Teaching Research Skills

Abstract

Political scientists are interested in acquiring knowledge about and understanding many important political phenomena at the local, national, and international levels with respect to political institutions, mass behavior (e.g. voting), and elite behavior (e.g. political leaders). These political activities include individual actions, relationships between institutions, individuals, nation states and so on. To understand these phenomena, political scientists employ a wide range of research methods, and the teaching and learning of research methods is a key component of political science education. In light of the centrality of research methods to political science education, this panel is interested in the question: what ought to be taught in research methods classes, and how do we optimally convey these materials to our students? Papers discussing qualitative, quantitative and multi-method approaches are welcome, and we encourage participants to reflect on how their experiences can be used to enrich and improve teaching practices and student learning.

Title	Details
Working with Town from Within the Gown: Integrating Experiential Learning with Employers within the University Research Methods Teaching Paradigm	View Paper Details
Two Possible Strategies for Developing Analytical Skills for Students	View Paper Details
Becoming Researchers: Developing A Practice Based Approach to Dissertations	View Paper Details
Converging Demand and Supply in Research Skills	View Paper Details