|
Fall Semester 2013 Tuesday/Thursday 1:45-3:30 RAM 203 |
Professor Sid Olufs Office: Xavier 153, x8727, olufs@plu.edu Office
Hourse TBD |
Description
How does
Political Science approach analysis of the political world? This course covers the approaches
borrowed and developed by the discipline, research design, and qualitative and
quantitative methods to conduct research.
Upon completion, students should be able to critique, understand, and
conduct research about politics.
Objectives
By the end
of the semester students will:
·
Demonstrate
a critical understanding of a variety of methods used in the discipline of
Political Science
·
Design
a research project that conforms to the standards learned in the course
·
Write
a paper analyzing a public policy
·
Write
a research paper that conforms to the standards learned in the course.
Here is how to do well in the
course. Be sure to check the assignments page,
which offers more direction than the schedule.
Here is a
description of the logic of policy papers.
Conceptual
Outline
I.
Political Science as a Science
- Normative & empirical questions, prediction, policy
- Choose broad research area
II.
Causality
- How to determine causality
- Spuriousness
- Models and relationships
III.
Asking Research Questions
- Falsification
- Refine research area
IV.
Literature Review - understanding prior research
- Finding sources
- Determining relevance
- How to read a research article
- How to critically evaluate articles
- Applying material
- Overview of different methods: quantitative, qualitative, experimental
- Put it all together for
your research area
V.
Crafting a Theory based on literature
VI.
Hypotheses and Identifying Concepts
VII.
Designing Analysis
Readings [See
the bibliography and course
schedule. ]
· Booth, et.al., The Craft of
Research, Third Edition, University of Chicago Press, 2008 (ISBN-13 = 978-0226065663)
· Charles E. Lindblom, Inquiry and Change, Yale University
Press, 1992 (ISBN-13 = 9780300056679)
· portions of Meehan’s Reasoned Argument
in the Social Sciences
· articles that illustrate the variety
of approaches we find useful in studying politics.
· You are also required to use a
writing manual, such as Lester
Faigley, The Brief Penguin Handbook (NY: Longman,
2003). Other editions are OK, too, but I like The One With The “Plastic
Comb” Binding. It is available used, because people foolishly let theirs
go. Other acceptable manuals are The Little, Brown Handbook (compact version is
fine), A
Writer’s Reference, The Everyday Writer, and A Pocket Manual of Style.
Complete all
readings in advance, and follow note-taking guidelines discussed in class.
Argumentation. Among
the approaches to argumentation we will use is one created by Stephen Toulmin. Read
about him and his approach at the Toulmin Project, from the U. Nebraska Dept. of
Communication Studies.
Finding Sources. Make a habit of finding sources. Use the library.
We will practice different ways of framing a question, finding sources,
vetting sources, preparing literature reviews, and more.