant work with data as well as using contemporary statistical software, there is so much more to empirical political science than the math. Where we do use math, often the computers will do much of the heavy lifting, and where calculations are required of you, there will be no problems so intractable they cannot be solved with any more aid than the use of a hand calculator, some paper, and a pencil. There will be math, but keep in mind – the math you will be responsible for will only occur on tests. Tests make up 40% of the course, and about 1/2 the questions on the tests will be directly calculation based. Thus about 1/5th of your grade in this course is in fact derived from your ability to solve math problems. Nevertheless – there is no way to sugar coat this – there will be math. Step-by-step explanations of how to solve problems will be clearly provided in lectures or in in video lectures. What you do need to solve the math problems in this course are 1) patience, 2) a commitment to learn over the long haul with a pencil on paper, 3) a mind as open as you can make it to learning a new way to make an argument, and 4) no more mathematical background than a high school sophomore.

Required Attendance Dates (applies to Distance-Hybrid students only):

Distance-Hybrid students must plan, in advance, to be on campus and in class on the following dates:

The First Lab – August 31st or September 2nd from 3:30 to 4:20 PM Location: Innovation 203.

The Midterm Exam – Time and location TBA, but will either be Oct. 15th or 16th, 2015.

The Final Exam – Time and location TBA, but will either be Dec. 17th or 18th, 2015.



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Optional Attendance Dates (applies to Distance-Hybrid students primarily, BUT ALL ARE WELCOME)

Distance hybrid students will also have the opportunity to attend weekly drop-in sessions. These weekly help sessions will be voluntary and meet on Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:20PM in Innovation 203. Please note these help sessions will not meet during the otherwise scheduled required meeting sessions noted above.

Student Goals and Learning Outcomes:

Explain the role that the scientific process plays in a good research design.

Demonstrate knowledge of ethical concerns that pertain to the conduct of research on human subjects.

Critically analyze academic papers.

Evaluate data presented in academic sources.

Generate research questions and develop investigative strategies to explain political phenomenon.

Create and analyze your own data.

Construct tables and graphics that summarize aggregated data, illustrate variation, and draw inferences from samples to populations.

Calculate and interpret basic statistics.

Demonstrate proficiency with the basics of a statistical data processing software program. Course Textbooks, SPSS, and Readings:

Pollock III, Philip H. (2012). The Essentials of Political Analysis. (CQ Press: Washington DC).

Pollock III, Philip H. (2011). An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis, 4th Edition. (CQ Press: Washington DC).

Baglione, Lisa. 2016. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods, (3rd Edition). (CQ Press: Washington DC).

*** SPSS Software Note: One of the terrific benefits of GOVT 300 is that you will learn a software package for analyzing data that is widely used in both the public and the private sector (put it on your CV – I know SPSS!). Computer labs throughout campus have SPSS installed on them, and as a result, students can complete all their work without purchasing the SPSS software. I have heard it said that you can purchase a student version of the software. It is not recommended that you do so, as the student versions tend to be limited in what they can do, how large a file they can open, etc. It is possible to download a 2-week demo version of SPSS. I recommend you do this late in the semester, about 12 days before your paper is due, if you want to use SPSS from your home.



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http://www14.software.ibm.com/download/data/web/en_US/trialprograms/W110742E06714B29.html

Other readings:

There will also be a number of readings for the course available online through Blackboard. Please check the course schedule for details on these materials that you will be responsible for.

Selected textbook bibliography:

Some students may find that consulting multiple sources helps them better conceptualize content, and, especially where math is involved, solve calculations. The books listed below are not required but some students looking for an alternative read on a topic may wish to look at one or several of these options. Often older editions are a cheaper option if a student wants a personal copy, and some of these are available at the Mason library or other consortium libraries.

Brians, Craig Leonard, Lars Willnat, Jarol B. Manheim, and Richard C. Rich. 2011.

Empirical Political Analysis (8th Edition). (Longman: New York). Carlson, James M., and Mark S Hyde. 2003. Doing Empirical Political Research.

(Houghton Mifflin Company: New York). Fox, James, and Jack Levin. 2007. Elementary Statistics in Social Research: The

Essentials. 2nd Edition. Boston; New York: Pearson. Johnson, Janet Buttolph, and H. T. Reynolds. 2011. Political Science Research Methods

(7th Edition). (CQ Press: Washington DC). Levin, Jack, and Fox, James Allen. 2007. Elementary Statistics in Social Research – The

Essentials (2nd Edition). (Allyn and Bacon: Boston, MA). Ritchey, Ferris J. 2008.The Statistical Imagination: Elementary Statistics for the Social

Sciences. (McGraw Hill: Boston, MA).

Additional Materials:

It is strongly recommended that you invest in a calculator for this course and bring it with you to lab sections and examination sessions. The calculator should, at minimum, allow you to use parentheses. A good benchmark on an appropriate calculator may be whether it can perform combinations and permutations (the buttons often have nCr and nPr stamped on them) and has a 2-line display for viewing both your equation and the solution. I personally use a Casio fx-115es available at Staples for less than $20:





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http://www.staples.com/Casio-FX-115ES-Scientific-Calculator/product_616965 Grade Breakdown:

Exam Policies:

The midterm exams will be scheduled Thursday March 5th for face to face students (GOVT 300 – 001) and either Wednesday March 4th or Thursday March 5th for the distance hybrid students (TBA will be clarified at the end of the second week of classes), and will cover all material covered up to that point. The final exam will focus on the content covered in the second half of the course, but as the knowledge in this course is cumulative, there will be a comprehensive flavor to the exam. Any exceptions on coverage will be mentioned on Blackboard.

Midterms

Regardless of whether you are registered in the in-class section or the distance-hybrid section, you must attend and write the midterm in person. The dates scheduled for the in classroom midterm are as follows:

GOVT 300 - 001 - (Face to Face) – Thursday, Oct. 15th (3:00 – 4:15PM) GOVT 300 - DL1 – Oct. 15th or Oct. 16th (time and location TBA)

Finals Regardless of whether you are registered in the in-class section or the distance-hybrid section, you must attend and write the midterm in person. The dates of the final are determined by the registrar and are as follows:

GOVT 300 - 001 - (Face to Face) – Thursday, May 7th (1:30PM – 4:15PM)

1 Reminder – failure to complete the IT ethics module results in a final grade of F being awarded for the course. The deadline for completion is Dec. 13th, 2015. (Note: successful completion of all modules and tests will give students 100% of the 1 course credit, which is also awarded as 5% of the entire course).

Information Technology Ethics Module1 5%

Participation (Lab/online discussion Attendance) 5%

Ethics and SPSS assignments (X 3) 24%

Mid Term 20%

Final Exam 20%

Writing Assignment: Proposal (6), Lit Review (6), & the Finished Paper (14)

26%

Total 100%

http://www.staples.com/Casio-FX-115ES-Scientific-Calculator/product_616965



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GOVT 300 – DL1 & DL2 - (Distance Hybrid) – Dec. 17th or Dec. 18th (time and location TBA)

You must bring to each exam (including midterms and finals):

A full size exam book (the big one, not the small one)

A hand calculator (no tablets or phones are permitted)

Pencils and/or pens

Exam Re-writes (none!):

The final exam in this course is cumulative, and cannot be missed under any circumstances (other than earning a waiver). If you have a legitimate emergency, accommodation MAY be made for that circumstance. No exams will be rescheduled due to travel plans or other such student preferences. The midterm may be attended or missed at your discretion. There will be no rewrite of the midterm. Students who skip the midterm will have the combined weight of the final and the midterm summed such that the final exam will be worth 40% of their grade.

Student Improvement bonus points!!!

Students who do write the midterm, but score better on the final exam will automatically have the score of the final applied as their recorded grade for the midterm. (i.e.: if you had a 75 on the midterm and an 85 on the final, your final grade will be calculated as an 85 on both midterm and final). If you do worse on the final, your earned grade on both exams will be used as the basis for calculating the final course grade.

Opportunity to waive final exam!!!

Students who have a cumulative average on all graded work greater than 85% and score a midterm grade higher than 85% will be allowed to waive their final if they so choose. Only students who receive an email from me expressly allowing them to waive the final are permitted to miss the final. Failure to attend the final without authorization will result in a 0 on the final.

Grade curves:

Only the final exam will be curved if the combined section average is lower than 79%. If such is the case, the curve will generally be adjusted to:

7 9 % , 9 %x s



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Participation:

Participation is worth 5% of your grade. Participation will be awarded to students in the classroom section on the basis of attendance to labs and participation in classroom discussions. Participation will be awarded to students in the distance hybrid section on the basis of weekly posts to a Blackboard discussion thread. After each week’s readings, lecture videos, and lab videos, students will be responsible for posting a short response (150 words or less) to that week’s prompt. These posts will be due by Sunday at 11:59 pm every week of the course.

Information Technology Ethics Module:

This course is a 4 credit course that also fulfills a university requirement in the responsible use of technology and information. Successful completion of all the self-directed online modules (on Blackboard) is a critical component of this course. Failure to do so will result in a grade of F being assigned to you for GOVT 300. The modules will be made available through the course Blackboard site and must be completed by Dec. 13th, 2015. The modules involve reading through and studying online materials and taking tests online, which can be completed multiple times.

SPSS and Research Ethic Assignments (3 total for 24% of grade):

You will be responsible for submitting 3 homework exercises (worth 8 % each). The distance hybrid class will submit the assignments via the blackboard drop box (SafeAssign) as instructed on the assignments. The face to face section will submit their homework assignments in class.

The first will be based on the first week’s research ethics readings, and will involve examining the ethical issues involved with a case study provided to you. The remaining 2 exercises will be based on selections from your SPSS workbook, and will cover a variety of topics in using SPSS to examine interesting political research questions.

Data Analysis Research Paper – (all components combined are worth 26% of final grade): A capstone paper using techniques of statistical analysis will be due the last week of classes. This will be broken down into 3 components. A research proposal (6 %), a small literature review (6 %), and the final paper itself (14 %). More details will be provided specific to the assignment, but in summary the research proposal will examine an interesting political research question that can be answered from one of the datasets provided with your workbook. A literature review will be a short 2-page summary of research done that examines how others may have examined a similar research question as yours. Finally the paper itself will be an 8 – 12 page paper that incorporates components of your proposal, your literature review, and then subsequently uses statistical techniques to test the hypotheses you have provided. The 3 stages of this process are designed to



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keep you moving towards your ultimate goal – a sound research paper based on good statistical evidence.

Course Grading Scale:

Excellent Good/Competent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory A = 93-100 B+ = 87-89.9 C+ = 77-79.9 D = 60-69.9 A- = 90-92.9 B = 83-86.9 C = 70-76.9 F = 59.9-0

B- = 80-82.9 Instructor-Student Communication:

Your emails will typically be responded to within 48 hours (either by me personally, or Austin Hofeman). Before sending an email, please check the following (available on your Blackboard course menu) unless the email is of a personal nature:

Syllabus

Blackboard videos on how to use Blackboard features

Blackboard Q&A, and

Technology Requirements Mason EMAIL:

Mason requires that Mason email be used for all courses. I will be sending messages to your Mason email and you are responsible for making sure you have access to these messages.

You may forward your Mason email to other accounts but always use your Mason email when communicating with me to allow verification of your identity.

You are required to check your Mason email account regularly and to keep your mailbox maintained so that messages are not rejected for being over quota.

When you email me, be sure to include GOVT 300 – Online or GOVT 300 – F2F: at the beginning of the subject heading to alert me that I have received a message from one of my online students.

Course Logistics:

This course will be taught in two sections, a classroom section and a distance hybrid section. The classroom section will meet in class at the designated times. For the distance hybrid offering, the primary meeting space will be on Blackboard 9.1, and we will use other means of keeping in touch such as the blackboard discussion forum and email. The content and assignments are identical in both sections. What differs is the modality of the



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content delivery. In a typical week:

you will read about 30 to 50 pages and discuss the material with your classmates

Accomplish activities and respond to weekly requirements either online (DL) or in class and labs (F2F).

Work on assignments to be submitted either in the Blackboard assignment drop box (SafeAssign) or in class according to the assignment schedule.

Though the delivery method is different, the amount of work is the same regardless of your section. A general word of note: GOVT 300 requires a lot of work… DON’T GET BEHIND!!! Expect to spend 10 to 12 hours on coursework each week (this includes the time you would have spent in a classroom). It is critical to keep up with weekly requirements. The weekly folder will be available each Monday morning by 9am. Click on ‘Course Content’ on the course menu in Blackboard to see all required activities and assignments for the week.

To Access Blackboard:

1. Go to http://mymason.gmu.edu. 2. Login using your NETID and password. 3. Click on the ‘Courses” tab. 4. Click on GOVT 300 under the “9.1 Course List” heading.

Technical Help:

If you have difficulty with accessing Blackboard, please contact the ITU Support Center at 703.993.8870 or [email protected].

If you have trouble with using the features in Blackboard, email [email protected].

Technology Requirements:

Hardware:

You will need access to a Windows or Macintosh computer with at least 2 GB of RAM and access to a fast and reliable broadband internet connection (e.g., cable, DSL). A larger screen is recommended for better visibility of course material. Speakers or headphones to hear recorded content and a headset with a microphone are recommended for the best experience. For the amount of Hard Disk Space required to take a distance education course consider and allow for:

1. The storage amount needed to install any additional software and

http://mymason.gmu.edu/





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2. Space to store work that you will do for the course. If you are considering the purchase of a new computer, please go to http://compstore.gmu.edu/pdfs/TechGuide.pdf to see recommendations.

University Software Requirements:

In addition to SPSS (mentioned above), this course uses Blackboard as the learning management system. You will need a browser and operating system that are listed compatible or certified with the Blackboard version available on the myMason Portal. See supported browsers and operating systems. Log in to myMason to access your registered courses. Some courses may use other learning management systems. Check the syllabus or contact the instructor for details. Online courses typically use Acrobat Reader, Flash, Java (Windows), Windows Media Player, and QuickTime. Your computer should be capable of running current versions of those applications. Also, make sure your computer is protected from viruses by downloading the latest version of Symantec Endpoint Protection/Anti-Virus software for free at http://antivirus.gmu.edu. Note: If you are using an employer-provided computer or corporate office for class attendance, please verify with your systems administrators that you will be able to install the necessary applications and that system or corporate firewalls do not block access to any sites or media types.

Student Responsibilities:

Late Policy

Papers and homework assignments will only be accepted as late if accompanied with appropriate documentation. These may include: varsity athletic commitments (not club athletic commitments), letters from medical practitioners, accident reports, police reports, etc. There is no penalty for lateness with valid documentation, with the caveat that late work will not be accepted a week after it is due regardless. Work otherwise not submitted on time will receive a grade of 0.

Academic Integrity:

Students must be responsible for their own work, and students and faculty must take on the responsibility of dealing explicitly with violations. The tenet must be a foundation of our university culture. [See http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/distance].

Honor Code:

Students must adhere to the guidelines of the George Mason University Honor Code. The George Mason University Honor Code states: “Cheating and attempted cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing of academic work and related materials constitute Honor Code violations. “

http://compstore.gmu.edu/pdfs/TechGuide.pdf

https://coursesandorgs.pbworks.com/w/page/30543474/Browser-Support

https://coursesandorgs.pbworks.com/w/page/30543474/Browser-Support

http://get.adobe.com/reader/

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

http://www.java.com/en/download/

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/windows-media-player

http://support.apple.com/downloads/%22%20%5Cl%20%22quicktime

http://antivirus.gmu.edu/

http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/distance



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To maintain an academic community according to these standards, students and faculty members must report all alleged violations to the Honor Committee.” Students are encouraged to read the full Honor Code http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode and to remain vigilant against any violation of the Code in their own work. Any cases of academic dishonesty in this course will be pursued according to the guidelines detailed in the University Catalog.

MasonLive/Email (GMU Email):

Students are responsible for the content of university communications sent to their George Mason University email account and are required to activate their account and check it regularly. All communication from the university, college, school, and program will be sent to students solely through their Mason email account. [See https://thanatos.gmu.edu/masonlive/login].

Patriot Pass:

Once you sign up for your Patriot Pass, your passwords will be synchronized, and you will use your Patriot Pass username and password to log in to the following systems: Blackboard, University Libraries, MasonLive, myMason, Patriot Web, Virtual Computing Lab, and WEMS. [See https://thanatos.gmu.edu/passwordchange/index.jsp].

University Policies:

Students must follow the university policies. [See http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu]. Responsible Use of Computing:

Students must follow the university policy for Responsible Use of Computing. [See http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/1301gen.html].

University Calendar:

Details regarding the current Academic Calendar. [See http://registrar.gmu.edu/calendars/index.html]. University Catalog: The current university catalog. [See http://catalog.gmu.edu].

Students with Disabilities:

Please address any special needs or special accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs. Those seeking accommodations based on disabilities should contact the Disability Resource Center (703) 993-2474, or the Equity Office (703) 993-8730.

http://oai.gmu.edu/honor-code/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank%22%20%5Co%20%22Honor%20Code

https://thanatos.gmu.edu/masonlive/login%22%20%5Co%20%22MasonLive

https://than/

http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank

http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/1301gen.html

http://registrar.gmu.edu/calendars/index.html

http://catalog.gmu.edu/



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Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the George Mason University Office of Disability Services (ODS) and inform their instructor, in writing, at the beginning of the semester [See http://ods.gmu.edu].

Student Services:

University Libraries University Libraries provides resources for distance learning students. [See http://library.gmu.edu/distance and http://infoguides.gmu.edu/distance_students].

Writing Center

The George Mason University Writing Center staff provides a variety of resources and services (e.g., tutoring, workshops, writing guides, handbooks) intended to support students as they work to construct and share knowledge through writing. [See http://writingcenter.gmu.edu]. You can now sign up for an Online Writing Lab (OWL) session just like you sign up for a face-to-face session in the Writing Center, which means YOU set the date and time of the appointment! Learn more about the Online Writing Lab (OWL).

Counseling and Psychological Services

The George Mason University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff consists of professional counseling and clinical psychologists, social workers, and counselors who offer a wide range of services (e.g., individual and group counseling, workshops and outreach programs) to enhance students' personal experience and academic performance [See http://caps.gmu.edu].

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the "Buckley Amendment," is a federal law that gives protection to student educational records and provides students with certain rights. [See http://registrar.gmu.edu/privacy].

http://ods.gmu.edu/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank%22%20%5Co%20%22Office%20of%20Disability%20Services

http://library.gmu.edu/distance

http://infoguides.gmu.edu/distance_students

http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/

http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/?page_id=177#more-177

http://caps.gmu.edu/

http://registrar.gmu.edu/privacy



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Course Schedule: This schedule is subject to change at any time including adding and removing material. Please watch the course blackboard site for the most recent updates and changes to the course schedule.

Important Dates for GOVT 300:

Assignment Due Date Face to Face Distance Hybrid

Ethics – Operation Delirium Sept. 22nd, 2015 Due at the beginning of Lecture

Due VIA SafeAssign at midnight

Research Proposal (R1) Oct. 6th, 2015 Due at the beginning of Lecture


Univariate Analysis (SPSS 1) Oct. 27th, 2015 Due at the beginning of Lecture


Midterm Oct. 15th, 2015 3:00 – 4:15PM

March 15th or 16th, 2015

Literature Review (R2) Nov. 3rd, 2015 Due at the beginning of Lecture


Bivariate Analysis (SPSS 2) Nov. 17th, 2015 Due at the beginning of Lecture


Term Paper (R3) Dec. 10th, 2015 Due at the beginning of Lecture


IT Ethics Dec. 13th, 2015 100% on all modules due by midnight

Final Examination Dec. 17th, 2015 MTB 1005 1:30PM to 4:15PM

Dec 17th or 18th time and location TBA



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Week 0:

Learning Outcomes:

Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment.

Learn to connect to the GMU VCL

Familiarize yourself with the syllabus Topics: Course introductions Evidence of Competencies:

Syllabus Quiz on Blackboard Readings:

Read syllabus and take the syllabus quiz on Blackboard Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For course familiarization:

Welcome video

Navigating course video

Connecting to the VCL video



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Week 1: Learning Outcomes:

Explain the role that the scientific process plays in a good research design. Topics:

The Scientific Method as a Knowledge Acquisition System

Starting a Scientific Research Project Evidence of Competencies:

Midterm knowledge questions.

Structure of a research paper. Readings:

For Lectures:

Introduction from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Introduction “From Knowledge to Practice in Quantitative Research” from: Rochefort, David, Editor. 2006. Quantitative Methods in Practice: Readings from PS. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 1 “Thinking Scientifically” from: Donovan, Todd, and Kenneth Hoover. 2014. The Elements of Social Scientific Thinking. 11th Edition. Boston: Wadsworth.

For Labs:

No Readings – Only Distance Ed Students attend 1st week labs Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

A Knowledge Exercise

Knowledge

The Scientific Method – Science! For Labs:

No Videos



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Demonstrate knowledge of ethical concerns that pertain to the conduct of research on human subjects.

Topics:

Research Ethics

Evidence of Competencies:

Written assignment evaluating a research ethics problem.

Midterm knowledge questions. Readings:

For Lectures:

Chapter 1 and 2 from: Baglione, Lisa. 2011. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. 2nd Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 15 “Ethical Issues in Behavioral Research” from: Leary, Mark. 2012. Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods. 6th Edition. Boston; New York: Pearson.

Khatchadourian, Raffi “Operation Delirium”. The New Yorker. December 17th, 2012. Available online at: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/12/17/121217fa_fact_khatchadourian, last accessed on 10/20/2013

History of research ethics: o http://www.unlv.edu/research/ORI-HSR/history-ethics

Nuremberg Code o http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/archive/nurcode.html

Belmont Report (through Part B): o http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.html

And other HHS resources available at: o http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/index.html

For Labs (Lab 1 – Introduction to SPSS):

Introduction and Chapter 1 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Research Ethics For Labs:

Introduction to SPSS

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/12/17/121217fa_fact_khatchadourian,%20last%20accessed%20on%2010/20/2013

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/12/17/121217fa_fact_khatchadourian,%20last%20accessed%20on%2010/20/2013

http://www.unlv.edu/research/ORI-HSR/history-ethics

http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/archive/nurcode.html

http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.html

http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/index.html



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Week 3 Learning Outcomes:

Understand the role of theory, conceptualization, and measurement in social science research.

Demonstrate knowledge of operationalizing variables, generating hypotheses. Topics:

Theory Building, Concept Formation, and Measurement.

Operationalization of Variables

Hypothesis Development.


Midterm knowledge questions

Generating a good hypothesis

Writing a research proposal Readings:

For Lectures:

Chapter 1, 3, and 4 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 2 “Explaining the Political World” from: Brians, Craig, Lars Willnat, Jarol Manheim, and Richard Rich. 2011. Empirical Political Analysis: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. 8th Edition. Boston, New York: Pearson and Longman.

Chapter 4 “The Building Blocks of Social Scientific Research” from: Johnson, Janet, and H. T. Reynolds. Political Science Research Methods. 7th Edition. Los Angeles; London: Sage and CQ Press.

For Labs (Lab 2 – Creating a dataset in SPSS):

No readings specific to labs this week. Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Concepts in Political Research

Theories in Political Science

Operationalization For Labs:

Intro to SPSS (again)



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Week 4: ETHICs due this week Research Paper Part 1 Learning Outcomes:

Conditional variables.

Understanding how to write good hypotheses

Demonstrate the basics of academic research using the library catalog and online databases.

Learn how to build an annotated bibliography and write a literature review. Topics:

Hypothesis development continues from previous week.

The Theory behind Control: Spuriousness, Intervening and Conditional Relationships.

Conducting a Literature Review and finding Data.


Midterm knowledge questions

Generating a good hypothesis

Writing a research proposal

Writing a literature review Readings:

For Lectures:

Continue from previous week.


Chapter 3-5 from: Baglione, Lisa. 2011. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. 2nd Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

DIGITAL RESOURCES: Library holdings, electronic resources, and data archives.

For Labs (Lab 3 – Library holdings, electronic resources, and data archives):

Chapter 2 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Hypothesis in Political Science

Resolving common hypothesis errors

Hypothesis Testing – Control

Attributing Ideas

For Labs:

Library Searches



Page 19 of 28


Understand basic univariate measurements of central tendency and dispersion.

Topics:

Univariate Statistics – Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion.


Literature review and annotated bibliography

Univariate statistics assignment using SPSS

Midterm questions and calculations Readings:

For Lectures:


Chapter 20 “Univariate Analysis” from: Bernard, H. Russell. 2013. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 2nd Edition. London: Sage.

For Labs (Lab 4 – Describing a single variable with statistics, tables and charts):

Chapters 2 and 3 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Measurement

Display Univariate Data

Central Location

Univariate Dispersion or Variability For Labs:

Introduction to Univariate Analysis

Univariate Graphics



Page 20 of 28

Week 6: – Proposal Due this week Learning Outcomes:

Understand basic univariate measurements of central tendency and dispersion. (cont.)

Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical probability, normal distribution, Z scores, standard error, and confidence intervals

Understand how to estimate proportions and sample sizes.

Topics:

Basic Univariate Measurement. (Cont.)

Univariate Statistics – Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion. (Cont.)

Theoretical Probability, The Normal Distribution, and Z Scores

Sampling, Statistical Inference, and Standard Errors of Estimates

Confidence Intervals for Estimates

Proportion Estimation and Sample Sizes


Midterm questions and calculations

Univariate statistics assignment using SPSS Readings:

For Lectures:

Continued from Week 5

Chapter 6 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 5 from: O’Sullivan, Elisabeth Ann, Gary R. Rassel, and Maureen Berner. 2008. Research Methods for Public Administrators. Fifth Edition. New York: Pearson Longman.

For Labs (Lab 5 – Recoding and Graphics):


Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Z-Scores and Probability

Sampling, Statistical Inference, Expected Value, and Standard Errors of Estimates

Confidence Intervals for Estimates

Estimating Proportions For Labs:

Downloading an APA Style Template for SPSS

Editing APA Style Frequency Tables

Univariate Recoding in SPSS Fun Fact:

Laplace



Page 21 of 28

Week 7 MIDTERM WEEK: Learning Outcomes:

Confidence Intervals of Point Estimates and Proportions (Cont.)

Sample Size Estimation (Cont.).

Topics:

Confidence Intervals for Estimates (Cont.)

Proportion Estimation (Cont.)

Estimating Sample Sizes (Cont.)


Midterm questions and calculations

Univariate statistics assignment using SPSS Readings:

For Lectures:

Readings continue from previous week.

No new readings. For Labs (Lab 6 – Univariate Capstone):

Readings continue from previous week.

No new readings. Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

No new videos For Labs:

No new videos



Page 22 of 28

Week 8: SPSS 1 Due this week Learning Outcomes:

Demonstrate knowledge of bivariate statistics and hypothesis testing.

Know how to calculate the X2 statistic

Topics:

Intro to Bivariate Relationships and Hypothesis Testing

Statistical Significance and the X2 Statistic


Final exam questions and calculations

Bivariate statistics assignment using SPSS

Data analysis in final research paper Readings:

For Lectures:

Chapter 3 and 7 (pages 155-157, 164-169) from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

For Labs (Lab 7 – Bivariate Analysis: Crosstabs and Clustered Bar Charts):

Chapter 4, 5, and 7 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Cross Tabulation

Introduction to Bivariate Hypothesis Testing

X2 and Statistical Significance

For Labs:

Introduction to Bivariate Crosstabs

Chi2 and Phi



Page 23 of 28

Week 9: Research Paper part II – Lit Review Due this week. Learning Outcomes:

Demonstrate knowledge of bivariate statistics and hypothesis testing.

Know how to calculate the X2 statistic.

Calculate measures of association.

Understand controlled relationships.

Topics:

Statistical Significance and the X2 Statistic

Non-Parametric Measures of Statistical Association

Statistical Control





For Lectures:

Chapter 3 and 7 (pages 155-157, 164-169) from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

For Labs (Lab 8 – Crosstabs, Control, and X2):

Chapter 4, 5, and 7 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Bivariate Correlation For Labs:

Bivariate Graphics

Bivariate Relationships – Cross-tabulation with Control

APA Crosstab Edits



Page 24 of 28


Demonstrate knowledge of testing differences of means using the T-test.

Know how to calculate and analyze the T-test statistic

Topics:

Testing Differences in Means and Proportions using T-tests


Final exam questions and calculations.



For Lectures:

Chapter 7 (pages 169-176, 157-164) from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 7 “Testing Differences between Means” from: Fox, James, and Jack Levin. 2006. Elementary Statistics in Social Research. 10th Edition. Boston; New York: Pearson.

For Labs (Lab 9 – T-tests):


Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Testing Differences in Means and Proportions using t-tests For Labs:

T-tests lab

T-tests and Control Fun Fact:

Gossett T



Page 25 of 28

Week 11: SPSS II – Bivariate Hypothesis Testing – Due this week. Learning Outcomes:

Understand how to test mean differences using ANOVA

Demonstrate knowledge of post hoc tests for ANOVA

Topics:

Testing Differences in Means using ANOVA


Final Exam questions and calculations



For Lectures:

Chapter 8 “Analysis of Variance” from: Fox, James, and Jack Levin. 2007. Elementary Statistics in Social Research: The Essentials. 2nd Edition. Boston; New York: Pearson.

For Labs (Lab 10 – ANOVA and Tukey):

Chapter 8 “Analysis of Variance” from: Fox, James, and Jack Levin. 2007. Elementary Statistics in Social Research: The Essentials. 2nd Edition. Boston; New York: Pearson.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Testing Differences in Means using ANOVA For Labs:

ANOVA Lab

Graphics for T-tests and ANOVA



Page 26 of 28


Understand the principle of co-variation and correlation

Demonstrate knowledge of bivariate regression

Calculate Pearson’s R, R2, β (the slope coefficient), α (the line intercept)

Demonstrate the ability to write and interpret the bivariate regression model

Topics:

Correlation

Bivariate Regression



Data analysis in final research paper Readings: For Lectures:

Chapter 8 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 14 “Bivariate Correlation and Regression” from: Ritchey, Ferris. 2008. The Statistical Imagination: Elementary Statistics for the Social Sciences. 2nd Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.

For Labs:

Chapter 8 and 9 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Correlation

Bivariate Regression For Labs:

Bivariate Regression Lab

Regression Graphics



Page 27 of 28


Demonstrate Knowledge of Multivariate Regression Analysis.

Demonstrate the ability to write and interpret the multiple regression model.

Demonstrate knowledge of the idea of “simultaneous control’ and partial slopes.

Topics:

Multivariate Regression




For Lectures:

Chapter 8 and 9 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. The Essentials of Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Chapter 14 “Bivariate Correlation and Regression” from: Ritchey, Ferris. 2008. The Statistical Imagination: Elementary Statistics for the Social Sciences. 2nd Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.

For Labs (Multiple Regression):

Chapter 8 and 9 from: Pollock, Philip H. 2012. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. 4th Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Videos (DE-Hybrid):

For Lectures:

Multiple Regression For Labs:

Multiple Regression in SPSS



Page 28 of 28

Week 14: Final Term Paper Due this week. Learning Outcomes:

Putting it all together – the quantitative scientific research paper

Topics:

Blending what we have learned


Ability to read quantitative research papers

Ability to write quantitative research papers Readings:

For Lectures:

Chapter 6-9 from: Baglione, Lisa. 2011. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. 2nd Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

For Labs (Labs TBA):

No new readings Videos:

Capstone Lecture: Putting it all together – the social science research paper.

Documents

Political Science Research Methods and Analysis (GOVT 300 ... · Political Science Research Methods and Analysis (GOVT 300 – Face to Face & DE Hybrid) School of Policy, Government,