POL242y Outline of Topics and Readings Autumn 2011

Sept. 13/15-Approaching a Course on Research Methods

Overview

Sept. 20/22-Doing Social Research; Data Lab 1 Part A & Part B;

Tutorial Required this week: Dates: 20/21/22/23/26

Required Reading:

• Burchinal, Chapters 1 - 4;
• RefWorks Fundamentals Workbook;
• Making A Presentation.

Recommended Reading:

• Brians et al., Chapters1, 2, 3 & 4 (pp 75-81 only);
• Korey, Political Science as a Social Science & Research Design (McCall).
• Norgaard, Standards for Good Research
• Lit on the Web;
• Presentations (brief version) prepared by Professor Levine.

Sept. 27/29-Describing Variables; Constructing Tables; Data Labs 2A and 2B

Required Reading:

• Burchinal, Chapters 5, 6 (pp 6-7) 16, 17 & 18 (pp 1-2);
• Making Accurate Tables and Graphs;
• Ludwig-Mayerhofer, Simple Analysis (Frequency Tables), Data Transformation (Recode); Handling Data Files (Missing Values; Labeling Variables and Values; Rename Variables and Selecting Cases), Simple Analysis (Crosstabulation).

Recommended Reading:

• Brians et al., Chapters 5 (pp 94-99 only) 14, 15 & 16;
• Korey, Levels of Measurement, Frequency Tables & Contingency Tables.

Oct. 4/6-Relating Categorical Variables; Data Lab 3 on Association Part A, Part B & Part C

Tutorial Required this week; Dates: 3/4/5/6/7

Assignment: Univariate & Bivariate Homework (due Oct 18/20).

Required Reading:

• Burchinal, Chapter 18 (pp 3-6);
• Ludwig-Mayerhofer, Simple Analysis (Crosstabulation).

Recommended Reading:

• Kellstedt & Whitten, Chapter 8 (134-136; 139-142);
• Brians et al., Chapters 15 ( pp 273-275) & 17 (pp 290- 294; 297-299, 301-303);
• Haan, Chapters 12 & 13;
• Korey, Measuring Association.

Oct. 11/13-Surveys & Experiments Randomized Selection and Assignment & Statistical Significance

Due This Week: Quiz 1

Drop in Tutorials Available: 11/12/13/14/17/18/19

Required Reading:

• Burchinal,  Chapters 8-11; Chapter 19 (pages 1-10 & 17-21 only);
• Ludwig-Mayerhofer, Handling Data Files (Using Case Weights) ; Data Analysis (Tabs for multiple responses).
  

Recommended: Reading

• Brians et al., Chapters 6, 7 & 8; Chapter 17 (pp 299-301);
• Korey, Survey Research, Weighting Data & Longitudinal Analysis of Survey DataStandard Scores and the Normal Distribution, Comparing Means & Chi-square.

Oct. 18/20-Measuring, Operationalizing & Indexing; Data Lab 4 Making an Index Part A & Part B

Univariate & Bivariate Homework due this week

Required Reading:

• Burchinal, Chapters 6 & 7;
• Ludwig-Mayerhofer, Data Reduction (Item Analysis); Data Transformation (Compute).

Recommended Reading:

• Brians et al., Chapters 5.& 9;
• Korey, Validity & Reliability & Computing New Variables;

Oct. 25/27- -Data Lab 5 on Statistical Significance Part A, Part B & Part C

Tutorial Required this week; Dates: 25/26/27/28/31

Assignment: Index & Inference Homework (due Wednesday November 9th for Tuesday section; Thursday November 10th for Thursday section).

Required Reading:

•  Ludwig-Mayerhofer, Simple Analysis (T-test; Analysis of Variance);
• Burchinal, Chapter 19 (pp 17-21).

Recommended Reading:

• Brians, Lab Manual, Chapters 5,6, 8 & 10;

Nov. 1/3-Reporting & Presenting I
Due This Week: Quiz 2;

Drop in Tutorials available: 1/2/3/4/9

Assignment: Bivariate Analysis Presentation (must be posted on line by noon on Nov.23).

Live presentations will be held in tutorials; the schedule is available by following this link Bivariate Presentation Schedule.

Required Reading:

• Burchinal, Chapter 20.

Recommended:

• Brians, et al., Chapters 22 & 23.

Please note that due to the Fall Break there will be no class on Tuesday November 8th.

Nov. 10/15- Reporting & Presenting II

Due This Week: Index and Inference Worksheet Nov 9 for Tuesday section; Nov 10 for Thursday section.

Nov. 17/22-- TBA

Drop in Tutorials available: 15/16/17/18/21/22

Nov. 24/29- Qualitative Research

Due This Week: Bivariate Presentations begin in Tutorials on Nov 23rd

Required Reading:

• Burchinal, Chapters 11 & 13.

Recommended Reading:

• Brians et al., Chapter 4 (pp 81-86 only) Chapters 10 & 13,19-21.
• Korey, Focus Groups, Content Analysis & Participant Observation Look particularly at the material under for further study, especially that prepared by Susan Losh.Linda Trimble and Shannon Sampert "Who's in the Game?" Canadian Journal of Political Science, 2004, 37: 1, 51-71;

Dec. 1/6 -Final Review & Quiz

Due This Week: Quiz 3; Bivariate Presentations continue in Tutorial Sections

Details on the second term will be made available at a later date.