POL242Y1Y L0101
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 interpret the political world. No prior background in mathematics or experience with computers is required or expected of students taking this course.
Texts
Readings will be drawn from a basic research methods text, a data analysis text and an on-line laboratory manual.
Format and Requirements
The course will be offered in a combined lecture-laboratory format. In addition to completing numerous computer exercises, students will be expected to complete two term tests and short reports of their own research.
Prerequisites
1.0 POL credit