Fall 2020 - POL 830 G100

Political Opinion, Electoral Behaviour and Democratic Legitimacy (5)

Class Number: 7438

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Surveys major approaches in the field of political behaviour. It focuses on understanding political beliefs and actions, and the implications of individual choices for collective outcomes. Topics may include: political socialization, public opinion and ideology, voting behaviour, protest, political knowledge, social and media influence, prejudice and tolerance, and political inequality.

COURSE DETAILS:

Description:


This seminar surveys major approaches in the field of mass political behaviour. It focuses on understanding political beliefs and actions, and the implications of individual choices for collective outcomes. Topics include: voting and elections, political socialization and partisanship, public opinion formation, democratic values and value change, and social movements and protest. We will examine these topics from a comparative perspective, but with some emphasis on Canadian political behaviour where appropriate.

Note that much of the reading in this course employs quantitative methods. Students are encouraged to have taken introductory statistics (or equivalent) prior to taking this course, but we will also review how to interpret statistical analyses. We will also provide a gentle introduction into the basics of data science, particularly how to acquire, manipulate, and exploratory analyze unstructured data. This may include such data as text from websites, official government documents, political speeches, press releases, and tweets.

Course Organization:

Remote learning via Zoom, 2:30-5:20 on Thursdays. Students are expected to have done the reading prior to class and be prepared to actively participate in seminar discussion.

Grading

  • Weekly discussion questions and class participation 20%
  • One time leading of class discussion 10%
  • Response papers (5) 30%
  • On time completion of research paper components 15%
  • Final Research Paper 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

To be determined. 

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

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).