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Resources and Research Facilities
Political science graduate students at Ohio State can take
advantage of three unique resources: the Political Research Laboratory, the
Mershon Center and the John Glenn Institute.
The Political Research Laboratory
PRL is an instructional and research support facility of the Political
Science Department that plays a central role in the research curriculum
at Ohio State. Its facilities are available to all students in the
Department. PRL services include staff responsible for (1) advising and
training of students in the use of archived data sets (especially those
from ICPSR), (2) consulting in the use of quantitative research methods
social science software packages (e.g., SPSS), and (3) maintenance of
the Department’s computer network and computing infrastructure. In
support of these services, PRL provides equipment such as
micro-computers and printers. The PRL also operates an experimental
research laboratory for use by faculty and graduate students. Finally,
and perhaps most importantly, PRL serves as a resource center for
students and faculty interested in the scientific analysis of political
phenomena. Students interested in serving as GRAs in PRL should talk
with the Director. Current hours and information on the availability of
equipment can be obtained through the PRL office manager (292-1061).
Students also have access to the University's mainframe computer and to
personal computers located at various points in the Department and
around the campus. Special opportunities for training and research are
also provided by membership in the Inter-University Consortium for
Political and Social Research and selected foreign archives as well as
the assignment of graduate students to the College’s Survey Research
Unit. The Political Analysis Lab (PAL) of the Department and the new
electronic classroom provide high-speed computers for students and
political science classes.
 The
Mershon Center
The Mershon Center for the Study of International Security supports
research on topics of international security and focuses its research on
four key areas: (1) The use of force and diplomacy in international
relations. (2) The study of political and economic decision-making that
affects war and peace. (3) Culture and Identity and their impact on
national security. (4) Law and institutional management of violent
inter-group conflict that might arise from a variety of causes,
including conflicting material interests, normative beliefs or resource
scarcity and usage. The Mershon Center supports research conducted by
Ohio State faculty and students and hosts several competitions each
year. Through its annual Faculty Grant Competition, Mershon encourages
collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects within the University
and with other institutions around the world. Faculty members from
numerous departments around the University benefit from research
support. The Mershon Center offers Mershon Research and Study Abroad
Grants for Students, which supports the research goals of Ohio State
undergraduate and graduate students who seek funding for travel to
conduct research or take accredited courses abroad in topics related to
international security studies. Applications for this competition are
reviewed during winter quarter. The Mershon Center also funds Mershon
Center Dissertation Fellows. This competition is for graduate students
within one year of completing their Ph.D. whose research complements the
four main research foci of the center. These competitive fellowships
provide a stipend, office space, and computer for students nearing
completion of their degree. In addition to supporting university faculty
and student research, the Mershon Center routinely hosts speakers for
talks, conferences, and symposia. Scholars as well as policy makers come
to the Center from around the world are frequent visitors. The Center is
currently running several speakers series, including the National
Security Speaker Series, the Citizenship Speaker Series, the Political
Economy and National Security Speaker Series, and the Graduate Workshop
in Diplomatic History. For more information, see the Mershon Center
Events Calendar at
www.mershon.ohio-state.edu.
The Mershon Center is located on the south
end of campus, at the corner of 8th Avenue and Neil Avenue. For more
information about Mershon, please see
www.mershon.ohio-state.edu
or contact Julie Rojewski, Coordinator of
Public Relations, at 292-7529 or
rojewski.2@osu.edu.
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