17.871 | Spring 2012 | Undergraduate

Political Science Laboratory

Course Description

This course introduces students to the conduct of political research using quantitative methodologies. The methods are examined in the context of specific political research activities like public opinion surveys, voting behavior, Congressional behavior, comparisons of political processes in different countries, and …
This course introduces students to the conduct of political research using quantitative methodologies. The methods are examined in the context of specific political research activities like public opinion surveys, voting behavior, Congressional behavior, comparisons of political processes in different countries, and the evaluation of public policies. Students participate in joint class projects and conduct individual projects.
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Presentation Assignments
Written Assignments
In a crowd, President Obama shakes hands.
Let us say we drew a sample of 1,500 adults and asked them if they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling his job as president. Can we estimate the percentage of all American adults who approve? (Image by Christopher Dilts on flickr.)