POLS 3003 - Research Methods in Political Science

undergraduate
methods
research
Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and research design in political science.
Published

5/10/2024

Modified

6/20/2025

Course Overview

This upper-level undergraduate course introduced students to research methods used in political science, including survey research, experimental design, statistical analysis, and qualitative methods.

Course Details

Students: 24
Meeting Time: TR 2:00-3:15 PM
Location: HSS 2015 (Computer Lab)
Prerequisites: POLS 1013, STAT 2003

Learning Outcomes Achieved

Students successfully learned to: - Design research questions and hypotheses - Conduct literature reviews - Analyze quantitative data using SPSS - Understand sampling and survey methodology - Write research proposals and reports

Major Assignments

Research Proposal (40% of grade)

Students developed original research proposals on topics of their choice: - Topics ranged from: voter turnout, social media influence, policy attitudes - Average grade: 88.5% - Skills developed: Literature review, hypothesis formation, research design

Data Analysis Project (35% of grade)

Using real political science datasets: - Software: SPSS and Excel - Datasets: American National Election Study, General Social Survey - Focus: Descriptive and inferential statistics

Methodology Critique (25% of grade)

Students evaluated published political science research: - Critical thinking: Research design evaluation - Academic writing: Formal critique papers - Class presentations: Student-led discussions

Technology Integration

  • SPSS training: Hands-on statistical software experience
  • Online surveys: Created using Qualtrics
  • Data visualization: Introduction to graphing best practices
  • Research databases: JSTOR, Political Science Complete

Course Reflection

This was a challenging but rewarding course that prepared students for senior capstone projects and graduate school. The small class size allowed for individualized attention and peer collaboration.

What Worked Well

  • Hands-on computer lab sessions
  • Real data analysis projects
  • Peer review of research proposals
  • Guest speaker from university survey center

Areas for Improvement

  • More qualitative methods coverage
  • Additional statistics review sessions
  • Earlier introduction to research software