Political Methodology

This field focuses on scholarship directed at providing appropriate methodologies for investigating theoretically motivated political questions. Departmental activities in methods are organized around deductive/analytical, empirical/inductive, and computational approaches to modeling political phenomena.

Students pursuing this field will demonstrate competency in:

  • mathematics and statistics
  • research design
  • formal modeling
  • hypothesis testing

Graduate training is designed so that students pursuing Political Methodology as a first field, by the completion of their Ph.D. programs, will have also earned the Program for Advanced Research in the Social Sciences (PARISS) Certificate. See the PARISS certificate website. Students do not need to apply to the certificate program; however, you are encouraged to submit a proposal to the PARISS faculty early on in order to get feedback on their proposed plan of study.

First Field

Coursework
  • POLSCI 630 Probability and Basic Regression
  • POLSCI 631 Introduction to Deductive & Analytical Approaches to Political Phenomena
  • 4 courses selected from the Program for Advanced Research in the Social Sciences (PARISS) Certificate. See PARISS website

The PARISS courses need to be selected and approved in conjunction with your advisor and documented in a written plan to be evaluated by the Political Methodology faculty. This will be coordinated by the Political Methodology Field Chair.

Preliminary examination

All students must complete a preliminary examination at the end of their second year which consists of a second year paper and an oral defense. The second year paper must be submitted to the student’s preliminary exam committee and the DGS by May 1st and the oral examination must be completed by May 15th. Students should speak with the field chair and their primary advisor(s) well in advance of these deadlines to ensure a shared understanding of what is expected.

Second Field

Students pursuing Political Methods as a second field must propose a course list that is approved by the student's advisor and the field leader in Political Methods. The goal is to provide a strong foundation for students to be able to execute rigorous research methods related to their research questions. Below are possible course lists for students doing typical tracks in the department. They should be considered as a starting point for the course lists that students develop and have approved by their advisor and field leader.

Coursework

​Track: Applied Statistics

  • Prerequisites:
    • ​​Probability: Stat 611 (or Stat 230 and 250)
    • AND Linear Algebra (Math 216, or 218, or 221)
  • ​​POLSCI 748 Introduction to Causal Inference
  • POLSCI 630 Probability and Basic Regression
  • Advanced methods course
  • ​Graduate stats elective (e.g., Bayesian Stat 360/602; Machine learning Stat 561; Linear models Stat 721)

Track: Formal and Computational

  • Prerequisites:
    • ​​Analysis (Math 431 or 531) 
    • a​nd D​ata Structures and Algorithms (CS 201)
  • POLSCI 631L Introduction to Deductive & Analytical Approaches to Political Phenomena
  • ​Two electives related to formal or computational methods (e.g., Game theory 2 PS 730; Advanced game theory PS 749; Social networks PS 634; Computational PE)
  • ​Graduate microeconomics (Econ 601, or 701, or 705) or Graduate CS elective (e.g., AI CS 570; Machine learning CS 571; Reinforcement learning CS 590; or Computational micro CS 590)
Number Title Codes
POLSCI 145 Introduction to Political Economy EI, SS
POLSCI 145D Introduction to Political Economy EI, SS
POLSCI 175 Introduction to Political Philosophy EI, SS
POLSCI 175D Introduction to Political Philosophy EI, SS
POLSCI 189FS Introduction to Machine Learning and Computational Models in the Social Sciences R, SS
POLSCI 217 Discovering Game Theory: Social Complexity and Strategic Interdependence QS, SS
POLSCI 290 Special Topics in Political Science
POLSCI 290S Special Topics in Political Science
POLSCI 291-5 Sophomore/Junior Independent Study Political Methodology
POLSCI 330 Quantitative Political Inquiry and Evaluation QS, SS
POLSCI 332 Games and Politics QS, SS
POLSCI 342 Strategy and Politics QS, SS
POLSCI 357S Refugee Policy and Practice (DukeImmerse) CCI, EI, QS, SS
POLSCI 390-5 Special Topics in Political Methodology
POLSCI 390S-5 Special Topics in Political Methodology
POLSCI 391-5 Senior Independent Study in Political Methodology
POLSCI 393-5 Sophomore/Junior Research Independent Study Political Methodology R
POLSCI 493-5 Senior Research Independent Study in Political Methodology R
POLSCI 493-6 Senior Research Independent Study in Political Methodology R
POLSCI 536S Choosing in Groups: Social Choice and Collective Action R, QS
POLSCI 538 Introduction to Machine Learning and Text as Data R
POLSCI 590-5 Intermediate Topics in Political Methodology
POLSCI 590S-5 Intermediate Topics in Political Methodology
POLSCI 630 Probability and Basic Regression QS
POLSCI 633S Positive Political Theory R, SS
POLSCI 634 Social Networks and Political Interdependence R, QS, SS
POLSCI 642 Global Inequality Research CCI, R, SS
POLSCI 690-5 Advanced Topics in Political Methodology
POLSCI 690S-5 Advanced Topics in Political Methodology
POLSCI 704 Survey Methodology Practicum
POLSCI 730 Formal Modeling in Political Science (C-E)
POLSCI 731 Scope and Methods in Political Science (C-E)
POLSCI 733 Advanced Regression
POLSCI 748 Causal Inference
POLSCI 749S Advanced Game Theory
POLSCI 890-5 Political Methodology