Welcome!

GVPT399F: Power, Politics, and Data

Welcome

  • Hands-on introduction to political science data analysis

  • A (re)introduce to R and statistics

  • Avoid abstractions and jargon

What you will learn

  • Use R to collect, clean, and analyze data

  • Describe important features of your outcomes of interest and the variables you think drive changes to those outcomes

  • Identify and evaluate the relationship between two variables using statistical models

  • Describe those relationships using clear and precise language

  • Critically evaluate empirical claims made in political news and analysis

Introduction to me

  • Currently: PhD student and RAND Corporation Adjunct

  • Previously: worked for the Australian government, international organizations, think tanks, and private firms

  • Lots of experience using statistics to uncover the things driving outcomes of interest

  • Head over to ELMs to introduce yourselves to each other!

Course structure

  • Eight sessions, including this introduction and a conclusion

  • Each session comprises two parts:

    • Introduction to R

    • Introduction to a statistical concept

  • Read through the content, watch the videos (if included), complete the practice quizzes to test your understanding

  • Run the R code yourselves as you read through the content

Assignments

  • Multiple choice quiz at the end of every session except the conclusion

  • You need to complete these in ELMs

  • A final exam

Seeking help

  • I will include links to other resources that you can use if you want further clarification

  • You can ask your fellow classmates through ELMs discussion boards

  • The internet is a wonderful thing

  • StackOverflow is my go-to for R-related questions

  • You can contact me via email