J. Seawright

J. Seawright

Professor of political science, scholar of representation, democratic crisis, and multi-method research design.

Teaching

PS 210: Introduction to Empirical Research Methods

Undergraduate course, Northwestern Political Science, 2023

This course provides an introduction to the empirical methods political scientists use to answer questions about politics, and the reasons why such methods matter. After exploring how hard it is to make good descriptive and causal inferences about politics, we will examine three basic strategies for overcoming the obstacles to reliable knowledge about the political world: experimentation, large N or quantitative studies (AKA statistics), and small N studies that use qualitative reasoning. At the end of this course, you will be able to:

PS 490: Time Series and Panel Methods

Graduate course, Northwestern Political Science, 2023

Social scientists routinely attempt statistical and causal inferences using data from a single case in which key variables of interest change over time (time series models), and also using data from multiple cases over time (pooled time series or panel models). These can be powerful techniques; they can sometimes provide more evidence than purely cross-sectional designs, and they can rule out some common inferential problems. However, examining data over time creates its own set of statistical and substantive challenges, and a rich methodological literature has developed around solutions.