Political Science is rapidly becoming a discipline where advanced training and experience with multiple research methods is becoming de rigueur. All graduate students are required to take the two-course sequence of introductory courses, Research Design and Multivariable Techniques, where they are exposed to important epistemological and research design issues, and a variety of formal, qualitative, and statistical methods. Students in all subfields are strongly encouraged to seek as many methods trainings as possible, and as described above, several fields have methods requirements beyond the introductory sequence for their majors. Students at Rutgers also may declare Research Methodology as one of their minor fields.
To receive a first or second minor in methodology, the student must complete the following requirements:
Pre-requisites:
16:790:600 Research Design
16:790:670 Multivariable Techniques
All students are required to take three additional methods courses, which must be more advanced than the prerequisites above.
The field of methodology is broadly construed, and the three courses may include courses in any methodological specialty, including but not limited to statistical methods, formal methods, experimental methods, qualitative and case study methods, and interpretive methods. Courses taken outside of Rutgers’ Political Science Department (in other RU departments or at other universities) may be counted toward the minor, subject to approval in writing by the Methodology field chair.
In general, mere attendance at ICPSR or IQMR does not count as coursework toward the Methodology minor, although those workshops may be combined with a 3-credit independent study with a methods faculty member to be counted toward the minor.
Methods Faculty
Stacey Greene, (AP, REP)
Michael Kenwick, (IR)
Richard Lau, (AP)
Beth Leech, (AP)
Summer Lindsey, (W&P, IR)
Katherine McCabe, (AP)
Lisa Miller, (American, Public Law, REP)
Jan Kubik, (Comparative)
Andrey Tomashevskiy, (IR)
CURRICULUM
Comprehensive exam
To complete a second minor in Methods, only the coursework is required. For a first minor, both the coursework and a comprehensive exam are required.
The comprehensive exam for a minor in Methodology requires that students write a methodological paper. In that paper, students should (1) identify a methodological debate within the literature (e.g. proper approach for analyzing time series data; proper approach for analyzing a text; proper approach for engaging in counterfactual analysis; proper approaches for avoiding framing effects; proper approaches for creating a sample; etc.), (2) choose a methodology and explain the reasons for choosing that methodological approach over other alternative approaches; and (3) utilize a cutting-edge methodology and discuss the resulting evidence.
The final paper that comprises the exam must be uploaded to the Graduate Program Canvas site on the same day that other qualifying exams have been scheduled. The deadline that exists for other comprehensive exams must be met.
The proposed focus of a student’s methods minor must be approved, in advance, by the Methods field chair. Students should not begin work on their papers unless they have the approval of the field chair. Once the proposal is approved, students are strongly encouraged to consult with relevant methods faculty about their paper and the approach they are taking.
The Methods field chair and two other faculty members named by the field chair will serve as the reading committee for the exam.
Important note:
Students who wish to pursue a first minor in Methods are required to take a standard substantive subfield (American, Comparative, IR, Public Law, Race and Ethnic Politics, Theory, or Women & Politics) for their second minor.
Required Courses
16:79:600 Research Design in Political Science
A general introduction to research methods in political science, including research design, the philosophy of science, and qualitative methods.
16:790:670 Multivariable Techniques
The primary focus of this class is multivariate regression. Several additional multivariate methods are covered more briefly, including factor analysis, causal modeling, analysis of variance, scaling, and various limited dependent variable methods.
Electives
16:790:671 Survey Research
16:790:673 Game Theory for Political Scientists
16:790:676 Experimental Methods
16:790:677 Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE)
16:790: Measurement
16: 790: Mixed Methods and Field Research
