University of Illinois at Chicago

Political Science 201

Political Data Analysis

Fall Term, 2003

Robert Bruhl

Office hours: MW 11-12

BSB 1109, (312) 355-3376

This course is intended to provide political science students with a basic understanding of statistical analysis as it might be used in political science research. This understanding will be based on the student’s completion of approximately eight individual projects in which the student will collect and analyze data on an appropriate subject of interest to the student.

Grade composition:

80% Individual research projects using assigned methods (8 x 10%).

20% Final Data Analysis Project (includes presentation).

Tentative order of topics:

1. The purpose of statistics and understanding different types of observations.

2. Collecting observations of categorical qualities.

3. Collecting observations of measurable qualities,; mean and standard deviation.

4. Understanding probability distributions.

5. Comparing measurable observations from two different groups.

6. Comparing measurable observations from several different groups.

7. Comparing categorical qualities of several different groups.

8. Comparing observations from a group over time.

9. Exploring the possibility that some observed characteristic of a group caused a second observed characteristic.

The reading list will be distributed separately.

Any student with special instructional needs should consult with me at the beginning of the semester.