Summer Timetable

POL242Y1Y L5101

Research Methods for Specialists

Themes

Have you ever felt uncertain about how an author arrived at the conclusions reported in a reading for one of your courses? Would you like to be able to use statistics, computers, and other basic research tools in your own work? This course will introduce you to some of the major approaches and techniques employed in contemporary political science to describe, explain, and interpret the political world that we study. No prior background in mathematics is required or expected of students taking this course.

Format and Requirements

The course will be offered in a computer lab, enabling students to complete statistical analyses during class time with instructor assistance. Most assignments are worksheets reporting results of original analyses following examples provided by the instructor. There is also a required presentation. At the end of the term, students will be expected to prepare a short research paper or take a test.

Prerequisites

1.0 POL credit

Exclusions