The course will focus on the interpretation of political data and on political science methodology in general, emphasizing computer, statistical, and qualitative techniques.
 

Outline

1. Introduction to the Course
2. What Do Political Statistics Really Mean?
3. Computers
4. The CCSU Library: Consuls
5. The Internet and the World Wide Web
6. The Normative-Behavioral Debate
7. Research Design
8. Data Collection
9. Levels of Measurement
10. Presentation of Data
11. Frequencies, Histograms, Crosstabs, and Scattergrams
12. Measures of Central Tendency and Spread
13. Measures of Strength and Significance of Relationships
14. Qualitative Research Methods
15. Conclusion

Appraisal of student's performance will be based on a midterm, a quantitative test, and a final examination, on class participation, and on the regular on-time submission of homework assignments.

Because this is a cumulative skill generating course, homework will be required to be submitted regularly, and will not be accepted late. Although the homework assignments will be corrected, they will not be graded per se. Making mistakes is part of the way we learn. The regularity with which students hand in exercises will, however, be noted for grading purposes.

It is understood that most social science students experience some anxiety in dealing with mathematical and computer procedures. This problem will definitely be taken into account in the conduct of the course, and adequate help will be given to ensure each student's progress. Thus, although the work in the course will be time consuming, it should not prove too difficult for any student who puts in the needed time. The course is designed to be a learning experience, and the skills you acquire in completing the course will be extremely useful for graduate study and professional work in either public or business administration.
 

Office Hours

Dr. Triebwasser's office is located in Room 010 in the basement of DiLoreto Hall. His office hours are from 12:30 to 1:30, from 4:00 to 5:00 and from 6:30 to 7:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and by appointment. If you cannot meet with Dr. Triebwasser during his scheduled office hours, do not hesitate to make an appointment with him. His phone number is 832-2970 and his e-mail address is triebwasser@ccsu.edu .
 
 

Required Reading

*Packet of xeroxed materials.

*Huff, Darrell. How to Lie with Statistics. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.

*Norusis, Marija J. SPSS 11.0 Guide to Data Analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2002.

*Sennett, Richard and Cobb, Jonathan. The Hidden Injuries of Class . New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.

(*Essential)
 
 

Suggested Additional Reading

Davidson, Randy and Levitov, Ellen.  Overcoming Math Anxiety .  Reading, MA:  Addison-Wesley, 2000.