POSC 488 - Introduction to Political Science Methods and Research

Description:
Class will introduce students to the research methods of political scientists. Taught in a seminar format, the class will engage in an original research project culminating in a peer-reviewed article submission to an academic journal. Students will learn to write literature reviews, collect data, analyze data using SPSS, and write academic research papers. By instructor permission.

Credits: (5)

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Construct basic causal models using multiple Independent variables and a singular dependent variable.
Reproduce a literature review of the given research project by examining the previous research on the given topic.
Collect data for the given research project using the Internet, online databases, and participant interviews.
Organize and compile collected data into SPSS worksheets.
Analyze collected data using basic statistical methodologies.
Compose a research paper summarizing the finding of the collected and analyzed data.

Learner Outcomes Approval Date:
2/6/2009

Anticipated Course Offering Terms and Locations: