POL-UA800: QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
New York University, Spring 2013
Class: Tuesday & Thursday 12:30-1:45, 5 Washington Place, Rm 101
Recitations: Mon 4:55-6:10, Wed 9:30-10:45, Wed 11:00-12:15, or Th 4.55-6:10 - 25W4th C-6
Instructor: Gizem Acikgoz
Email: ga391@nyu.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 10-12, 19W4th, Rm 303
Course Website: Blackboard
TA: Michael Aklin
Email: ma1896@nyu.edu
TA: Iulia Cioroianu
Email: imc226@nyu.edu
Course Overview
This class is an introduction to both the logic and the mathematics of statistics, with an emphasis
on social-science applications. Topics include basic descriptive statistics, the logic of causal order, bivariate regression, multiple regression analysis, probability, confidence intervals, significance
testing, regression diagnostics, multicollinearity and heteroskedasticity. Lab sessions are largely
devoted to the computer application Stata.
Course Requirements
Course grade will be based on homework assignments (25%), lab sessions (20%), a midterm (25%)
and a final exam (30%). There will be 10 assignments. The lowest grade of the assignments will
be dropped. Late homework will not be accepted.
Texts
Prem Mann, Introductory Statistics (8th Edition), John-Wiley & Sons 2012
Paul Allison, Multiple Regression: A Primer, Pine Forge Press 1999
*Phillip Pollock, A Stata Companion to Political Analysis (2nd Edition), CQ Press 2010
*Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith, The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad behavior Is
Almost Always Good Politics, PublicAffairs 2011
Texts marked with an asterisk (*) are recommended readings. The books are on reserve at the
circulation desk in Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. Lecture and recitation notes will be made available
via Blackboard.
Date
Jan.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
29
31, Feb 5-7
12-14
19-21-26
Topic
Reading Assignment
Introduction
Science and Statistics
Descriptive Statistics
Regression
Mann, Chapter 1
Mann, Appendix A.3
Mann, Chapters 2 & 3
Allison, Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 5;
Mann, Chapters 13 & 14 (except 13.3 & 13.5)
Feb. 28
Mar. 5
Mar. 7-12
Mar. 14
Mar. 26-28
Apr. 2-4
Apr. 9-11
Apr. 16-18
Apr. 23-25
Apr. 30
Review
Midterm
Basic Probability
Binomial Distributions
The Law of Large Numbers
Sampling Distribution of Sums and Means
Confidence Intervals
Hypothesis Testing (one mean)
Hypothesis Testing (two means)
Hypothesis Testing (regression)
May. 2
May 7-9
Regression Diagnostics
Review
2
Mann, Chapter 4
Mann, Chapter 5.6
Mann, Chapter 6
Mann, Chapters 7
Mann, Chapter 8
Mann, Chapter 9
Mann, Chapter 10
Allison, Chapter 5;
Mann, Chapters 13.3 & 13.5
Allison, Chapters 6 & 7