Week 1

Agenda - 1/14/19

• Greetings -- Welcome Back!
• What is this class about?
  • What are "empirical approaches"?
  • What will we actually learn/gain from the course?
    • Why does it matter? https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016-job-skills-report/
  • What is required to succeed in this class?
    1. Syllabus
    2. 5-9 hours/week for completing assignments & reading outside of class
       1. Dedication, Non-procrastination, and interest in a topic in political science
• Questions
• Introductions - Something interesting about you + political science interest (American politics, political behavior, comparative, IR)

Agenda 1/16: Social Science Research & Bias

1. What are some of the challenges in conducting social science research?
2. What is a p-value?
3. How does the scientific community prevent the dissemination of "fake" findings and poor, unreliable, or untrustworthy studies?
4. Hidden Pattern Game

Agenda - 1/18

Intro to Empirical Approaches

1. What is empirical research? What is the goal?
2. What are the differences between normative, theoretical, and empirical research?
3. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative research in political science?

Speed dating for research partners

1. What fields of political science interest you? (American politics, political behavior, IR, comparative)
2. What topics in political science interest you? Do you have an idea of what you'd like to study in the research project?
3. What political science classes have you taken or are you taking now?
4. Have you ever read a book, article or theory in political science that was really interesting? What was it about?
5. Exchange contact info?

Over the weekend until Wednesday:

• Readings + Reach out to people about being research partners + Brainstorm research topics