This course is designed to introduce students to the skills for interpreting, conducting, presenting, and analyzing political science research. Over the course of the term, you will learn how to think like social scientists while developing various skills required by the discipline: how to choose which method to employ, how to undertake original research (complete with data collection and analysis), and how to present your findings to colleagues. The goal at the end of this class is to help you understand and conduct quantitative and qualitative political research that will be useful in both academic and professional settings

Raisi, Alireza, PhD

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Seton Hall University Libraries

Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall Diplomacy Syllabi School of Diplomacy and International Relations Spring 2018 DIPL 6310 NA Research Methods for Policy Analysis Alireza Raisi PhD Seton Hall University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/diplomacy-syllabi Recommended Citation Raisi, Alireza PhD, "DIPL 6310 NA Research Methods for Policy Analysis" (2018). Diplomacy Syllabi. 534. https://scholarship.shu.edu/diplomacy-syllabi/534 Seton Hall UniversitySchool of Diplomacy and International RelationsDIPL 6310 NA: Research Methods for Policy AnalysisWednesday 5:00pm-7:10pm in Alfieri Hall ST 123Contact Information:Professor: Alireza Raisi, Ph.D.Office: McQuaid Hall 105alireza.raisi@shu.eduCourse Information:Credit Hours: 1Semester/Year:Spring2018Class Location: Alfieri Hall 123Class Day/Time: Wed5:00 pm-7:10 pmOffice Hours: Wednesday 4-5 & Thursday 10-11 or appointmentCourse ObjectivesThis course is designed to introduce students to the skills for interpreting, conducting,presenting, and analyzing political science research. Over the course of the term, you willlearn how to think like social scientists while developing various skills required by thediscipline: how to choose which method to employ, how to undertake original research(complete with data collection and analysis), and how to present your findings tocolleagues. The goal at the end of this class is to help you understand and conductquantitative and qualitative political research that will be useful in both academic andprofessional settings.Learning OutcomeOn successful completion of this course, you will be able to:Describe and assess the logic of international relation research in particular and ofsocial science research in general;Comprehend the basic concepts, steps, and design involved in the systematicresearch process;Achieve an intuitive understanding on using statistical software for data analysis;Learn how to analyze data, communicate research findings and be an intelligentconsumer of research.Course instructional methodsThe course will be taught using multiple instructional methods. These methods will includelecture, group discussion and oral presentations with an associated critical discussion.Typically, course topics will be introduced via lecture format incorporating interpretivediscussions. Literature discussions will utilize small group discussions following byclassroom presentation and discussion.Course MaterialsThe textbooks that we will use for this course are the followings:11-Phillip H. Pollock III, 2016. The Essentials of Political Analysis, 5th edition, CQ Press.(NOTE: There is also a 3rd edition from 2008 that is a lot cheaper. However, there aresome differences between the 3rd, 4th and 5th edition and I cannot guarantee that they areinsignificant.)2-Alexander L. George, and Andrew Bennett, 2005. Case Studies and TheoryDevelopment in the Social Sciences, MIT Press.3-Phillip H. Pollock III, 2016. An SPSS Companion to Political Analysis, 5th edition, CQPress. (NOTE: This book is NOT REQUIRED. However, we will be using SPSS andsome students might find this helpful.)GRADING:The School of Diplomacy does not award grades of D in graduate classes. Final gradesbelow 70% will be entered into the gradebook as an F. Students must receive a grade of Cor higher in 6310 in order to register for 6311.Attendance and Participation = 10%Assignments = 25%Midterm paper = 30%Research Design Paper = 35%ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: (10%)Participation and attendance (10%):It is my belief that you will learn things in class that you will not be tested on, so yourgrade should be higher if you attend regularly. In addition, engaging the material activelywill help you learn it better than simply receiving it passively, so participation will berewarded. Everyone needs to come prepared to discuss the readings.Cell phones, pagers, etc.Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that could bedistracting during class. If you have an emergency situation that requires you to becontacted quickly, let me know at the beginning of class, and an exception can be made.ONE (1) RESEARCH PAPER (35%)Research Design Paper:The primary written assignment in this class is a 15 page minimum (double-spaced with1” margins and 12 point fonts) research design. This paper is due electronically at 5pmEST on the day final exam. In this paper you will do the following:• Develop an international relations research question2Locate this question in the context of relevant literature (i.e. discuss theimportance of the question both for theory and policy)Review the relevant literature on this topicOutline a strategy for answering this question addressing the followingo Operationalize the dependent variable (or what’s being caused)o Develop a series of alternative explanations for the outcomeo Operationalize independent variables (or what’s doing the causing)o Discuss case selection (what cases are you going to look at and why)o Develop a testing procedure (or, how you will test your arguments, andhow you will know you are right)Offer a respectable bibliography comprised of academic research.You are welcome to pick any topic you wish, so long as it is an international relationstopic. If you wish to build on one of the examples, please discuss this with me. Changesin topics must be discussed with me in advance.Papers should utilize one of the Chicago Manual of Style citation formats: Author-Dateor Notes and Bibliography. The guidelines for these formats are on the courseBlackboard page.Midterm Paper: One Midterm Book Review Assignment (30%)This assignment gives students useful hands-on experiment with the case studymethodology. Each student selects a book of interest that consists of a study of a singlecase or comparative cases. For this assignment, each student employs the requirements ofcase study methodology-covered in the class- as a basis for critiquing the chosen book’smethodology. The findings of the analysis will be presented in a 7 page minimum bookreview paper.Academic Integrity:Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will be reported to the administration,and may result in a lowered or failing grade for the course and up to possible dismissalfrom the School of Diplomacy. See University and School standards for academicconduct here:<http://wwwl 3.shu.edu/offices/student-life/communitv-standards/upload/Seton-Hall-Universitv-Student-Code-of-Conduct.pdf><http://www.shu.edu/academics/diplomacv/academic-conduct.cfm>Student with Disabilities:It is the policy and practice of Seton Hall University to promote inclusive learningenvironments. If you have a documented disability you may be eligible for reasonableaccommodations in compliance with University policy, the Americans with DisabilitiesAct, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and/or the New Jersey Law againstDiscrimination. Please note, students are not permitted to negotiate accommodationsdirectly with professors. To request accommodations or assistance, please self-identifywith the Office for Disability Support Services (DSS), Duffy Hall, Room 67 at the3beginning of the semester. For more information or to register for services, contact DSSat (973) 313-6003 or by e-mail at DSS@shu.edu.Policy on Incompletes:Incompletes will be given only in exceptional cases for emergencies. Students wishing torequest a grade of Incomplete must provide documentation to support the requestaccompanied by a Course Adjustment Form (available from the Diplomacy Main Office)to the professor before the date of the final examination. If the incomplete request isapproved, the professor reserves the right to specify the new submission date for allmissing coursework. Students who fail to submit the missing course work within thistime period will receive a failing grade for all missing coursework and a final grade basedon all coursework assigned. Any Incomplete not resolved within one calendar year ofreceiving the Incomplete or by the time of graduation (whichever comes first)automatically becomes an “FI” (which is equivalent to an F). It is the responsibility of thestudent to make sure they have completed all course requirements within the timeframeallotted. Please be aware that Incompletes on your transcript will impact financial aid andacademic standing.NEED HELP?That’s why I am here. Even though the course materials for this class are notterribly long, some of them may seem a bit difficult. Don’t worry! You’re not alone!The key is to let me know if you’re having trouble. You can drop by during my officehours or make an appointment for another time.Course OutlineIntroduction & Course ExpectationsWeek OneJanuary 17From Pure Research to Policy Research- Pollock Introduction- Lawrence Neuman, “What Are the Major Types of SocialResearch?” in Social Research Method Pp25-53(Blackboard)-Max Abrahm and John Glaser, “The pundits were wrongabout Assad and the Islamic State. As usual, they're notwilling to admit it”. LA Times, December 10, 2017.Week TwoJanuary 24Competing Approaches in Social Science ResearchWeek ThreeJanuary 31-Lawrence Neuman “The Meaning of Methodology, inSocial Research Methods” Pp90-123. (Blackboard)4-Richard Ashley “The Achievements of Post-Structuralism” Pp 240-254 in “International Theory:Positivism and Beyond” by Steve Smith and Ken BoothWeek FourFebruary 7Research Design-Christopher Lamont, “Research Question and ResearchDesign” in Research Method in International RelationsPp30-49 (blackboard)-Alexander George and Andrew Bennet. Designing CaseStudy Research. Pp 73-89. In Case Studies and TheoryDevelopment in Social ScienceWeek FiveFebruary 14Qualitative Research Methodology-Alexander George and Andrew Bennet. Case Studies andTheory Development Ppl -25.-Jennifer Milliken, 1999, The Study of Discourse inInternational Relations: A Critique of Research andMethods. Europeans Journal of International Relations.5(2): 225-254.-Alexander George and Andrew Bennet. Process-Tracingand Historical Explanation. Pp 205-233. In Case Studiesand Theory Development in Social ScienceWeek SixFebruary 21Case Study and Case Selection-Alexander George and Andrew Bennet. How to do CaseStudies. Pp 67-73. In Case Studies and TheoryDevelopment in Social Science-Barbara Geddes. 1990. How the Cases You Choose Affectthe Answers You Get: Selection Bias in ComparativePolitics. Political Analysis 2:131-150.-Andrew Bennett and Colin Elman. 2007. Case StudyMethods in the International Relations Subfield.Comparative Political Studies 40(2):170-195.-Alexander George and Andrew Bennet. Case StudyMethods and Research on the Interdemocratic Peace . Pp45-54. In Case Studies and Theory Development in SocialScienceConcepts and Variables / Intro to SPSS-Pollock Chapter 1, Pp3-17 & Pp 29-41-Sarah Bush, The Politics of Rating Freedom: IdeologicalAffinity, Private Authority, and the Freedom in the WorldWeek SevenFebruary 285Ratings, 2017, Perspective on Politics, 17(3) Pp711-16ONLYWeek EightMarch 7 No Class- Spring BreakProposing Explanation, Framing Hypothesis-Pollock Chapter 3 & Pp 86-95-Lawrence Neuman, Potential Errors in Causal ExplanationIn Social Research Method, Ppl 84-192 (Blackboard)<Midterm Paper due>Week NineMarch 14Week TenMarch 21Foundation of Statistical Inference-Pollock Chapter 6 & Ppl 57-165-Roy Licklider. 1995. The Consequences of NegotiatedSettlements in Civil Wars, 1945-1993. American PoliticalScience Review 89(3):681-690.Linear Regression (1)-Pollock chapter 8 Pp 184-197-Alberto Alesina and Lawrence H. Summers. 1993. CentralBank Independence and Macroeconomic Performance:Some Comparative Evidence. Journal of Money, Creditand Banking. 25(2): 151-162Week ElevenMarch 28No Class- ISA ConferenceWeek TwelveApril 4Week ThirteenApril 11Linear Regression (2)-Pollock Chapter 8 Pp 197-209-John A. C. Conybeare. 1983. Tariff Protection inDeveloped and Developing Countries: A Cross-Sectionaland Longitudinal Analysis. International Organization.37(3):441-467.-Wayne Sandholtz and William Koetzle. 2000. Accountingfor Corruption: Economic Structure, Democracy, andTrade. International Studies Quarterly. 44(1):31-50.Linear Regression (3): Regression Assumptions-William Berry 1993. Understanding RegressionAssumptions, Chapter 5 (Blackboard)-Alan Agresti 2017. Regression Diagnostic, in StatisticalMethods for the Social Science. Pp426-435.Week FourteenApril 186Week FifteenApril 25Logistic Regression Models-Pollock Chapter 9 Pp 215-233-Paul Huth and Bruce Russett. 1984. What MakesDeterrence Work? Cases from 1900 to 1980. World Politics36(4):496-526.-Michael Ross. 2006. Is Democracy Good for the Poor?American Journal of Political Science 50(4): 860-874.Mixed Method Research-Christopher Lamont, Mixed Method Research inInternational Research. In Research Method inInternational Relations. Ppl 13-125 (Blackboard)-Alan Bryman, Mixed Method Research: CombiningQuantitative and Qualitative Research Pp627-651.(Blackboard)Week SixteenMay 2Research Design Paper Due Electronically at the Final Exam Day7

DIPL 6310 NA Research Methods for Policy Analysis

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DIPL 6310 NA Research Methods for Policy Analysis

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