POLS 3000: Introduction to Political Research (Utah State University)
Course Description
What determines one’s vote for president? Has inequality increased over the past few decades, and why? Why are some countries in war while others maintain peace? Do countries around the world agree more with the U.S. or China? This course will provide a foundation in causal and statistical inference to answer these critical social science questions.
Policymakers, managers, and researchers rely increasingly on quantitative analysis. The ability to analyze data, interpret results, and effectively communicate key findings has become an essential skill in the public, corporate, and academic sectors. The ability to extract valuable insights from quantitative data—often referred to as “data science”—is a common demand by employers across industries. This course aims to meet that demand by introducing foundational principles of data analysis and basic programming skills, equipping students to solve real-world problems and succeed in the era of “big data”.
Course Syllabus: Summer 2026 (asynchronous online), Spring 2026
What determines one’s vote for president? Has inequality increased over the past few decades, and why? Why are some countries in war while others maintain peace? Do countries around the world agree more with the U.S. or China? This course will provide a foundation in causal and statistical inference to answer these critical social science questions.
Policymakers, managers, and researchers rely increasingly on quantitative analysis. The ability to analyze data, interpret results, and effectively communicate key findings has become an essential skill in the public, corporate, and academic sectors. The ability to extract valuable insights from quantitative data—often referred to as “data science”—is a common demand by employers across industries. This course aims to meet that demand by introducing foundational principles of data analysis and basic programming skills, equipping students to solve real-world problems and succeed in the era of “big data”.
Course Syllabus: Summer 2026 (asynchronous online), Spring 2026