Last updated: Nov 14,
2009
Introduction to Political Science
Methods of Political Research (POLS
210)
Fall 2009
Dr. Misa Nishikawa
Location: NQ209
Office: NQ228
E-mail: mnishikawa@bsu.edu
Web: www.bsu.edu/web/mnishikawa
Office hours: Tue 9:00am-9:30am, Wed: 6:00pm-6:30pm, Thu 9:00am-9:30am, Fri: 10:30am-11:30am, and by appointment
GA’s office
hours: Wed 5:00-6:00 except the first Wednesday of each month (Location: NQ G20)
This course introduces students to statistics and the scientific study
of politics. The objective of this course is to provide students the analytical
tools to evaluate political behavior and concepts from a systematic and
quantitative perspective. In particular, the course covers: 1. the basic
strategy and procedures of scientific political research. 2. the
use of computers in political research, and 3. the use
of statistical techniques in political research.
This course provides the primary computer competency base for Political
Science majors. Throughout the course, you will be involved in projects which
require computer usage in one form or another. The greatest focus, however,
will be on the use of computers to perform data analysis for the systematic
testing of hypotheses.
Required readings and other materials:
1.
Philip Pollock. 2009. The Essentials of Political Analysis. Third
edition.
2.
Philip Pollock. 2009. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. Third
edition.
3.
SPSS student version
4. USB flash
memory
* The Essentials,
An SPSS Companion, and SPSS student version (software) are
bundled together.
1. Exams
There will be four exams. (You can drop one of the
four exams.) The exams will be comprehensive and will be based on material
covered during class in lectures or class discussions and from the required
readings. Each exam is worth 13% of your grade. The combined exam portion of
your grade will be worth 39% of your grade.
-up exams will
not be given except in the case of
extreme circumstances. The student must be able to provide documentation that
the absence is unavoidable (e.g., illness, death in the family, observance of a
religious holiday) and make arrangements with me prior to the scheduled exam dates.
2. Assignments
Late work will be downgraded by 10 points each day it is late. The
worksheets/assignments will not be accepted beyond three days from the due
date. Please do not send your assignments using e-mail.
3. Paper assignment
You will be required to write a research paper for this class. No extensions will be granted. Ten points will be subtracted from
your grade for each day that the paper is late. The paper will not be accepted
beyond three days from the due date. Please do not send your assignments using
e-mail. This research paper is designed to give students the chance to work
with an existing data set, and to develop and test hypotheses on some political
issue. You are not required to collect your own data. You will be expected to
identify the question you wish to test using MicroCase,
and write a report describing the nature of the hypothesis, mode of analysis,
and substantive results. The paper will be completed in five phases.
1.
Research question
2.
Theory and testable
hypotheses
3.
Variable list / operationalization
4.
Statistical analysis
5.
Conclusion and final
product
5. Attendance
Attendance in this class is very important, and I will count it as a part
of your grade. If you miss a class, get good notes from someone in the class.
If you do not know anyone in the class, get to know some people in the
class.
Grades
The points are allocated in the following way:
|
Exam 1, 2, and 3 |
39% |
|
Assignments |
20% |
|
Attendance |
6% |
|
Paper |
35% |
|
{Phase 1, 2, 3, 4a,
(4b, 5)} |
{5,5,5,5
15} |
|
Total |
100% |
Grading Scale: For all items in this class for which grades are
assigned, the following grading scale will be used:
|
A |
93.0% |
|
A- |
90.0% |
|
B+ |
86.0% |
|
B |
83.0% |
|
B- |
80.0% |
|
C+ |
76.0% |
|
C |
73.0% |
|
C- |
70.0% |
|
D+ |
66.0% |
|
D |
63.0% |
|
D- |
60.0% |
|
F |
-59.9% |
Participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged. Of course, participation
should be constructive, and all comments should be relevant to the material
being covered in class. Students must do
all of the reading! Respect should be shown for all other class members at
all times.
Students are expected to attend class, arrive promptly and have a
collegial demeanor. Students are not allowed to sleep, read newspapers, use
cell phones, listen to music, or talk to others during class. For the lab
hours, students are expected to use only appropriate software, which typically
does not include the internet or e-mail programs. Engaging in these behaviors will result in a drop in the student’s
grade.
Students will be responsible
for knowing any changes made to the syllabus during class time whether they
were in attendance or not. The instructor’s lecture notes are not available to
students; it is the student’s responsibility to obtain class notes from a
classmate, should class be missed. Students are also required to have a BSU
e-mail account and access to Gradebook.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if
you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please
make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
Academic Honesty:
Honesty, trust, and personal responsibility are fundamental attributes
of the university community. Academic dishonesty by a student will not be
tolerated, for it threatens the foundation of an institution dedicated to the
pursuit of knowledge. To maintain its credibility and reputation, and to
equitably assign evaluations of scholastic and creative performance, Ball State
University is committed to maintaining a climate that upholds and values the
highest standards of academic integrity.
Schedule
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
|
|
Week 1 |
8/25 (Tue) |
Class introduction SPSS: Getting started Paper: Phase 1. Topic and introduction |
PA: Introduction SPSS: Getting started |
|
|
8/27 (Thu) |
Lab SPSS:
Introduction and Data Entry |
SPSS: Ch1 |
|
Week 2 |
9/1 (Tue) |
Measurement (Concepts, Reliability and
Validity, Measurement error) Levels of measurement |
PA: Ch1, Ch2
(pp26-30) |
|
|
9/3 (Thu) |
Lab Assign 1.
Prep Phase 1: Paper topic and bibliography |
|
|
Week 3 |
9/8 (Tue) |
From Explanation to Hypothesis Paper: Phase 2. Theory and Hypothesis Phase 1 Due |
PA: Ch3 (pp44-54) |
|
|
9/10 (Thu) |
Lab Assign
2. InQsit exercise Assign 3. Prep Phase 2: Diagram and
hypotheses (in class) |
|
|
Week 4 |
9/15 (Tue) |
Review Exam 1 |
|
|
|
9/17 (Thu) |
Exam 1 No lab
hours |
|
|
Week 5 |
9/22 (Tue) |
Logic
of control, Sampling Paper: Phase
3. Operationalization Phase
2 Due |
PA: Ch4 (72-81),
Ch6 (Pp113-119) |
|
|
9/24 (Thu) |
Lab Assign 4. Prep Phase 3: Tables for variables (in class)
|
|
|
Week 6 |
9/29 (Tue) |
Describing
variables (Frequency, central tendency, dispersion) Paper: Phase
4a. Descriptive stats |
PA: Ch2
(Pp30-41), Ch6 (Pp119-124) |
|
|
10/1 (Thu) |
Lab
SPSS: Descriptive stats Phase 3 Due
|
SPSS: Ch2 |
|
Week 7 |
10/6 (Tue) |
Z scores Assign 5. Frequency |
PA: Ch 6 (Pp127-130) |
|
|
10/8 (Thu) |
Lab
Recoding Assign 6. Standard deviation |
SPSS: Ch3
(Pp37-49) |
|
Week 8 |
10/13 (Tue) |
Lab Assign 7. Z scores Assign 8. Recoding |
|
|
|
10/15 (Thu) |
Lab Assign 9. Prep Phase 4a: Descriptive
stats (In class) |
|
|
Week 9 |
10/20 (Tue) |
Review Exam 2 |
|
|
|
10/22 (Thu) |
Exam
2 No lab hours |
|
|
Week 10 |
10/27 (Tue) |
Bivariate
and multivariate crosstabs |
PA: Ch3 (Pp54-57), Ch5
(Pp94-96) |
|
|
10/29 (Thu) |
Lab Spss: Crosstab Assign 10. Crosstab
(in class) Phase 4a Due |
SPSS: Ch4 |
|
Week 11 |
11/3 (Tue) |
Test of Statistical Significance (Chi
square) |
PA: Ch7 (Pp154-159) |
|
|
11/5 (Thu) |
Lab SPSS: Chi-square Assign 11. Chi-square test |
SPSS: Ch7
(Chi-square) |
|
Week 12 |
11/10 (Tue) |
Measures of Association |
PA: Ch7
(Pp159-163) |
|
|
11/12 (Thu) |
Lab SPSS: Measures of association Assign 12. Measures
of association |
SPSS: Ch7
(Measures of Association) |
|
Week 13 |
11/17 (Tue) |
Correlation and Regression |
PA: Ch8
(Correlation and Regression) |
|
|
11/19 (Thu) |
Lab
SPSS: Correlation and Regression Assign 13. Correlation Assign 14. Regression |
SPSS: Ch 8
(Correlation and Regression) |
|
Week 14 |
11/24 (Tue) |
Fruesday No class |
|
|
|
11/26 (Thu) |
Thanksgiving |
|
|
Week 15 |
12/1 (Tue) |
Lab
Assign 15. Prep Phase
4b
|
|
|
|
12/3 (Thu) |
Lab
Review Exam 3 Completing final paper |
|
|
Week 16 |
12/8 (Tue) |
Exam 3 (No lecture) |
|
|
|
12/10 (Thu) |
Exam 4
Final Paper Due
|
|
|
Week 17 |
12/14 -12/18 Final Exam Period |
Exam 4 (Make up exam)
|
|