Data Science for Politics and International Relations

The world is entering a new era in which large amounts of data on attitudes and actions of individuals and various other political actors are easily accessible. Data on many political phenomena ranging from vote shares of parties in elections to the number and location of terror attacks across the globe are only a few clicks away.

This module will help you become a participant in this data-driven world. The goal is to introduce you to the tools and practices by which you can use data to answer questions that are important to you as students of political science and as citizens. By the end of the module, students will have acquired the theoretical foundation and statistical software skills necessary to analyze data in their independent research and to become critical consumers of news articles and academic studies that use statistical analysis. 

Although students will certainly be expected to engage with mathematics, formulas, and data analysis, the goals of the class are primarily conceptual rather than narrowly mathematical.

Workload

• 2 hour lecture per week
• 2 hour tutorial per week

Method of assessment

Modules are assessed through a variety of methods including short and long essays, examinations, oral presentations, and response papers.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.