Does Teaching Quantitative Methods Make a Difference? Evidence from Czech Diploma Theses

Quantitative methods have become a standard of graduate curriculum in political science. Learning quantitative methods increases students’ confidence in their quantitative abilities and equips them with transferable skills even outside of academia. While some research shows how to apply pedagogical innovations in quantitative methods courses to increase student learning, little is known about the knowledge retention and further application of quantitative methods learned in university classrooms. How effective is the inclusion of quantitative methods courses in university studies? Do students apply their quantitative skills further and do they do so correctly? To answer these questions, we examine 476 undergraduate and graduate theses from students of political science at a Czech university between 2010 and 2023. We find that the inclusion of quantitative methods courses in the curriculum affects the character of students’ theses. Specifically, we show that a combination of mandatory and elective courses that introduce quantitative techniques to students leads to a substantial increase of theses, which incorporate these tools. Our findings are helpful for departments that consider the inclusion of quantitative method courses in their curricula, as we demonstrate how such courses can shape the character of both undergraduate and graduate theses.