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Teaching Undergraduate Political Methodology
Providing expert advice from established scholars in the field of political science, this engaging book imparts informative guidance on teaching research methods across the undergraduate curriculum. Written in a concise yet comprehensive style, it illustrates practical and conceptual advice, alongside more detailed chapters focussing on the different aspects of teaching political methodology.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
Providing expert advice from established scholars in the field of political science, this engaging book imparts informative guidance on teaching research methods across the undergraduate curriculum. Written in a concise yet comprehensive style, it illustrates practical and conceptual advice, alongside more detailed chapters focussing on the different aspects of teaching political methodology.
Each chapter draws on practised teaching methods covering the what, how and when for teaching political methodology with an in-depth look at systematic research methods. The book is split into four distinct sections for undergraduate research methods education: the approach, the foundations of research design, quantitative analysis and qualitative data. All the advice is evidence-based and grounded in the science of teaching and learning (SoTL) literature from experienced, award-winning and highly recognized instructors of political methodology.
Teaching Undergraduate Political Methodology will be required reading for faculty wanting to establish excellent methods for challenging subjects within the fields of political science, public administration and public policies. It will also serve as a useful resource for instructors wishing to gain greater student engagement with their courses by utilising different methods.
Each chapter draws on practised teaching methods covering the what, how and when for teaching political methodology with an in-depth look at systematic research methods. The book is split into four distinct sections for undergraduate research methods education: the approach, the foundations of research design, quantitative analysis and qualitative data. All the advice is evidence-based and grounded in the science of teaching and learning (SoTL) literature from experienced, award-winning and highly recognized instructors of political methodology.
Teaching Undergraduate Political Methodology will be required reading for faculty wanting to establish excellent methods for challenging subjects within the fields of political science, public administration and public policies. It will also serve as a useful resource for instructors wishing to gain greater student engagement with their courses by utilising different methods.
Critical Acclaim
‘These chapters on political science research methods are absolutely wonderful! They can help to develop a methods curriculum, a methods course syllabus, or a methods assignment. The book is filled with practical advice, examples, and helpful tools from seasoned faculty who cover a wide range of research related topics!’
– Lonna Atkeson, Florida State University, US
– Lonna Atkeson, Florida State University, US
Contributors
Contributors: Weining Ai, Ian G. Anson, Theodore Arapis, Jennifer Bachner, Laura C. Bucci, Joice Chang, Emily Clough, Tijen Demirel-Pegg, Tom Ellington, Colin Hannigan, Alexis Henshaw, Stacey Leigh Hunt, John Ishiyama, Janet Elise Johnson, Soren Jordan, H. Whitt Kilburn, Daniel T. Kirsch, Christopher N. Lawrence, Binita Mahato, B. Gregory Marfleet, Lori Poloni-Staudinger, Babak RezaeeDaryakenari, Joel T. Shelton, Christi Siver, Charles C. Turner, Kaye Usry, Federico Vegetti, Mandie Weinandt, Joe Weinberg
Contents
Contents:
Introduction to Teaching Undergraduate Political Methodology 1
Mitchell Brown, Shane Nordyke, and Cameron Thies
PART I APPROACHING RESEARCH METHODS IN
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM
1 What should be taught and when 8
Charles C. Turner
2 The case for an applied approach to teaching research methods 16
Laura C. Bucci
3 Students as consumers and producers: the research
methods course and information literacy 22
B. Gregory Marfleet
4 Teaching political methodology to undergraduate students 35
John Ishiyama
5 Teaching political methodology 47
Mandie Weinandt
6 What do we teach with? An examination of texts 55
Christopher N. Lawrence
7 Teaching writing about political science research 63
Kaye Usry and Joel T. Shelton
PART II FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH DESIGN
8 Questions, queries and problems 79
Joe Weinberg
9 Hypotheses and research expectations 87
H. Whitt Kilburn
10 Teaching experimental and quasi-experimental designs 96
Federico Vegetti
11 The history and art of sampling 104
Theodore Arapis
12 Causality reasoning: what it is and how to teach it 113
Tom Ellington
13 It’s actually not in the syllabus: incorporating ethics in
research methods courses 119
Christi Siver
PART III QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS FOR
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS
EDUCATION
14 How to teach descriptive statistics 128
Joice Chang
15 Bivariate regression: a good beginning makes a good ending 137
Babak RezaeeDaryakenari
16 Basics of multivariate analysis 146
Emily Clough
17 Practical extensions of regression 153
Soren Jordan
18 Teaching big data 164
Jennifer Bachner
19 Student-led survey projects 174
Ian G. Anson
20 Data visualization 181
Alexis Henshaw
PART IV QUALITATIVE DATA FOR
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS
EDUCATION
21 The case study approach 189
Weining Ai
22 Interviewing 197
Janet Elise Johnson, Candice D. Ortbals, and Lori Poloni-Staudinger
23 Content analysis as an effective teaching tool for critical thinking 205
Tijen Demirel-Pegg
24 Field and observational research 213
Stacey Leigh Hunt
25 Teaching qualitative-interpretive research methods 220
Daniel T. Kirsch
Conclusion: taking the next steps 227
Mitchell Brown, Shane Nordyke and Cameron Thies
Index
Introduction to Teaching Undergraduate Political Methodology 1
Mitchell Brown, Shane Nordyke, and Cameron Thies
PART I APPROACHING RESEARCH METHODS IN
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM
1 What should be taught and when 8
Charles C. Turner
2 The case for an applied approach to teaching research methods 16
Laura C. Bucci
3 Students as consumers and producers: the research
methods course and information literacy 22
B. Gregory Marfleet
4 Teaching political methodology to undergraduate students 35
John Ishiyama
5 Teaching political methodology 47
Mandie Weinandt
6 What do we teach with? An examination of texts 55
Christopher N. Lawrence
7 Teaching writing about political science research 63
Kaye Usry and Joel T. Shelton
PART II FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH DESIGN
8 Questions, queries and problems 79
Joe Weinberg
9 Hypotheses and research expectations 87
H. Whitt Kilburn
10 Teaching experimental and quasi-experimental designs 96
Federico Vegetti
11 The history and art of sampling 104
Theodore Arapis
12 Causality reasoning: what it is and how to teach it 113
Tom Ellington
13 It’s actually not in the syllabus: incorporating ethics in
research methods courses 119
Christi Siver
PART III QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS FOR
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS
EDUCATION
14 How to teach descriptive statistics 128
Joice Chang
15 Bivariate regression: a good beginning makes a good ending 137
Babak RezaeeDaryakenari
16 Basics of multivariate analysis 146
Emily Clough
17 Practical extensions of regression 153
Soren Jordan
18 Teaching big data 164
Jennifer Bachner
19 Student-led survey projects 174
Ian G. Anson
20 Data visualization 181
Alexis Henshaw
PART IV QUALITATIVE DATA FOR
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS
EDUCATION
21 The case study approach 189
Weining Ai
22 Interviewing 197
Janet Elise Johnson, Candice D. Ortbals, and Lori Poloni-Staudinger
23 Content analysis as an effective teaching tool for critical thinking 205
Tijen Demirel-Pegg
24 Field and observational research 213
Stacey Leigh Hunt
25 Teaching qualitative-interpretive research methods 220
Daniel T. Kirsch
Conclusion: taking the next steps 227
Mitchell Brown, Shane Nordyke and Cameron Thies
Index
