Political Science 340                                                                            Instructor Peter Koelling

Introduction to Political Analysis                                            email: pmkoelling@ameritech.net

Spring 2005                                                                                   Office Phone (815) 753-1022

                                                                                                       Home Phone (847) 639-7884

                                                                                                                       Office:  Zulauf 411

                                                                                                                Hours: T Th 1:30 -2:30

                                                                                                                                                    

I.  INTRODUCTION

 

This course focuses on a variety of issues that political scientists consider when planning and executing a research project.  The goals of the course are to introduce major research concepts, strategies, data collection methods, and statistical tools used in the political science literature and to lay out the philosophical underpinnings of the social science research process.

 

The lab fee in this course provides students full access to the SOCQRL, DU 222, a computer lab maintained and staffed by the Department of Sociology, for the purpose of completing assignments in the Microcase book.

 

NIU abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which mandates reasonable accommodations be provided for qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability and may require some type of instructional and/or examination accommodation, please contact me early in the semester so that I can provide or facilitate in providing accommodations you may need. If you have not already done so, you will need to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), the designated office on campus to provide services and administer exams with accommodations for students with disabilities. The CAAR office is located on the 4th floor of the University Health Services building (815-753-1303).

II.  REQUIRED READINGS

 

            Babbie, The Practice of Social Research (10th ed.), Thompson-Wadsworth, 2004.

 

            Corbett and LeRoy, Research Methods in Political Science (5th ed.), Thompson-

Wadsworth, 2003 (new books only to ensure availability of required software).

 

Reading assignments are expected to be read by the Tuesday in the week they are assigned unless otherwise indicated. Workbook assignments are due on the Thursday of the week assigned unless otherwise indicated.

 

III.  COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

Class Participation (10%).  Attendance is required and students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss weekly assigned readings and computer exercises.   Students are allowed two unexcused absences.  After that, your grade for participation will be reduced by one point for each unexcused absence.  Excused absences are defined below under the topic of makeup exams. 

Test  (15% each) and Final Exam (25%).  Two short tests and a comprehensive final exam will be given. Makeup exams and grades of incomplete will be provided when needed, but only for

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reasons of significant illness, personal tragedy, participation in an official university sponsored intercollegiate event, or other similarly extraordinary circumstances.  Documentary evidence of the extraordinary circumstance must be provided by the student.   

 

Computer Exercises (15%).  A set of 10 statistical exercises conducted using a software package called MicroCase will be assigned over the course of the semester.  These exercises coincide neatly with the subject matter covered each week in class and should be completed in a timely fashion.  Normally, each exercise will be due at the start of class on the Thursday in the week in which the exercise is assigned.  If a student has an excused absence the exercise will be due at the beginning of the next class period.  If an exercise is not turned in during class on its due date, but is turned in by the next class , the highest grade it can achieve is 1%.  Any exercise submitted after that can only achieve a grade of .75 %.

    

Writing Assignment (20%). Students will be asked to write a critical analysis of a published article based on material covered in class.  The paper must be typed and between 5 and 8 pages in length, double spaced with 12 point type. I will give you a hand-out on this process later.

      

Grading System.  In summary, final grades will be computed as follows:

 

Test I                                        15%

Test II                                       15

Final Exam                              25

Computer Exercises                15

Paper                                        20

Class Participation                  10

                                                           100%

 

IV.  WEEKLY TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

 

Weeks 1 January 18 & 20

            Babbie, Ch. 1 & 2

 

Week 2    January 25 & 27

            Babbie, Ch. 3.

http://www.grad.niu.edu/orc/irb_homepage.htm, read Investigator's Handbook and Frequently Asked Questions Regarding IRB Review at NIU

            Corbett, Ch. 1. (No Assignment)  

            SOCQRL Lab Tour      

 

Week 3 – February 15 & 17

            Babbie, Ch. 5-6 .

            Corbett, Ch. 2-3. Chapter 3 Worksheet

                       

Week 4 – February 8 &10

            Babbie, Ch. 4.

            Corbett, Ch. 4. & Worksheet, Ch. 5. & Worksheet

 

Week 5 – February 15 TEST& 17

            Babbie, Ch. 7.                        

            Corbett, Ch. 6.& Worksheet

 

Week 6 – February 22 & 24

            Babbie, Ch. 8 (Tuesday) and Ch. 9 (Thursday).

 

Week 7 – March 1 & 3

            Babbie Ch. 12

            Corbett, Ch. 7. & Worksheet

 

Week 8 – March 8 &10

            Babbie, Ch. 17.

            Article (handout)

 

SPRING BREAK

 

Week 9 – March 22 & 24 TEST

            Review                       

            Paper Assignment

                

Week  10 – March 29 & 31 PAPER DUE

            Babbie, Ch. 14

 

Week 11 – April 5 & 7

            Corbett, Ch. 8. & Worksheet (Tuesday)

            Corbett, Ch. 9. & Worksheet (Thursday)

 

Week 12 – April 12 & 14

            Corbett, Ch. 10. & Worksheet

 

Week 13 – April 19 & 21

            Corbett, Ch. 12. & Worksheet

 

Week 14 – April 26 & 28

            Corbett, Ch. 13. & Worksheet

 

Week 15 – May 3 & 5

            Catch-up time & Review

 

FINAL EXAM:  Time and Date TBA