Universität Wien
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210267 UE d2: Quantitative Methods of Empirical Social Research (2008S)

Quantitative Political Inquiry: Concepts and measurement Tool for Data Description and Research Design - Strategies in Party Research

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work

Ab Fr. 14.03. 2008, 13.00 - 14.30, UZA 2 Geozentrum Raum 2C502

Details

max. 35 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes

Currently no class schedule is known.

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course is an introduction to statistics and data analysis as a means of conducting electoral research. To learn how to use these methods for original political inquiry, we will discuss theory, research questions and hypotheses driving electoral research. Data observed at the level of the person or groups of persons (such as countries) enable political scientists to test theory-driven hypotheses about the electorate across countries and over time. Surveys and statistical analyses are therefore particularly useful tools for the investigating continuity/change in the orientations and behaviour of the electorate. In order to get a feel of what is possible, we will work in groups to develop questionnaires, which we will fill out and analyze in class. Moreover, we will introduce students to the European Election Study dataset as well to works which analyze these data with quantitative methods. Through "learning by doing" students will 'get hands on' existing empirical data from this cross-national survey and will interpret the results of their analyses. Aiming at providing the foundations in quantitative methods, we will cover descriptive statistics, basic probability theory, inferences concerning means, correlation, as well as an introduction to regression analysis. By the end of the course, students will have a better acquaintance with the types of empirical work done by political scientists using statistical tools. In particular, participants of this course will become more informed readers regarding the methods and data used in European electoral research.

Course Requirements
" No background in Statistics is required. However, it should be noted that our lectures follow the curriculum of the general course in Quantitative Methods offered by Professor Dr. Kritzinger. Consequently, students are assumed to regularly attend that course as well.
" Students are expected to be able to read, speak and write good English, as lectures, reading materials, students' presentations and the subsequent discussions will be in English; the final essay should also be written in English.

Assessment and permitted materials

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

" Attendance is obligatory.
" Course grades will be based on:
¢ fulfillment of assignments (problem sets). Students are expected to hand-in their Homework on Wednesdays by noon.
¢ presentation of homework in class/short oral presentation on selected readings
¢ a short final paper (approx. 10000 words) in English. The paper should have a firm basis in the suggested literature. Students are expected to formulate and test a hypothesis using the methods learnt in this class and the available datasets (EES). The paper is due September 30, 2008.

Examination topics

Reading list

" Readings:
By March, the required readings will be made available in a folder at the Copy Shop opposite the NIG (possibly also on the Blackboard Vista). The reading list includes the latest relevant books as well as political science articles, which make use of the EES data.

Required Readings:

¢ Marsch, Michael (2000). 'Surge and decline' in European parliament elections: A new challenge for a classic theory of electoral change Paper Presented at APSA Meeting, Washington DC.
This paper provides a good theoretical overview of electoral change theories and uses EES data. It is available online at:
http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/Staff/Michael.Marsh/S&Da_apsa2000.pdf

And selected chapters from:
¢ Schmitt, Hermann, (ed.) (forthcoming). Voters, Parties and European Unification. Essays in Honour of Karlheinz Reif. London: Ashgate.
¢ Wouter van der Brug and Cees van der Eijk (eds.) Domestic Politics. Lessons from the Past and Scenarios for the future [in press].

Further Readings: A collection of publications using quantitative methods to analyze European Election Studies' Data is available online at: http://www.europeanelectionstudies.net . Students should consult this list when writing their seminar papers (not least to get an idea of the research questions related to the EES).
" Software: SPSS. The program is installed at the University's computers, so students can do the exercises at the Computer Labs. So, students do not need to purchase this program.
" Data: European Elections Studies (EES). This study offers wide opportunities for comparative and longitudinal analyses of voter behaviour and voter orientations. As such, it will be used for the exercises in class, the homework and the final paper. Available online at: http://www.europeanelectionstudies.net
See also: http://www.gesis.org/en/data_service/eurobarometer/ees/index.htm.
In the context of electoral research, students may also be interested in how different parties scored in elections over time. Some useful data are available online at: http://www.parties-and-elections.de/index.html. A useful collection of links for the study of politics is also available: http://www.parties-and-elections.de/links.html on a wide range of countries and electoral topics.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 31.08.2018 08:53