Department of Government & International Studies
POLS 2110
Statistical and Survey Methods for Political Science
Prerequisites:
GIS –
POLS 1510 Foundations of Political Science
GIS Minor –
Year II standing
Duration/Frequency:
3 hours/week
Language of Tuition:
English
Individual Study Time Required:
42 hours (3 X 14 weeks)
Credits/Units:
3
Number of Contact Hours:
42 (3 X 14 weeks)
Total Assumed Work Load:
6 hours/week
Course Description/Aims and Objectives:
The objective of this course is to help students develop some basic working
knowledge of quantitative methods in political studies. The course will be
divided into three parts. During the first few weeks, we will discuss some
basic principles of survey research. Then we will examine how to use
statistical tools to describe political phenomena. Finally, we will look at how to
use statistical tools to explore causal relationships among variables. Based on
the principle of learning by doing, we will deploy SPSS, a statistical computing
package for social sciences, to do nine lab work assignments. By the end of
the course, students are expected to develop the capabilities to identify
puzzles, develop hypotheses and design questions to test hypotheses; collect
data, enter data and transform data; and perform basic univariate, bivariate
and multivariate data analyses.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) / Competencies:
Knowledge
By the end of this course, students should be able to
1. Differentiate concepts in descriptive and inferential statistics and
survey design, administration, analysis and theory; and
2. Recognize the problems of analysis posed by quantitative databases,
qualitative assessment and questionnaire development, and the
proper presentation and explanation of quantitative data and its
limitations provide primary purposes of the subject.
Skills
By the end of this course, students should be able to
3. Solve calculation problems in statistics; and
4. Apply techniques and procedures in conducting a survey.
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Attitudes
By the end of this course, students should be able to
5. Justify the acquired knowledge and skills when conducting and/or
assessing the quality of surveys.
Course Content:
1.
Introduction
2.
Quantitative Research Design: Puzzle, Theory, and Hypothesis
3.
Variables and Their Measurements
4.
Sampling: Theory and Method
5.
Survey Design, Survey Implementation, Data Entry, and Data
Transformation
6.
7.
Univariate Descriptive Statistics: Means, Medians, Modes, and
Standard Deviations
Bivariate Analysis: Exploring Differences
8.
Bivariate Analysis: Exploring Relationships
9.
Multivariate Analysis: Exploratory Factor Analysis
10.
Multivariate Analysis: Reliability Analysis and Index Construction
11.
Bivariate Linear Regression
Teaching & Learning Activities (TLAs):
TLAs
1. Lectures
Students are expected to synthesize a structured overview of
the quantitative methods in political studies from lectures,
discussions and additional recommended readings.
2. Tutorials
Tutorial sessions will discuss critically key aspects of the
quantitative methods in political studies. Tutorials may include
short presentations, online preparation and/or online follow-up
discussions, and discussions of additional readings.
2
ILOs
addressed
1 to 5
3 to 5
Assessment Methods (AMs):
AMs
Weighting
Class participation
20%
ILOs
addressed
1 to 5
Coursework
30%
1 to 5
Final examination
50%
1, 2, 5
Description of
Assessment Tasks
Regular attendance and
active participation are
mandatory. Students
develop and demonstrate
the understanding by way
of critical discussion.
Students are required to
make a preliminary
presentation, and then write
a term paper based on the
knowledge acquired for the
lectures.
Students will have to write
an essay, demonstrating the
understanding of the
structure of the quantitative
methods in political studies,
and focusing on a critical
reflection of these issues in
the understanding and
interpretation of public
opinion.
Recommended Introductory Readings / Textbook:
Trochim, W., The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 3rd Edition. Atomic
Dog Publishing, Cincinnati, 2007, at
http://www.atomicdogpublishing.com/BookDetails.asp?BookEditionID=160
The
Research
Methods
Knowledge
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/
Base’s
website:
Mario F. Triola, Elementary Statistics, 10th edition. Addison Wesley Longman,
Inc, 2006.
References:
David H. Folz, Survey Research for Public Administration. Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage Publications, 1996.
Earl Babbie, Survey Research Methods. Belmont: Wadsworth, 1990.
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Jarol B. Manheim and Richard C. Rich, Empirical Political Analysis: Research
Methods in Political Science. Fourth Edition. White Plains, N.Y.:
Longman, 1995.
M. Lal Goel, Political Science Research: A Methods Handbook. Ames, IA:
Iowa State University Press, 1988.
Ronald Czaja and Johnny Blair, Designing Surveys: A Guide to Decisions and
Procedures. Thousand Oaks, California. : Pine Forge Press, 1996
W. Paul Vogt, Dictionary of Statistics and Methodology: A Nontechnical Guide
for the Social Sciences. Second edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications, 1999.
Internet Resources:
Chen, X., Ender, P., Mitchell, M. and Wells, C. (2003). Regression with SPSS,
from http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/webbooks/reg/default.htm .
Research Methods Knowledge Base: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/
Syllabus prepared by: Dr. Benson W. K. WONG / September 2010
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