GOVT 120 A: Research Methods V.2 M/W/F: 11:00-11:50 Spring 2013

GOVT 120 A: Research Methods v.2 M/W/F: 11:00-11:50 Spring 2013

Sawyer 324

GOVT 120 A

Research Methods

Suffolk University

Spring 2013

Brian Conley, Ph.D

Office: Government Department, Room 1084, 10th Floor, 73 Tremont Street

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 1:00-2:00 pm and by appointment.

Email:

Phone: 617-994-6414

Course Description

The course offers an introduction to the discipline and practice of political science research methods. The goal is to introduce students to the various methods that political scientists as well as other social science researchers use to analyze and understand American political behavior and government. In particular, the course will explore both qualitative and quantitative methods as a means of researching and interpreting politics. In this way, the course will closely complement the ideas and issues discussed in GOVT 110: Introduction to American Democracy, which is a prerequisite for this course. GOVT 120 is a core requirement for all Government majors, and satisfies the Social Science requirement in the core curriculum.

Course Goals & Learning Objectives

GOALS / OBJECTIVES / ASSESSMENTS
Develop an understanding for the social science research process. / Develop the ability to analyze and critically evaluate different methodological approaches in the field of political science. / - Class Readings Assignments
- Class Writing Assignments
- Class Response Papers
- Class Discussion
Develop a general understanding of the social science writing process. / Develop the ability to organize and write a research paper. / - Class Readings Assignments
- Class Writing Assignments
Develop a general understanding of the social science research process. / Develop the ability to gather and critically evaluate research and data. / - Class Readings Assignments
- Class Writing Assignments
- Class Response Papers
- Class Discussion
Develop a general understanding of how arguments are made and presented in the field of political science. / Develop presentation skills. / - Class Presentations
- Class Readings Assignments
- Class Discussion

Course Requirements

A key component of the course will be learning how to organize and write a research paper, beginning with the development of a research question, followed by the drafting of a literature review, a research design and concluding with a final research paper.

Students will be evaluated on the basis of the following:

Four (4) Writing Assignments
A Mid-Term Exam
Two (2) Response Papers
An In-Class Presentation
Class Attendance and Participation

1. Writing Assignments (4)

The first assignment is a research question. The second is a corresponding literature review, followed by a research outline. These three assignments will serve as the building blocks of the final assignment: a 10-12 page research paper. Each assignment will be preceded by a writing seminar that focuses on that component of the paper. Each assignment should be submitted though the course Blackboard site. If you encounter problems uploading any assignments to the class Blackboard site, please email the assignments to me at: . If you have to email an assignment to me, please identify the message in the subject line as follows: GOVT 120: Your Last Name: Name of the Assignment. (Example: GOVT 120: Conley: Research Question.)

A Mid-Term Exam

The Mid-term Exam will focus on what Monroe calls the “building blocks of the research process,” specifically, how to craft a clear and compelling research question, the organization of the research process as well as social science research designs. The exam will be preceded by a short review of the relevant class material.

3. Response Papers (2)

You will also be required to write two (2) response papers on the PS symposiums in the final section of the course. The papers should critically engage one or more of the readings in each debate/discussion. The papers should be no longer than three pages. The papers will be due at the end of each section and should be submitted though the course Blackboard site. Again, if you encounter problems uploading any assignments to the class Blackboard site, please email the assignments to me at: . If you have to email an assignment to me, please identify the message in the subject line as follows: GOVT 120: Your Last Name: Name of the Assignment. (Example: GOVT 120: Conley: Response Paper 2.)

Presentations:

Students will be required to make a short (3-5 minute) presentation during the closing weeks of the semester on their research work and paper.

Class Attendance and Participation:

Students are expected to attend each class. An attendance sheet will be circulated at the beginning of each class. If you are unable to attend class, due to illness or a because of a conflict, please notify me by email.

I also strongly encourage you to read any of the major national newspapers, journals of opinion, news magazines and political blogs as well as to watch cable and broadcast news programs in order to stay abreast of current political issues and developments. You should feel free at any time to introduce issues you find relevant in our class discussion or on the class blog.

Research Topics

To help you select a research topic for your paper, we will dedicate the second class period to a discussion of several major issues in US politics, including, voting, campaign advertising, and US foreign policy. You are not limited to these topics, but they will provide you with examples of how research work is conducted in the field of political science.

Student Engagement Hours

To complete this course, students will need to dedicate, at a minimum, the following amount of time to the listed activities:

Item / Activity / Hours (total)
Course Readings: / 567 Pages x 8 min per Page / 75.6
Review Power Points: / 54 PP x .30 minute per PP / 27
Research Question: / 5 Hours Preparation / 5
Mid-Term Exam: / 12 hours Exam Preparation / 12
Literature Review: / 15 Hours Preparation / 15
Research Outline: / 6 Hours Preparation / 6
Response Papers: / 2 Assignments, 4 hours each / 8
Final Paper: / 12 Hours Preparation / 12
Class Attendance: / 44 Classes x 50 minutes / 36.6
Total: / 197.2

Class Website:

The syllabus as well as ALL of the class readings, power points and other support material will be posted on the following class website:

http://blogs.cas.suffolk.edu/bconleygovt120/

Password: govt120a

Black Board:

There is also a Black Board site for this course where all Writing Assignments should be submitted.

Here is how to access the Black Board site:

Login to MY Suffolk (
Click on the “Blackboard” tab in the top menu.
Click on the “GOVT 120” link under “My Courses” on the right hand side of the page.
Click on the “Course Content” link on the upper left hand side of the page.

Writing Assignments: (Use the Same Process for Response Papers)

Click on the “Writing Assignment” link (if you do not see this link, skip to the next

step).

Click on the “View/Complete” link under the specific assignment.
Click on the "Browse" button (next to File to Attach) in Section 2: "Your Files."
Click "Submit" on the bottom on the page.

Grading / Due Dates
Research Question 5%
Mid-Term: 20%
Literature Review: 20%
Research Outline: 10%
Response Papers: 15%
1 (5 %)
2 (5 %)
3 (5%)
Final Paper: 20%
Class Presentation: 5%
Class Attendance and Participation: 5% / February 4
February 8
March 20
March 29
March 8
April 8
April 12
May 1
April 17-24
***

University Policies:

Suffolk University Academic Honesty Policy

Undergraduate Honor Policy:

“Cheating on examinations, plagiarism, and/or improper acknowledgement of sources in essays or research papers, and the use of a single essay or paper in more than one course, without the permission of the instructor, constitute unacceptable academic conduct. It is dishonest to buy, download, borrow or lend papers. It is unacceptable to make up or falsify data that are supposed to be collected from survey, experimentation, or other means. Work that is represented as yours should be your own; if not, the source should be properly identified.”

“This applies to lab reports, computer projects, and group projects as well as to individual assignments…An undergraduate student who has been found to have violated this rule after a conference with the Dean of Students or a hearing by the judicial panel is subject to an automatic grade of “F” in the course and to suspension, enforced withdrawal, or expulsion” (Suffolk University Student Handbook 2010).

Student Disability:

“The Office of Disability Services is committed to assuring that students with disabilities have equal, effective and meaningful access to all programs, resources and services at Suffolk University. The office strives to assist students with disabilities in advocating for themselves, receiving appropriate accommodations, and utilizing the campus-wide resources in order to fulfill their postsecondary education goals. The office provides a supportive and engaging setting for students; encouraging students to use their voice and to think beyond college by building self-confidence, embracing diversity and social responsibility and recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses” (Suffolk University Office of Disability Services 2010).

Contact Information:

Office of Disability Services, 73 Tremont Street, 7th Floor.

Phone: (617) 994-6820

Web: www.suffolk.edu/campuslife/disabilityservices.html

Email:

University Services:

Writing Center

Sawyer Library, 73 Tremont Street, 2nd Floor.

Phone: (617) 573-8270

Web: http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/11920.html

Ballotti Learning Center:

208 Donahue
Phone: 617-573-8235
E-mail:

Second Language Services:

Phone: 617-573-8677

Web: http://www.suffolk.edu/campuslife/931.html

Student Affairs:

Course Timeline:

Date / Subject / Reading / Assignments
Monday: Jan 14 / Introduction / Review Syllabus
Wednesday: Jan 16 / Political Research: Main Concepts: Analyzing Political Behavior / Janet Buttolph Johnson et al. 2005. Political Science Methods 5th edition, 7-22.
Robert D. Putnam. 1995. “Tuning In, Tuning Out: The Strange Disappearance of Social Capital in America.” PS: Political Science and Politics, 1-23.
Friday: Jan 18 / Scientific Method: Empirical and Normative Questions / Earl Babbie. 2007. The Basics of Social Research 8-12.
Alan Monroe. 2000. Essentials of Political Research, Chapter 1.
Monday: Jan 21 / Martin Luther King / No Class
Wednesday: Jan 23 / Research Process: Organizing an Argument / Earl Babbie. 2007. The Basics of Social Research 12-22.
Alan Monroe. 2000. Essentials of Political Research Chapter 2.
Friday: Jan 25 / Research Design / Alan Monroe. 2000. Essentials of Political Research, Chapter 3.
Monday: Jan 28 / Writing Seminar: Research Question / Wayne Booth et al. 2003. The Craft of Research. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press. Chapter 3, 14.
Lisa Baglione. 2007. Writing a Research Paper in Political
Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. New York: Thomson, Wadsworth. 14-16.
Wednesday: Jan 30 / Statistics: Central Tendencies / Lisa Harrison. 2001. Political Research: An Introduction, 14-32.
Alan Monroe. 2000. Essentials of Political Research, Chapter 6.
Jack Levin and James Alan Fox. 2010. Elementary Statistics in Social Research: The Essentials, 53-63.
Friday: Feb 1 / Statistics: Measures of Variability / Jack Levin and James Alan Fox. 2010. Elementary Statistics in Social Research: The Essentials, 67-77.
Phillip H. Pollock. 2009. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis. Washington, D.C: CQ Press. Chapter 1.
Monday: Feb 4 / Polling / Lisa Harrison. 2001. Political Research: An Introduction, 39-49.
Herbert Asher. 2007. Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know, 50-68. / Due: Research Question
Wednesday: Feb 6 / Exam Review / No Reading / Exam Review
Friday: Feb 8 / Mid-Term Exam / No Reading / Exam
Monday: Feb 11 / Literature Review / Lisa Baglione. 2007. Writing a Research Paper in Political
Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. New York: Thomson, Wadsworth. Chapter 3.
Laurence Jones and Edward Olson. 1996. Political Science
Research: A Handbook of Scope and Methods. New York: Longman. 30-40.
Wednesday: Feb 13 / Research Lab: Computer Lab / No Reading
Friday: Feb 15 / Qualitative Research / Lisa Harrison. 2001. Political Research: An Introduction, 74-78.
Alan Monroe. 2000. Essentials of Political Research, Chapter 5.
Monday: Feb 18 / President’s Day / No Class
Wednesday: Feb 20 / Congress to Campus / No Reading
Friday: Feb 22 / Argumentation / Wayne Booth et al. 2003. The Craft of Research, Chapter 7.
G. King, R. Keohane, S. Verba. 1994. Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research, 99-109.
Emily Stier Adler and Roger Clark. 2011. An Invitation to Social Research. Belmont: Wadsworth. 146-150.
Monday: Feb 25 / Evidence / Wayne Booth et al. 2003. The Craft of Research, Chapter 9.
Wednesday: Feb 27 / Evidence / G. King, R. Keohane, S. Verba. 1994. Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research, 129-139.
Friday: Mar 1 / Examples of Research: Inequality and Democracy / Robert Weissberg. 2006. “Politicized Pseudo Science” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 39, 1. 33-37.
Larry Bartels. 2006. “Is the Water Rising? Reflections on Inequality and American Democracy” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 39, 1. 39-42.
Monday: Mar 4 / Examples of Research: Inequality and Democracy / Frances Fox Piven. 2006. “Response to ‘American Democracy in an Age of Rising Inequality” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 39, 1. 43-46.
Jacob Hacker. 2006. “Inequality, American Democracy, and American Political Science: The Need for Cumulative Research” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 39, 1. 47-49.
Wednesday: Mar 6 / Examples of Research: Inequality and Democracy / Jason DeParle. 2012. “Harder for Americans to Rise From Lower Rungs.” New York Times Jan. 4.
Tom Ashbrook. 2012. “Not Movin’ On Up.” On Point. WBUR, Boston. Jan. 9.
Julia Isaacs. 2007. “Economic Mobility of Families Across Generations.” Brookings Institution. November. 1-17.
Friday: Mar 8 / Examples of Research: Same Sex Marriage / Gary Segura. 2005. “Politics of Same-Sex Marriage –An Introduction,” PS: Political Science and Politics April. 38, 2. 189-192.
Gregory Lewis. 2005. “Same-Sex Marriage and the 2004 Presidential Election” PS: Political Science and Politics April. 38, 2. 195-199.
D. Hillygus and T. Shields. 2005. “Moral Issues and Voter Decision Making in the 2004 Presidential Election” PS: Political Science and Politics April. 38, 2. 201-208. / Due: Response Paper 1.
Mon-Fri: Mar 11-15 / Spring Break / No Class
Monday: Mar 18 / Advising Seminar / No Reading
Wednesday: Mar 20 / Research Outline / Wayne Booth et al. 2003. The Craft of Research. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press. Chapter 12.
Lisa Baglione. 2007. Writing a Research Paper in Political
Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. New York: Thomson, Wadsworth. Chapter 6. / Due: Literature Review
Friday: Mar 22 / Examples of Research: Voting Trends / Shea, Daniel. 2009. “Local Political Parties and Young Voters.” In Engaging Young People in Civic Life, 164-183.
Gerber, Donald P and Alan S. Green. 2008. Get Out the Vote: How to Increase Voter Turnout. Chapter 1.
Monday: Mar 25 / Examples of Research: Voting Trends / Shea, Daniel and John Green. 2007. Fountain of Youth: Strategies and Tactics for Mobilizing America’s Young Voters. New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. Chapter 1.
Wednesday: Mar 27 / Examples of Research: Voting Trends / Green, John C and James L. Guth. 1994. “Controlling the Mischief of Faction: Party Support and Coalition Building Among Party Activists.” In Politics, Professionalism and Power: Modern Party Organization and the Legacy of Ray C. Bliss. Lanham: University Press of America. 234-264.
Friday: Mar 29 / Examples of Research: US Foreign Policy / Loch Johnson. 2003. “Introduction –A New Foreign Policy for a Fragmented World,” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 36, 1. 3-4.
Loch Johnson and Kiki Caruson. 2003. “The Seven Sins of American Foreign Policy.” PS: Political Science and Politics. 36, 1. 5-10. / Due: Research Outline
Monday: Apr 1 / Examples of Research: US Foreign Policy / Glenn Hastedt. 2003. “Definitions of Responsibility and American Foreign Policy,” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 36, 1. 11-15.
Ralph Carter. 2003. “Leadership at Risk: The Perils of Unilateralism,” PS: Political Science and Politics Jan. 36, 1.17-22. / Due: Response Paper 2.
Wednesday: Apr 3 / Examples of Research: US Health Care Reform / Haynes Johnson and David Broder. 1997. The System: The American
Way of Politics at the Breaking Point. New York: Back Bay Books. 55-96, 181-194.
Friday: Apr 4 / Examples of Research: US Health Care Reform / Lawrence Jacobs and Theda Skocpol. 2012. Health Care Reform and American Politics. Oxford” Oxford University Press, 50-88.
Monday: Apr 8 / Examples of Research: US Health Care Reform / David W. Brady and Daniel P. Kessler. 2010. “Who Support Health Care Reform?” PS: Political Science and Politics. 43, 1. 1-6.
Lawrence R. Jacobs. 2010. “What Health Care Reform Teaches Us about American Politics.” PS: Political Science and Politics. 43, 4. 619-623.
Wednesday: Apr 10 / Examples of Research: Forecasting Elections / James Campbell. 2012. “Forecasting the 2012 National Elections.” PS: Political Science and Politics Oct. 610-612.
Alan Abramowitz. 2012. “Fasten Your Seat Belts: Polarization, Weak Economy Forecast Very Close Election.” July 12.
Friday: Apr 12 / Examples of Research: Forecasting Elections / Larry Sabato . 2012. “Forecasting the Presidential Election: Other Crystal Balls.” September 13. / Due: Response Paper 3.
Monday: Apr 15 / Patriot’s Day / No Class
Wednesday: Apr 17 / Presentations / No Reading
Friday: Apr 19 / Presentations / No Reading
Monday: Apr 22 / Presentations / No Reading
Wednesday: Apr 24 / Last Class: Presentations / No Reading
Wednesday: May 1 / Final Paper Due