PUBPOL 4231

Democracy Research Lab I

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Many Cornell students are eager to both learn about and practice democracy. Political uncertainty at both the national and international levels is driving interest in these topics and how to think and respond to real challenges. The democracy research lab is a clinic-style course that provides instruction on democracy and research methodology, while working towards a final project deliverable related to studying and practicing democracy for undergraduates at the behest of a Cornell faculty member, research centers, or external partners. This course balances knowledge with applied practice and stresses collaborative learning. Students will form and work within small group teams over the course of the year to advance high-quality research to be delivered to their client.

Enrollment Priority Recommended prerequisite: PUBPOL 2320.

Exploratory Studies (CU-UGR)

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Comprehend basic concepts in democracy and regime studies, and analyze scholarly democracy indices and datasets.
• Describe and discuss current scholarly debates in democracy studies.
• Choose which analytical tools to use for different research questions.
• Compare research methodologies and their strengths and weaknesses.
• Identify various modes of democratic actions and participation.

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