The module provides students with a foundation in the key concepts and theoretical debates in political science. Every week, the class discusses how political science as a discipline informs our understanding of modern political developments in the Americas and how political events in the region contribute to theoretical discussions in the field.
Students are introduced to quantitative methods in the social sciences through weekly practical workshops. The module covers descriptive statistics (central tendency and variation), data visualisation, data access, probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, inferential statistics and ends with an introduction to simple linear regression. Students learn how to use R to manage and analyse real-world data.
The module covers the scientific method in social sciences, which will include ontology, epistemology and methodology. The course expands on quantitative methods through an introduction to causality, correlation, necessity and sufficiency in social sciences.
The module covers non-continuous dependent variables, including binary, categorical and ordinal dependent variables. Students are also introdued to causal inference methods and analysis, using both observational and experimental data. In addition to implementing the statistical models,the seminars guide students through more advanced coding skills including writing their own (simple) functions, writing for-loops and nested for-loops, and working with messy and rare events data.
The module introduces students to key concepts in social science research: research questions, independent and dependent variables, hypotheses, causality, etc. The seminars guide students through different types of data and the practice of data analysis in the social sciences using R.
The class provided students with a broad overview of different bodies of research on violence. The module touches on crucial debates in the study of violence, such as the problems of separating criminal and political violence (such as interstate wars).
The class explored contemporary international environmental issues from both theoretical and policy perspectives.