24-1 final week big ideas and questions

Summary

The lecturer emphasizes that political science is often misunderstood as merely an extension of cable news discussions. Instead, it is a scientific approach to understanding and explaining the world, which forms the basis for addressing 'what should be' questions. The semester's focus has been on the challenges of applying the scientific method to the social world, which lacks the controlled conditions of a lab. Key issues include the difficulty of measurement, the need for careful sampling when making inferences, and establishing control over variables when investigating causal relationships. The lecturer suggests that students use these three areas of concern as a framework for critically evaluating any research they encounter. They encourage the development of a structured approach to analyzing research, which can be applied to future studies in political science and beyond. The lecturer concludes by offering support and advice for students' academic journey and future endeavors.

Takeaways

• 🧐 The study of political science is often misunderstood as merely an extension of cable news discussions, but it is a scientific approach to understanding politics and the world.
• 🌟 The primary focus of political science is to explain and understand phenomena, which can then be used to address normative questions about how the world should be.
• 🧬 A scientific approach in political science involves rigorous methods and critical thinking, which are crucial for gaining knowledge in a field that lacks a controlled laboratory environment.
• 📏 Measuring social phenomena is challenging because the social world is not a lab, making it difficult to quantify the variables of interest.
• 🔎 Inferences in political science often extend beyond the specific case studied, necessitating careful consideration of sampling methods and potential biases.
• ⚖️ Establishing causality is central to many political science inquiries, which requires controlling for other factors that could influence the outcome.
• 📈 Students are encouraged to critique research by examining its methodology, measurement, sampling strategy, and causal claims to ensure a thorough analytical assessment.
• 📋 The course aims to provide a framework for students to develop a systematic approach to evaluating any research they encounter, not just in political science.
• 💼 Students are advised to use the course material as a template for note-taking and research critique, which can be applied to various academic and professional contexts.
• 🏫 The class is designed to provide a solid foundation in political science, preparing students for future coursework and research in the field.
• 📚 The course introduces students to current topics and research in political science, preparing them for what they might encounter in subsequent semesters.
• 🤝 The instructor offers support and advice to students, encouraging them to reach out for help with academic or administrative matters, and to stay in touch post-graduation.

Q & A

What is the common misconception about political science?

The common misconception is that political science is just an extension of cable news discussions, where people talk about their opinions on what the world should be and make controversial claims about various topics.

What is the primary focus of political science?

The primary focus of political science is to explain and understand the world, which can then be used as a basis for discussing what should be, if the interest lies in that direction.

Why is the scientific approach emphasized in political science?

The scientific approach is emphasized in political science to ensure a rigorous and systematic method of gaining knowledge about political phenomena, which involves careful consideration of how we measure and infer from our studies.

What challenges does the social world present to the scientific method?

The social world presents challenges to the scientific method because it is not a controlled lab environment, making it difficult to measure the phenomena of interest, infer beyond specific cases, and establish control over other variables that could affect the outcomes.

How can the concerns discussed in the class be used to critique research?

The concerns can be used as a basis for critiquing research by examining the research's objectives, measurement methods, sampling strategy, and how causal claims are controlled for other potential explanations.

What are the three buckets of concerns that can guide the critique of research?

The three buckets of concerns are: 1) What the research is trying to achieve, 2) How the concepts are being measured, and 3) The sampling strategy and control for causal relationships in making inferences and causal claims.

How can the course framework be used for note-taking?

The course framework can be used for note-taking by creating a template that addresses the research objectives, measurement methods, and sampling strategies. This helps in systematically analyzing and understanding any piece of research.

What is the intended outcome of using the course framework?

The intended outcome is to develop a solid foundation that enables students to make analytical assessments of research, discuss and interact with research in a smart and sophisticated way, and to provide a basis for understanding and critiquing research in political science and beyond.

Why is it recommended to take this course in the early terms of study?

It is recommended to take this course early to provide a strong foundation in understanding and critiquing research methods, which can be beneficial for future studies and encounters with research in political science.

What advice does the speaker give for students moving forward?

The speaker advises students to use the course framework to develop a critical understanding of research, stay in touch after finishing the program, and not hesitate to reach out for advice or assistance in the future.

What does the speaker suggest for students enjoying their summer?

The speaker suggests that students should enjoy their summer, whether they are taking classes or not, and to keep in touch, offering help if needed.

How does the speaker encourage students to engage with research?

The speaker encourages students to engage with research by starting every encounter with a piece of research by understanding its objectives, critically evaluating its methods, and considering its broader implications.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Political Science: Beyond Cable News

The first paragraph introduces the misconception that political science is merely an extension of cable news discussions. The speaker clarifies that political science is a scientific approach to understanding politics, which involves explaining and comprehending the world. The focus is on the scientific method and its challenges, such as the difficulty of measuring social phenomena, making inferences beyond specific cases, and establishing causal relationships. The paragraph concludes with advice on how to critique research by considering these challenges, suggesting the development of a framework for analytical assessment.

05:02

🎓 Closing Remarks and Future Engagement

The second paragraph serves as closing remarks, encouraging students to reach out for advice or assistance, whether for class selection or administrative issues. The speaker expresses a willingness to help and stay connected with students, regardless of whether they are just starting or about to finish their program. The paragraph ends with well wishes for the summer and an open invitation to keep in touch, emphasizing the importance of maintaining relationships with alumni.

Keywords

💡Political Science

Political Science is the study of government, politics, and behavior. It is often misunderstood as merely an extension of what is seen on cable news, which focuses on current events and opinions. However, the academic field is more concerned with a scientific approach to understanding and explaining political phenomena. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using a scientific method to study politics, which involves rigorous analysis and understanding of political behavior and systems.

💡Scientific Approach

A scientific approach in the context of political science refers to the methodological framework that researchers use to study political phenomena systematically and objectively. It involves the use of empirical evidence, theory development, and hypothesis testing to explain and understand political behavior. The speaker in the video discusses the importance of this approach as the cornerstone of political science, distinguishing it from mere opinion or commentary.

💡Measurement

In the field of political science, measurement refers to the process of quantifying or qualifying political concepts and variables. It is a critical aspect of the scientific method as it allows researchers to assess the validity and reliability of their data. The video mentions the challenges of measurement in social sciences, highlighting the need for careful consideration of how concepts are operationalized and measured in research.

💡Inference

Inference in the context of research is the process of drawing conclusions or making generalizations based on the findings of a study. The video discusses how political scientists often aim to make inferences beyond the specific data they collect, which requires careful consideration of sampling strategies and the broader population from which the sample is drawn.

💡Sampling

Sampling in research is the selection of a manageable subset of individuals or cases from a larger population for the purpose of study. The speaker in the video emphasizes the importance of thoughtful sampling strategies, as they can significantly impact the validity of inferences made about the larger population.

💡Causal Relationships

Causal relationships refer to the connections between events or variables where one event or variable leads to or causes another. In political science, establishing causality is a complex task due to the multitude of factors that can influence political outcomes. The video script discusses the need for researchers to control for other variables that could potentially affect the outcome of interest when making causal claims.

💡Control

In the context of research, control refers to the methods used to isolate the effects of the variables being studied from other potentially confounding factors. The speaker mentions the importance of control in establishing causality, as it helps ensure that any observed effects can be attributed to the variables of interest rather than other unaccounted factors.

💡Research Critique

Research critique is the process of evaluating the quality, validity, and significance of a research study. The video encourages students to use the concepts discussed throughout the course to critically assess any research they encounter. This includes understanding the research question, measurement techniques, sampling strategy, and the claims of causality made by the researchers.

💡Framework

A framework in the context of the video refers to a structured approach or set of guidelines that students can use to analyze and understand research in political science. The speaker suggests that the course has provided a framework that students can apply to critique and understand research, which includes considering the research question, measurement, sampling, and causal claims.

💡Notes Template

A notes template is a structured format that students can use to take notes and organize their thoughts when studying or reviewing research. The video suggests that students could use the questions and concepts discussed in the course as a notes template for future research analysis, helping them to systematically evaluate research studies.

💡Solid Foundation

A solid foundation in this context refers to the strong base of knowledge and skills that students are expected to gain from the course. The speaker hopes that the course has provided students with the necessary tools to critically analyze and understand political science research, which will serve them well in their future studies and careers.

Highlights

The study of political science is often misunderstood as an extension of cable news discussions, but it focuses on explaining and understanding the world.

Political science emphasizes a scientific approach to the study of politics, which involves a rigorous method to gain knowledge.

The social world is not a lab, making it challenging to measure and infer beyond the specific subjects of study.

The semester focused on unpacking why the scientific method is challenging in the context of social sciences.

Measuring the things of interest in political science is difficult due to the nature of the social world.

Inferences in political science require careful consideration of sampling strategies and the broader population.

Causal relationships in research necessitate control over other potential causal factors.

The course aims to provide a framework for critiquing any research piece in political science or beyond.

Students are encouraged to use the course material to develop an analytical approach to research consumption.

The course material can serve as a notes template for critiquing research, focusing on measurement, sampling strategy, and causal claims.

The class is intended to provide a solid foundation for further study in political science.

The course is recommended for students in their first couple of terms to introduce them to the field of political science.

The instructor offers support and advice for students' future endeavors in political science.

Staying in touch with alumni is encouraged to track their progress after finishing the program.

The instructor wishes students a good summer and offers help for any issues that may arise.

Students are encouraged not to be strangers and to reach out for support or advice.

Transcripts

I opened this semester by saying the

study of political science is probably

not what you think it is there's this

popular misconception that I encounter a

bunch when I tell people what I do that

what we're doing in political science is

just some extension of what people see

on cable news folks sitting around

talking about what they want the world

to be sitting making controversial

claims about whatever the subject or the

hot topic of the day is and certainly

there's some of that but political

sciences a little different our idea or

our focus is to try and explain and

understand the world and use that then

as a springboard if we're interested in

doing so to get to the what should be

questions but that focal point on

explaining and

understanding requires that we think

hard about how we gain knowledge and

that takes us into what makes political

science political science in my mind and

that is an emphasis on a scientific

approach to the study of politics so

we've spent the semester talking a

little bit about what that means and

then said hey if the scientific method

is our North

Star let's talk about about what makes

it so challenging why it's so hard to

get there and we started with this idea

that the social world's not a lab so any

kind of social science is always going

to be hard and then the rest of the

semester was about unpacking that

statement what do we mean when we say

the social world's not a lab well we

mean that it's very hard to measure the

things that we're interested in we mean

that very often we're interested in

making inferences beyond the specific

thing that we are studying and when we

do that it requires us think very

carefully about the way we are

sampling and then a lot of times we're

interested in causal relationships and

to the extent we want to make a causal

claim we have to think about how we are

or how we aren't establishing control

over other things that could be causally

affecting the thing that we're

interested in so we turn from these big

questions into the kind of so what that

we want to leave ourselves with here at

the end of the semester

well the so what is that I think you

could take those three buckets of

concerns that we have and use them as a

basis for critiquing any kind of piece

of research that you come across whether

it's in political science and and

specifically your courses going forward

or anything beyond that to the extent

that you're starting off and saying okay

what are they trying to do here in this

piece of research and and then saying

okay well they're talking about this

concept how are they measuring that and

all of a sudden all the things that

we've talked about measurement error all

those specific points we made come

should come to the Forefront of your

mind okay they're making an inference

they're using what they know about this

thing and they're making a broader claim

well let's think about that thing as a

sample of a population that they're

interested in what do we think about

that do we have problems with the

inference is based on how they've

sampled or have they not even

consciously sampled even though that's

in fact what they're doing are they

making a causal claim how have they

controlled for other explanations so

starting every encounter with a piece of

research by saying what are they trying

to do here and then thinking through

those three buckets of topics I think

winds up putting you on really firm

ground to make a really analytical

assess ment of anything that you're

consuming it's going to give you a firm

basis for being able to discuss and

think about and interact with that piece

of research in a really smart and

sophisticated way so I encourage you to

use this course to develop a framework

some people I know have even taken to

taking these buckets of questions and

just making like a sheet to the extent

that you want to take notes on any piece

of research for any class class using

this as your notes template or at the

very least using it pieces of it for a

notes template what are they doing in

the article or the book and then are

they you know depending upon what the

answer to that question is are they

measuring what do their measurements

look like what are their sampling

strategy look like these questions I

think could really be useful in helping

you frame research so I hope that the

class has done this has given you this

solid foundation that you can use to

move forward that's certainly what the

int of the class is and why we recommend

people take it in one of their first

couple of terms um and and beyond that I

hope that to the extent that this is one

of your first couple of terms it's given

you a little bit of an introduction to

the field of political science some

pieces of research some current topics

that you're likely going to encounter in

future semesters so as you move forward

if anything comes up if I can be helpful

at all to you please don't hesitate to

reach out to me whether it's just uh for

advice on classes to take uh or if

there's an issue that needs to involve

me as the chair in any way shape or form

please don't hesitate to reach out to me

I'm always here for you if this is one

of your last semester's congratulations

in advance on finishing the program

please stay in touch we always like to

hear where our alums go after they

finish um and um happy to be helpful in

any way that I can so I wish you all a

good summer if you're taking classes uh

good luck with those if you're just

enjoying your summer please do enjoy it

and like I said please don't be a

stranger and feel free to get in touch

good luck with everything take care