GOVT 6019

GOVT 6019

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

The goal of this course is to introduce probability and statistics as fundamental building blocks for quantitative political analysis, with regression modeling as a focal application. We will begin with a brief survey of probability theory, types of measurements, and descriptive statistics. The bulk of the course then addresses inferential statistics, covering in detail sampling, methods for estimating unknown quantities, and methods for evaluating competing hypotheses. We will see how to formally assess estimators, and some basic principles that help to ensure optimality. Along the way, we will introduce the use of regression models to specify social scientific hypotheses, and employ our expanding repertoire of statistical concepts to understand and interpret estimates based on our data. Weekly lab exercises require students to deploy the methods both 'by hand' so they can grasp the basic mathematics, and by computer to meet the conceptual demands of non-trivial examples and prepare for independent research. Some time will be spent reviewing algebra, calculus, and elementary logic, as well as introducing computer statistical packages.

When Offered Fall.

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Syllabi: none
  •   Regular Academic Session.  Choose one seminar and one discussion. Combined with: GOVT 4019

  • 4 Credits Graded

  •  7898 GOVT 6019   SEM 101

  • Co-meets with GOVT 4019.

  • 18558 GOVT 6019   DIS 201