Catalog Description

Advisory: Completion of MATH 13 with grade of "C" or better; completion with grade of "C" or better or concurrent enrollment in any POLS course
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Surveys research methods employed in political science. Introduces research design, experimental procedures, descriptive methods, instrumentation, collection, interpretation, and reporting of research data, and the ethics of research. (C-ID POLS 160) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Devise hypotheses concerning political behavior and plan appropriate and ethical research designs to evaluate.
  • CSLO #2: Interpret data using inferential statistics.
  • CSLO #3: Demonstrate and explain results of data collection and analysis.
  • CSLO #4: Evaluate and synthesize published peer-reviewed research.

Effective Term

Fall 2024

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

1. Explain the basic principles of the scientific method.
2. Explain the relationship between theory and research.
3. Describe general research designs, experimental and non-experimental methods, and standard research practices.
4. Select and defend research designs and data collection procedures appropriate to test hypotheses.
5. Critically evaluate reports of research findings, assess the generalizability of research results, and synthesize a body of research findings.
6. Explain the ethical treatment of participants in research and the institutional requirements for conducting research.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Social Sciences
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D Social Sciences
    • CSUGE - D8 Pol Sci/Govt/Lgl In
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 4 Soc./Behav Sciences
      • IGETC - 4H Pol Sci/Govt/Lgl In

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: On the discussion board, students will be required to post responses to questions about measuring qualitative variables.
    • Essay Examinations
      • Example: Write an essay on ethical issues and research design.
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: Midterm consisting of 100 multiple choice questions covering the first half of the material. Example: Dependent variables: a) are what we want to explain; b) cause the thing we are studying; c) may not have a negative value; or, d) may not have a positive value.
    • Problem Solving Examinations
      • Example: Students are given data and told to perform regression and to present results with implications for research hypotheses provided in the problem.
    • Projects
      • Example: Students will be told to develop a proposed research design to explain a particular political outcome (e.g., voting turnout).

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Instructor summarizes problems with operationalization while students take notes and ask and answer questions.

    Distance Learning

    1. Instructor provides quantitative data and instructions for a sorting exercise which students are to undertake after they read the text and watch the lecture. Students will use the discussion board to present their conclusions. The instructor will provide students afterward with constructive feedback.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Read the assigned textbook chapter on the development of the empirical study of politics and prepare to offer examples in class. 2. Read the APSA journal article on typical problems with research designs and consider solutions.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. Thirty-question objective exam on qualitative research. 2. Term paper comparing two different research designs employed by published authors.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    1. Discussion of ethical questions that particular research designs raise on the Discussion Board. 2. Quantitative data handling exercise employing appropriate software.

    Required Materials

    • Political Science Research Methods
      • Author: Johnson & Reynolds
      • Publisher: CQ Press
      • Publication Date: 2019
      • Text Edition: 9th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Essentials of Political Analysis
      • Author: Philip Pollock
      • Publisher: CQPress
      • Publication Date: 2019
      • Text Edition: 6th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Basics of Social Research
      • Author: Earl Babbie
      • Publisher: Cengage
      • Publication Date: 2016
      • Text Edition: 7th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Empirical Political Analysis
      • Author: Rich, Brians, et al
      • Publisher: Pearson
      • Publication Date: 2018
      • Text Edition: 8th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis
      • Author: Philip Pollock
      • Publisher: CQPress
      • Publication Date: 2019
      • Text Edition: 6th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.