Political Inquiry and Analysis
Requirements
Johnson,
Janet Buttolph and H.T. Reynolds, Political Science Research Methods.
Washington,
DC: Congressional Quarterly Press,
2005. (Fifth edition) [PSRM]
Duneier,
Mitchell, Slim's Table. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.
All other
readings will be made available online- see
syllabus
|
Course Requirements/ Grade
Breakdown |
Attendance:
Attendance is required. This class only meets once a week, so
more than three unexcused absences will result in an
automatic "F" for the course.
Participation: 10%
Your
participation in-class is an integral part of the course's learning experience
and is so reflected in the grading method. In-class participation will count
for 10% of your final grade. Irrelevant, off-the-subject commentary will not
count. As part of class participation, each student will occasionally, at
least twice, lead the discussion about some of the assigned readings.
Assignments:
40% (10% each)
All
assignments are to be submitted in hard copy. Email submissions are not
allowed- no exceptions.
a)
Assignments 1-2: You are to write a short paper (about 3-4pp,
double spaced), addressing a specific question on experimentation and
ethnography. The paper is due on the night the respective reading is first
discussed. Questions will be given out the week before the book is
discussed. If you miss this class questions will be made available- I will
post them on my office door (10/2153). I will not email questions to you- no
exceptions. Assignments 1 and 2 should adhere to the following style: 12pt,
Times Roman, with one-inch margins. Citations should be made in either APA or
MLA. Assignment 1 is due
February 9, 2005. Assignment 2 is due
February
23, 2005.
b)
Assignment 3-4: Using SPSS, you are to analyze data,
conducting univariate, cross-tabulations, and in assignment 4, a regression.
More detailed instructions will be given out later in the semester.
Assignment 3 is due
March 16, 2005. Assignment 4 is due
April 13, 2005.
Survey Research: 20%
We will
be conducting a telephone survey of Duval county residents concerning their
attitudes toward contemporary politics. We will, as a class, be designing the
survey from scratch - deciding what questions we wish to ask, how best to
frame them, etc.
We will
also be collecting the data. This will involve 2 or 3 nights (c. 5-9pm) at
the Public Opinion Research Lab. Exact dates to be announced.
You will,
to fulfill the survey research component of the course, also submit a 2-3 page
report about your analysis of some of the data. All submissions must be made
in hardcopy. No email submissions allowed.
Submission of analysis
due: April 20, 2005
Computer Exam: 10%
There
will be an in-class computer analysis exam, testing each student on their
ability to analyze data using SPSS.
Date:
April 20, 2005.
Exam :
20%
There is
only one exam in this course. This exam will test each student on research
methods and statistical materials learned throughout the semester. Students
may use a personal calculator in the exam. However, students may not use
other electronic devices, such as a PC, a PDA, cell phone, which have a
calculator capability.
Make up
exams will be given only under unusual circumstances, such as in the event of
serious illness, or a death in the family. Documentation (doctor’s note/
death certificate) will be required to take the exam.
Date:
April 27, 2005.
Plagiarism is unacceptable and anyone caught engaging in the practice may
expect to fail the course. The instructor may submit all course papers to
turnitin.com, a plagiarism detection service retained by the Political Science
and Public Administration Department.
The
University of North Florida is committed to making reasonable accommodation to
individuals with disabilities. If you wish to discuss academic accommodations
for this course please inform the professor prior to the first assignment.
Students should not expect that, if they do poorly on an assignment, to claim,
at that time, a disability. This statement is to preclude that problem, and
allow people with disabilities to be treated fairly and appropriately.
The
instructor reserves the right to change the course syllabus at his discretion
to enhance the learning process.