Political Methodology
Political Methodology is a basic component of modern Political Science. The OSU field in Political Methodology includes a wide variety of courses and related programs.
Faculty: Janet Box-Steffensmeier, Bear Braumoeller, Ted Hopf, Luke Keele, Marcus Kurtz, Corrine McConnaughy, Kathleen McGraw, William Minozzi, Tom Nelson, Irfan Nooruddin, Craig Volden, Herb Weisberg, Alexander Wendt, and Jack Wright.
The statistical methodology courses that are offered on a yearly basis:
- Math Workshop for Political Science
- Research Design
- Basic Statistics
- Regression Analysis
- Maximum Likelihood Analysis
Quality Methodology Courses:
- Introduction to Epistemology
- Introduction to Qualitative Methodology
Courses in Research Design:
- Questions in Survey Design
- Experimental Methods
- Survey Research Practicum
Additional advanced statistical courses that are offered:
- Time Series Analysis
- Event History
- Scaling and Dimensional Analysis
- Bayesian Analysis
- Computational Modeling
- Cross-level Inference
- Measurement
- Panel Data Analysis
There are also several excellent statistical methods courses taught in the OSU Departments of Statistics, Economics, Sociology, and Psychology.
Additionally, there are several related programs at OSU:
- PRISM: The PRogram In Statistics and Methodology and the related Political Research Laboratory
- The OSU Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Survey Research
- ITV: The Interactive Television cooperative program with the Universities of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which provides regular access to a wide variety of advanced statistical courses
- ICPSR: The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research in Ann Arbor, including its Summer Program
- EITM
- Essex
- Sante Fe Institute
- Qualitative Research Methods
As of January 2007, graduate students can take Political Methodology as their major field, along with American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Theory as their minor. Graduate students taking a minor in Political Methodology either can focus exclusively on statistical modeling or can take a combination of courses in statistical modeling, research design, and/or a special topics area. Additionally, students can take a joint minor in Political Methodology and Formal Theory. Political Methodology can also be taken jointly with Formal Theory as a major.
Recent Placements:
- Stony Brook University
- Emory University
- South Carolina University
- Pennsylvania State University
- University of Wisconsin
- Michigan State University
- University of Colorado - Boulder
- George Washington University
- JWAC - Joint Warfare Analysis Center
- SSA - Social Science Automation
- Nationwide Insurance
The field is comprised of the following sub-fields:
- Statistical Modeling
- Research Design
- Qualitative Methods
- Topics in Theory and Methodology
The statistical procedures for testing the explanatory power of theories. Normal courses: PS786, PS787, PS867.
The considerations involved in properly designing research studies. Normal courses: PS789, PS805, a course in questionnaire construction, a course in qualitative methods, and/or Statistics 651.
Considerations of causality, induction, case selection, and level of explanation. Typical courses include PS769, PS790.
An exam area may be constructed around such topics as Econometrics, Survey Research, Qualitative Methods, Experimental Methods, and others. Students considering a Topics sub-field will be expected to work closely with a faculty advisor in constructing an appropriate course sequence.
The Major and Minor Programs
Both majors and minors are required to take: PS 685 (Methods of Quantitative Analysis: Elementary) and PS 686 (Methods of Quantitative Analysis: Intermediate).
A total of at least 35 credit hours is expected of students offering political methodology as their major field of study. The remaining hours of the program should be selected in consultation with the major field advisor. PS786 (Maximum Likelihood), the next course in the sequence, is highly recommended. PS684 (Introduction to Political Science Research Methods) is a departmental requirement that can count toward the Political Methodology major. Other advanced political methodology courses in qualitative and quantitative methodology can be chosen as the additional courses beyond the requirements of 685 and 686. Students who choose Political Methodology as a major should minor in one of the other 4 major fields (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Theory).
A total of at least 25 credit hours is expected of students offering political methodology as their minor field of study.
The Ph.D. Candidacy Examination
To demonstrate mastery of the field, students are required to pass a Candidacy Examination. There is both a written and an oral component to the Candidacy Examination. There is an 8 hour written exam for the both the major and minor. A paper is required for the major after the 3rd year.
