POSC 230 - METHODS OF POLITICAL RESEARCH
Your interest in political subjects led you to political science
and to this course. The practical politics of Washington, D.C. might
attract you. Perhaps you find relations between nations intrinsically
fascinating. The "great issues" of political philosophy may consume
you. Your interest in political subjects probably will be with you
throughout your life. At Carleton, our department supplies a variety
of approaches you can use to understand politics. You need to
comprehend these approaches in order to better grasp political
subjects.
The core mission of our department -- and this course -- is to
help you to understand politics better. A sophisticated student of
politics accomplishes two tasks. First, he/she explains political
life logically and rigorously. Second, in so doing, he/she takes a
philosophical position concerning how one should properly understand
the political world. In this class, we will examine (1) the process
of explaining politics through modeling, (2) the methods used in this
task and (3) the philosophical implications of this enterprise.
The following book, required for this class, is in the
bookstore:
- Janet Buttolph Johnson and Richard A. Joslyn, Political
Science Research Methods (3rd.ed.)
Every other reading for this course is on CLOSED RESERVE in the
library. Multiple copies of each are available. I recommend you make
your own copies for personal use.
Grades will be assigned on the following basis:
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Paper on modeling (4-6 pp., due beginning of week 4)
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50% (100 points)
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Take-home final (4-6 pp., due two days after last day of
class)
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35% (70 points)
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Class exercises and participation
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15% (30 points)
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CLASS PARTICIPATION IS EXPECTED OF ALL STUDENTS
CLASS SCHEDULE
I. Introduction: why are you here? (1 day)
II. An Introduction to Modeling (1 day)
READ Lave and March, An Introduction to Models in the
Social Sciences. chs. 2 and 3 (r)
ASSIGNMENT: Do question 3, p. 44 and question 9, p. 82. DUE at
9am in my office before class. BE READY TO DISCUSS ANSWERS IN
CLASS. NOTE: You can e-mail your work to me at
sschier@carleton.edu
III. Politicians and Models (1 day)
READ William Riker, The Art of Political
Manipulation, chs. 1, 7, 10 and conclusion (r)
ASSIGNMENT: FIND an example of agenda control, strategic voting
or manipulation of dimensions from politics or everyday life.
Write it up, explaining why it is an example of one of the three
types of behavior. DUE at 9 am in my office before class. You can
e-mail it to me at sschier@carleton.edu
IV. A Consumer Guide to Modeling (6 days)
A. What is political science research? (1 day)
READ Johnson and Joslyn, chs. 1, 3, and 6
B. Measurement (1 day)
READ Johnson and Joslyn, ch. 4; Michael Wallace,
"Armaments and Escalation"
C. Surveys and Sampling (1 day)
READ Johnson and Joslyn, chs. 7 and 10
D. Survey Examples (2 days)
READ Johnson and Joslyn, ch. 13; Schlozman, Burns and
Verba, "Gender and Pathways to Participation: The Role of
Resources;" and Wilcox, "Race Differences in Abortion
Attitudes" (both on r)
E. Experiments and Documentary Analysis (1 day)
READ Johnson and Joslyn, chs. 5, 8 and 9
V. Philosophy and the Study of Politics (5 days)
A. The Behavioral Revolution (2 days)
READ Johnson and Joslyn, ch. 2; Easton, "The Current
Meaning of Behavioralism in Political Science," and Sibley,
"The Limitations of Behavioralism" (both in one reading on r)
B. Rival Theories of Knowledge I (1 day)
READ Eugene Miller, "Positivism, Historicism and
Political Inquiry" (r)
C. Rival Theories of Knowledge II (1 day)
READ Braybrooke and Rosenberg, "Getting the War News
Straight," Miller, "Rejoinder" (both on r).
D. Another view (1 day)
READ Strauss, "An Epilogue" (r)
PAPER ASSIGNMENT #1
You are to locate an article presenting the results of political
research, identify the model of political phenomena evident in the
research, and critique this model.
A thorough critique will answer the twelve questions posed by
Johnson and Joslyn on pages 403-404. In conclusion, you should
discuss the article in terms of its overall truth, beauty and justice
(Lave and March, ch. 3).
You should first search the library for an article that interests
you. The article should employ quantitative empirical research in a
sophisticated fashion -- mere crosstabulations and percentages will
not suffice. Pages 160-63 in Johnson and Joslyn list possible
journals to consult. Next, clear the article with me and ask me any
questions you may have about its theory or method.
Reading chapter 14 of Johnson and Joslyn is strongly recommended
for this assignment. Johnson and Joslyn's chapter 13 may also assist
you in sorting through statistical analysis.
A typed, 5-6 page paper is due at the beginning of class on
Monday, October 2 (section one) or Wednesday, November 8 (section
two). HAND IN A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR ARTICLE WITH YOUR PAPER.