17 801 Political Science Scope And Methods Fall 2017

To truly understand how politics works, you must first understand how political knowledge is created, tested, and validated. This course teaches you the fundamental logic behind empirical research in political science. Upon completion, you will possess a strong conceptual toolkit to analyze complex political phenomena, distinguish robust findings from weak claims, and design methodologically sound research projects. What you'll learn: * Understand the core principles of scientific inquiry and the philosophy of social science research * Differentiate between major research designs, including qualitative case studies, surveys, and experimental approaches * Apply concepts of measurement, reliability, and validity to operationalize abstract political concepts * Analyze the challenges of establishing causality and identifying causal mechanisms in non-experimental settings * Practice formulating clear research questions, testable hypotheses, and effective literature reviews * Master the ethical guidelines for conducting research, especially when utilizing modern digital or large-scale administrative data The course begins with defining the scope of political inquiry and progresses through the stages of research design, focusing heavily on methodological choices and the logic of inference. We emphasize the written application of these principles through practical exercises. This course is designed for students, researchers, and professionals new to political science methodology. No prior experience in advanced statistics or research design is required. Start building your foundation for rigorous political analysis today.