PLT3890

Empirical research and analysis

Hyam Gold

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton

Objectives On successful completion of this subject students will be trained to undertake their own empirical research projects on Australian social and political data. In addition to enabling students to analyse socio-political data themselves, the subject will also equip students from a non-mathematical background to read, understand and critically evaluate public policy and social science literature that makes use of quantitative evidence to support theoretical or empirical claims.

Synopsis The subject covers research procedures and quantitative research methods useful in testing socio-political theories and empirical hypotheses. It covers the following topics: a methodological introduction to empirical research; basic statistics useful in social science from the simple descriptive level up to cross-tabulation with control variables, multiple regression and causal modelling; problems of data collection and interpretation; and training in the use of the SPSS data analysis program on the university computer.

Assessment Research report (2000 words): 30%
* Examination (2 hours): 25%
* Practical work/assignments (2000 words): 45%

Prescribed texts

de Vaus D A Surveys in social research 4th edn, Allen and Unwin, 1995
Loether H J and McTavish D Descriptive and inferential statistics 4th edn, Allyn and Bacon, 1992