POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
PLS205/205A
Introduction to Research Method
Syllabus
Class Syllabus |Research Project
Office Phone : 909 869-3879Fax: (909) 869-6995
E-mail: / Office Hours:
Monday 6-8 p.m., Wednesday 2-3:00 p.m.
Computer lab is generally open on Saturday 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for class and advising.
Course Objective and Resources:
Powermutt is a system developed by Dr. John Korey that integrates topics about the scientific method with areas of interest for political science students. These materials have been developed specifically for PLS 205. The written discussions provided under Topics are augmented with data sets, code books, exercises and on-line resources to guide and support student understanding and mastery of research methods and techniques.
This quarter we also will be using Salkind’s Statistics for People Who Think They Hate Statistics. DO NOT concern yourself with Salkind’s math. All math will be done using a software program called SPSS.
The objective is to empower students to:
· Define a viable research question, understand the tools available for exploring these questions and
· Understand how statistical tools may be used to describe, infer, predict and/or model relationships that are of interest to the researcher.
Course Procedures:
PLEASE READ PRIOR TO CLASS SESSION. The pace of the class may not always be synchronized with the assignments. You need to keep current with the readings and review the material before the week's work begins. The reading assignments are the basis for the class.
The class uses a hands-on, learning- by- doing- approach. The faculty is responsible for providing an appropriate foundation, introducing some initial questions and concepts that will serve as a basis for exploration and discussion.
The student's role is to try out the resources provided and to question and explore the resources provided.
Students are responsible for all information presented in each class meeting. This includes substantial course material and procedural matters such as changes in schedules, assignments, etc.
Grades
Grades are based on a scale of 100.
89-87 =B+ / 86-83=B / 82-80=B-
79-77 =C+; / 76-73=C / 72-70=C-
69-67 =D+ / 66-63=D / 62-60=D- / Below 60 = F
Required Materials:
Korey, John 2006. Powermutt Primer (Politically Oriented Web Enhanced Research Methods for Undergraduates--Topics and Tools) is available to students at the Bronco Copy Center in the BSC for about $14.74 including tax.
Salkind, Neil 2011. Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
Software is available to you at the Computer Lab and on Saturday afternoons in 1-317. SPSS offers software options at the web site www.e-academy.com where you can "lease/rent" the software for a limited period of time. If you utilize the lease option, you need to contact SPSS sales directly at 1-800-543-2185. Otherwise you may use the 1-317 lab for free. However, the student needs to elect one option or the other.
DATA SETS: anes08, gss72_12forclassuse, country, senate, states_revised are in Blackboard.
Course Requirements:
Practicum 1 / 10
Practicum 2 / 10
Total / 40
MYTHBUSTER assignments
Assignment 1 (complete chart for assignment 1)
Assignment 2 (test myths about public opinion using ANES or GSS)
Assignment 3 (complete chart for sources of exploration, interval/ratio)
Assignment 4 (test myth about public record data e.g. census, indices)
TOTAL / 10
25
05
20
60
OPTIONAL 1: 5 minute presentation of myth buster test OR
OPTIONAL 2: Reviewer for a myth buster presentation / 8 pts
3 pts.
Sum of all / 100 to 108
PLS 205: Introduction to Research Methods
September 26 through finals December 9
Week / dates / Topic / Readings / Assignments1 / 9/29
10/1 / Introduction to Research:
1. Research questions
2. Hypothesis
3. Variables: independ, dependent, control
4. Concepts vs. operational definitions
5. PLS as a science / Korey, Topic 1 - 2
Salkind Chpts 1, 7 / Is it more dangerous to be drunk or on a cell phone when driving a car?
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cell-phone-vs-drunk-driving-minimyth.htm
2 / 10/6
10/8 / Literature Review:
· Search –library sources
· Seize- examining an article for reliability
· Levels of measurement
· Issues of validity and reliability
· Graphs. / Salkind, Chpt. 4 (69-78) and 6
Korey, 3-4 & 6 / Mythbuster (find a ‘myth’ to test) discussion
3 / 10/13
10/15 / Intro to bivariate analysis for nominal /ordinal data / Salkind Chpt 17 to pg. 309
Korey 7 / **
Assignment 1 due 10/13/14.
4 / 10/20
10/22 / Analyzing NOMINAL and ORDINAL DATA / Korey Topic 8
/ **
5 / 10/27
10/29 / · Discussion of Assign 2
· Practicum Review
· Practicum 1 EXAM / REVIEW: Korey 1-4, 6-8 and Salkind 1, 4(69-78), 6, 7, 17 & Appendix A. / Assignment discussion ONLY.
6 / 11/3
11/5 / Intro to interval-ratio data analysis and “Z”
Sampling: concept and process. / Salkind 2-4 & 7. Korey topics 9, 10.
Salkind 8 -9, Korey Topic 5. / Assignment 2 due 11/3 at beginning of class.
Generating Random Numbers
http://www.randomizer.org/
Estimating a sample from a pop
http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm
Discussion of Next Assign
7 / 11/10
11/12 / HOLIDAY
T-tests and F-tests
/ Salkind 10-13, 5, & pg., 117-120. SPSS for math. Korey 11 -12 / Veterans Day
Wednesday T- and F-test
BRING SALKIND to class
Assignment 3 due
8 / 11/17
11/19 / Hypothesis Testing Ex.
Correlations and Linear and Multiple Regression
/ Salkind 5, 15 and 16
/ Discussion of Assignment 4
9 / 11/24
11/26 / Multiple Regression and Dummy variables
Qualitative Research / Salkind Chapter 15 & 16
Korey Topic 12 and revisit topic 5 / **
Volunteer paper presenters contact Dr. E by email or sign up early next week
10 / 12/1
12/3 / Practice Practicum 2
Practicum 2 / Salkind recap 2-4, new are 7, 8-13, 15-16
Korey 5, 9, 10-12. / Submit Assignment 4 on 12/1 at beginning of class. Points deducted for lateness.
Final / Wed
12/10 / Final Presentations
• 5 minutes: hypothesis, design, analysis, findings/ recommendations.
• up to 8 points for presenters] / Non presenters may be evaluators for up to 3 bonus points
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This page is Copyright; 2004 by S. M. Emerson. Updated, summer 2014
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