POEC-2890 Data, Stats, and Arguments
(GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP, SELF & SOCIETY) This course critically examines how data, figures, and statistics find use in public argumentation and professional research related to US political economy and international affairs. Using a project-based learning model, it examines the interpretation of descriptive, inferential, and probability statistics as well as the generation, use, and manipulation of political and economic data (e.g. key economic figures, indices, polling data, visual data, maps, cross-country comparisons, international data, and case studies). From this critical survey, students improve research, writing, and oral skills tied to evidence-based argumentation in academic and policy contexts.