The conduct of inquiry and explanation, and the nature and scientific status of the knowledge produced by research on social and political issues, are considered in the context of both the theory building and practical, policy oriented aspects of political science. An introduction to empirical research in political science, with an emphasis on design and data collection.
Stress is placed on eclecticism and demonstration by example.
This course focuses on the formulation of political questions as scientific propositions open to quantitative examination. Two major sub-topics, the empirical measurement of political concepts and the statistical analysis of quantitative data, are illustrated with examples from the research literature. Techniques of developing multivariate statistical models of political processes. Applications of the general linear model to political dynamics and to problems with poorly measured variables. Advanced techniques of multivariate analysis.