Why do some democracies have two parties, while others have many parties? Why did the Cold War end? Why do incumbents win most elections? Why are Green parties successful in some Western European nations, but less successful in others? We try to answer questions such as these by testing hypotheses (or theories) which purport to explain the phenomena in question. In so doing, we try to avoid the distorting effects of subjectivity as we gather information, and we present our findings so that the results can be assessed carefully and critically. In short, we aspire to be "scientific." But is politics amenable to scientific inquiry? Can we produce convincing answers about complex political events by using social scientific methods? Evaluating the worth of a social science is possible only if we understand the goals and methods of the social scientist. And the shortest path to understanding is doing; in the words of an old proverb: "I hear, and I forget; I see, and I remember; I do, and I understand." The primary objective of the Colloquium, then, is to enhance your understanding of the discipline by requiring you to "do" political science: that is, to ask a question about politics and to devise a research strategy to answer it.

Introspection about the discipline of political science isn't the only goal of the Colloquium. As you use the approaches and tools of the social scientist you will begin to test explanations for the political events and processes you find most intriguing. To assist in this endeavor, you will have the opportunity to hear how other political scientists have framed questions, and how they have tried to answer them. You will discover, for example, that not all political scientists are convinced that the best way to understand politics is through the use of social scientific methods. In addition, you will read and critique the published research of various political scientists, and, more directly, engage members of Davidson's Political Science Department in discussions of their respective research projects. Throughout the semester, you will participate collectively in discussing the work of your peers in small groups and in the full Colloquium, and individually by producing a substantial research paper.

Two books are required for the course. Additional readings will be made available to you as the course progresses. You should recognize that a limited reading list means two things. First, it is an indication of the diversity of topical and research interests among the majors in the department; relatively few readings are relevant for the entire group. Second, it should not be perceived as a signal that outside reading is less important for this course than other courses. In fact, outside reading -- tailored to meet the specific research needs of the student -- is a critical part of the colloquium. Success in the course will depend at least partially on your mastery of literature relevant for your research project.

All students should purchase:

Weds., Aug. 28: Explaining Political Phenomena: Three Examples
Hypotheses, Concepts, and Variables

Reading: Johnson and Joslyn, chaps. 1-3

Charles W. Kegley, Jr., "How Did the Cold War Die? Principles for an Autopsy" (on reserve)

Monday, Sept. 2

Reading: Johnson and Joslyn, chap. 4
Harold Barger, "Suspending Disbelief: The President in Pre-College Textbooks" (on reserve)
Jeffrey A. Segal and Albert Cover, "Ideological Values and the Votes of U.S. Supreme Court Justices" (on reserve)

Weds., Sept. 4

Experimental Designs
Nonexperimental Designs

Reading: Johnson and Joslyn, chap. 5

Donald R. Kinder and Thomas R. Palfrey, "An Experimental Political Science? Yes, an Experimental Political Science" (on reserve)
Shanto Iyengar, "Television News and Citizens' Explanations of National Affairs" (on reserve)
James Kuklinski and Norman Hurley, "On Hearing and Interpreting Political Messages: A Cautionary Tale of Citizen Cue-Taking" (on reserve)

Mon., Sept. 9

Weds., Sept. 11

Reading: Johnson and Joslyn, chaps. 8 and 9
Sidney Verba, "The Citizen as Respondent: Sample Surveys and American Democracy" (on reserve)
David Winter, et al., "The Personalities of Bush and Gorbachev Measured at a Distance: Procedures, Portraits, and Policy" (on reserve)
Richard Fenno, "Watching Politicians: Essays on Participant Observation" (on reserve)

Monday, Sept. 16

Weds., Sept. 18

Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Univariate, Bivariate, Multivariate Analysis
Measures of Association

Reading: Johnson and Joslyn, chap. 11 and pp. 325-346

VII. Faculty Research Presentations

Monday, Sept. 23

Weds., Sept. 25

Monday, September 30 Examination

Wednesday, Oct. 2 No Class. Use this time to work on the research proposal.

Monday, Oct. 7

Reading: Johnson and Joslyn, chap. 6
"Literature Review Examples" (on reserve)