The American University in Cairo
Political Science 404
Political Science Methods
Fall 2013
Thursday 5:00-7:25
Dr. Gamal A. Gawad Soltan
Office Hours: Monday & Thursday 12:00-1:30
Office: HUSS 2036
Email: gsoltan@aucegypt.edu
Course Description
This course is designed to help advanced undergraduate students to
master the skills needed to produce quality research. At this stage,
students should have accumulated a solid body of knowledge about
politics and society. At this stage too, students should have written a
good number of term papers, a process through which students should
have developed valuable writing and research skills. This class should
build on these accumulated knowledge and skills towards the
enhancement of students’ research skills. Learning and applying
established research methods is the strategy applied to achieve this goal.
Hands-on is the approach applied in this class. A particular research topic
is selected to be used as a case study through which different methods
will be studied and applied.
Course Requirements and Student Evaluation
Democratic transition is the topic selected for this class. This topic will be
discussed in class in some details in order to allow students to identify
some of the many dimensions of this complex topic. While different
dimensions will be addressed through readings and class discussions,
each student will be required to thoroughly investigate one of the many
dimensions of this topic. Producing a quality research paper on the
dimension at hand will be the main task for each student. One or more of
the methods discussed in class should be used in a student's paper.
The development of students' research papers will proceed gradually. It is
a process that will occupy the entire semester, rather than being just a
term paper to be submitted at the end of semester. The consecutive phases
of the research process will closely follow the progress made in class
discussion.
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Students are expected to submit the following assignments towards the
completion of their research papers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Literature review
Conceptualization, research hypothesis, and definitions
Method
Hypothesis testing
Final paper, where the conclusion and final remarks will be made
Evaluation of students will go along the following rules:
a. Attendance policy: attendance is integral part of the course. Students
are allowed only 1 time of absence without penalty. Each additional
absence will cost 1 point of the final grade. Students who exceed 3 times
of penalized absence might be advised to drop the course. Students who
observe the attendance rules will be rewarded a maximum of 10% of the
total grade.
b. Participation and Presentations: Students are expected and
encouraged to participate in class discussions. Students are expected to
do the readings before coming to class, so that they can contribute to class
discussion. Students will take turns presenting readings. Ten percent
(10%) of the total grade is assigned for class participation and
presentations.
c. Literature Review: A student will submit a review of the literature
relevant to his research topic/dimension. Guidelines for the literature
review will provided on time. Fifteen percent (15%) of the total grade is
assigned for the literature review.
d. Conceptualization, research question, and research hypothesis: A
student will submit a paper that includes a conceptualization of this
research topic, statement of his research question, and the hypothesis of
his research. Ten percent (15%) of the total grade is assigned for this
paper.
e. Method: A student will submit a paper in which he details the research
method he is going to use toward the completion of his paper. A method's
paper should address which research method will be used and why,
definition s of the concepts implied in the research hypothesis, the data
which he is going to use. Fifteen percent (15%) of the total grade is
assigned for this paper.
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f. Hypothesis testing: A student should submit a paper in which he
analyze the data towards the testing of his research hypothesis. Fifteen
percent (15%) of the total grade is assigned for this paper.
g. Final research paper, including a conclusion and final remarks. All
the papers submitted earlier should be included as sections properly
ordered in this final paper after introducing final refinement and editing.
Twenty percent (20%) of the total grade is assigned for the final paper.
A summary of the evaluation scheme used in this class is provided below:
1. Attendance policy
10%
2. Participation:
10%
3. Literature Review:
15%
4. Conceptualization, research question,
and research hypothesis 15%
5. Method
15%
6. Hypothesis testing
15%
7. Final research paper
20%
Sources
The following two books will be used in this course. The two books are placed in
the reserve section in the AUC library. Copies of the Wysocki'a book are available
in the bookstore in case you want to have it. Additional readings might be assigned in
proper time.
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, 3rd edition,
2008
Samuel Huntington, The Third Wave: Democratization in the late
Twentieth century, 1991
For statistical topics, the following book will be used as a reference. Copies of this
book are available in the bookstore.
Joseph F. Healy, Statistics: A Tool for Social Research, 9th edition,
2012.
Additional readings will be assigned in proper time to enhance class
discussions and students’ research skills.
Readings
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1. September 5
Introduction
2. September 12
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 1-22
3. September 19
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp. 3-30
Earl Babbie, Introduction to Social Research, Ch. 14: Social Research Literature
(Reserve)
4. September 26
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 61-73
5. October 3
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp. 31-58
Earl Babbie, Introduction to Social Research, Ch. 10: Nonreactive methods (Reserve)
6. October 10
Due date for Literature Review
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 82-85
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 91-97
7. October 17
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp. 59-84
8. October 24
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 98-102
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 111-116
9. October 31
Due date for Conceptualization, research question, and research
hypothesis
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp.85-108
10. November 7
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 117-122
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 130-137
11. November 14
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp.164-173
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp.192-207
12. November 21
Due date for Method's paper
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Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 130-137
13. November 28
Due date for Hypothesis testing paper
Samuel Huntington, The third wave , pp.174-191
14. December 5
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 191-193
Diane Kholos Wysocki, Readings in social research methods, pp. 213-221
15. December 12
Due date for Final research paper
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