• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site

Quantitative Methods of Political Research

2022/2023
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
5
ECTS credits
Course type:
Compulsory course
When:
2 year, 3, 4 module

Instructor

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course is an introduction to quantitative research methods in political science. By the end of this course, students should be able to effectively evaluate and analyze studies, which use quantitative methods of data collection and analysis; understand basic statistics and causality; and gain experience in collection, analysis, visualization and interpretation of quantitative data as part of an individual research project. No specific prerequisites are assumed for the class other than a basic understanding of algebra and ability to use a computer.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Applies the heuristic capabilities of statistical program R for data visualization.
  • Performs regression analysis using R and interprets its results.
  • Presents the results of statistical analysis in a correct and understandible form.
  • Uses specialized sources and databases to collect the relevant data for the quantitative research.
  • Uses the heuristic capabilities of statistical program R for the data filtering, robustness checks and validation.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Applies the heuristic capabilities of statistical program R for data visualization
  • Performs regression analysis using R and interprets its results
  • Presents the results of statistical analysis in a correct and understandible form
  • Uses specialized sources and databases to collect the relevant data for the quantitative research
  • Uses the heuristic capabilities of statistical program R for the data filtering, robustness checks and validation
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction to the discipline: basic concepts and R basics
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Data Visualization: principles, tools, examples
  • Statistical hypotheses and errors. Comparison of samples
  • Chi-squared (x2) statistics
  • Correlation
  • Paired linear regression: principle, interpretation, design
  • Multiple OLS regression: principle, interpretation, design
  • Technical problems and prerequisites for OLS regression
  • Substantive problems of regression models
  • Panel regression, random and fixed effects
  • Binary logistic regression: principle, interpretation, design
  • Ordinal logistic regression: principle, interpretation, design
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Test
    Test is carried out in the classroom in writing form. It consists of 4 parts. Part A: 10 multiple choice questions. Part B: 10 multiple selection questions. Part C: 5 tasks for graphs interpretation. Part D: 5 tasks for regression/test output interpretation
  • non-blocking Project
  • non-blocking Exam
    The exam format is as follows. The student should prepare an R script reflecting the completion of the Exam tasks. The script should be workable, that is one should be able to get the desired result while using it. There are 4 blocks in the exam (4 broad questions). For each correctly completed task, the student receives a certain amount of points depending on the complexity of the task and the completeness of the answer to the question reflected in the R script and interpretation of the output. The exam is a closed format meaning that no preparatory materials are allowed, one should write a script from the scratch.
  • non-blocking Trainings
    Each week students should complete the training using R statistical software and provide the instructor with the training result in the form of an R script.
  • non-blocking Bonus quizzes
    At the beginning of each seminar the Instructor conducts a short five-minute quiz covering the material of the seminar and the thematic lecture. In accordance with the results of the quiz, each student receives a certain number of points, which is determined by the speed and correctness of the answers to the quiz questions. The results of all quizzes are put in the open access rating. At the end of the course, each student receives a bonus point from 0 to 1, which is added to the course grade, calculated composed of the grades for the mandatory forms of control.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2022/2023 4th module
    0.29 * Test + 0.25 * Trainings + 0.2 * Exam + 0.26 * Project + 0 * Bonus quizzes
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Boso, À. (2006). KING, Gary; KEOHANE, Robert; VERBA, Sidney. Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrac&AN=edsrac.52780
  • Field, A. V. (DE-588)128714581, (DE-627)378310763, (DE-576)186310501, aut. (2012). Discovering statistics using R Andy Field, Jeremy Miles, Zoë Field. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.363067604
  • Robert I. Kabacoff. (2015). R in Action : Data Analysis and Graphics with R: Vol. Second edition. Manning.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Barbara Geddes. (1990). How the Cases You Choose Affect the Answers You Get: Selection Bias in Comparative Politics. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.633931A5
  • Chinn, S. (1997). Statistics: Principles and Methods, 3rd edition (1996). Richard A. Johnson and Gouri Bhattacharyya. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. Price: {pound}21.50. ISBN: 0-471-04194-7. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.1875E2BE
  • Hoffman, M., & Jamal, A. (2014). Religion in the Arab Spring: Between Two Competing Narratives. Journal of Politics, 76(3), 593–606. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381614000152
  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2014). Using Multivariate Statistics: Pearson New International Edition (Vol. 6th ed). Harlow, Essex: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1418064

Authors

  • SORBALE ALEKSEY BORISOVICH