JSM 2004 - Toronto

Abstract #301825

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Activity Number: 75
Type: Topic Contributed
Date/Time: Monday, August 9, 2004 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
Abstract - #301825
Title: A Practical Approach to the Introductory Political Science Statistics Course
Author(s): Gary M. Klass*+
Companies: Illinois State University
Address: 4600 Political Science, Normal, IL, 61790-4600,
Keywords: education ; graphical display ; multivariate regression ; political science ; social indicators
Abstract:

The methodological pluralism of the political science discipline presents unique challenges to the design of an introductory research methods and statistics course. Conventional approaches to social science statistics education stress statistical concepts and applications that are often of little practical use to students in their subsequent coursework or careers. Political scientists typically use numerical data in their research and writing in one of two ways that traditional methods courses do not teach. They present and interpret political and social indicator data, often time series data, in tabular or graphical format, or they use some form of multiple regression. This presentation describes an approach to a statistics course more relevant to the actual practice of political science. It begins by teaching students how to obtain, interpret, and present political and social indicator data, skills involving a variety of applications across even "nonquantitative" fields of political science. It ends by trying to get students to the point where they can at least understand the regression-based research of quantitative political science.

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Revised March 2004