University of Illinois at Chicago

Political Science 200

Methods of Political Science

Fall Term, 2003

Robert Bruhl

Office hours: M,W 10-11

BSB 1109, (312) 355-3376

This course will provide students the opportunity to learn the various methods of social science research by conducting their own research projects. Moreover, because the most difficult part of social science research is developing meaningful research questions, we will also spend some time reading and discussing some of the classic works in which the basic questions regarding the scientific investigation of political behavior were defined.

Grade composition:

60% Research project assignments (6x10%)

20% Other homework assignments

20% Discussion assignments

Research methods addressed:

1. The ethnography;

2. The open-ended survey of opinion;

3. The closed-ended survey of opinion;

4. Macro-political analysis (analyzing legislative, judicial, executive actions, or actions of the general public, such as voting);

5. Text analysis (analyzing the content of a law); and

6. Macro-economic analysis.

Classic works to be discussed:

1. Aristotle, Politics;

2. Machiavelli, The Prince;

3. Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding; and

4. Weber, The Theory of Social and Economic Organization.

The reading list and text assignments will be distributed separately.

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