Fall 2020 - POL 315 D100

Intermediate Quantitative Methods (4)

Class Number: 7437

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    POL 201 or permission of instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces intermediate quantitative methods and data analysis. Teaches students how to build statistical models and apply them to social and political research. Also covers the fundamentals of probability, sampling, and causal inference; students will learns how to conduct their own data-driven research. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Political Science is largely an empirical discipline. That is, we study politics because we are interested in understanding real world political events. We want to know why these events happen and how to make sense of them. Political Science tries to answer these questions in a rigorous way—as opposed to simply top of the mind impressions. We formulate hypotheses based on sound theoretical foundations and we test those as well as competing hypotheses. Statistical analysis is an increasingly important and common way of doing this in the discipline.

Best put, this course is an introduction to how political scientists use the tools of statistical analysis to test competing hypotheses and rigorously understand political events. We start with a review of introductory methods in POL 201, but the primary focus is on regression analysis. By the end of the course, students will not only be comfortable reading and interpreting existing statistically based research; they also will develop the skills necessary to conduct their own independent research projects.

Background:  This course is part of the learning track in Research Methods and Analysis in Political Science and serves as an elective for the newly created Social Data Analytics Minor.  It is recommended for students interest in social data analytics, the Capstone Honours program, and graduate studies in the social sciences.

Course Format:

There will be a synchronous lecture on Mondays 12:30-2:20 pm.  The rest will be asynchronous.

Grading

  • Quizzes 20%
  • Participation and Lab Exercises 15%
  • Homework Problem Sets 40%
  • Final Project 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Field, Andy, Jeremy Miles, and Zoe Field. 2012. Discovering Statistics Using R. Sage.  
ISBN: 10: 1446200469

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).