POSC 2812 Political Socialization

Transcription

1 Fall 2011 Monday/Thursday, 11:30 a.m. 12:45 p.m. Freeman Hall 101 Instructor: Olena Nikolayenko Office Location: Faber Hall, Rm. 677 Office Hours: Monday, 1:30 p.m. 3: 30 p.m. or by appointment Course Description Political socialization refers to processes through which individuals acquire politically relevant values, beliefs, and attitudes. How do young people learn about politics? What is the impact of the educational system on our political beliefs? Is television to blame for high levels of distrust in government? The course will address these issues from a comparative perspective by drawing upon the extant empirical research in the United States and beyond. The course is divided into two parts. The first part of the course (September-October) focuses on the role of family, schools, the mass media, and religious institutions in shaping political attitudes. The second part of the course (November-December) examines effects of age, gender, and migration on the political outlook of individuals. Course Objectives By the end of the course, students will be able to: define major concepts in political socialization literature; apply qualitative research methods to the study of politics; learn ethical regulations in human subjects research; strengthen one s communication skills. Required Readings There is no general textbook for this course. The course readings are available via the Blackboard. Students are expected to download the assigned readings from the course web site and read them prior to the class.

2 Course Requirements Participation Presentation Quiz Research Design Literature Review Final Research Paper 20 percent 40 percent Participation Evaluation of student participation will be based on the completion of assigned readings and meaningful contribution to classroom discussions. Students are expected to do the assigned readings prior to the class and think about questions for discussion. Presentation At the end of the semester, each student will make a short presentation based upon his or her research project. Quiz There will be one quiz administered in class to test students knowledge of key concepts. The quiz will be composed of ten multiple-choice questions. Research Design This assignment is designed to prepare you for writing the final research paper. Submit a one-page single-spaced summary of the proposed research project. State clearly your research question and describe your methodology. Literature Review The purpose of the literature review is to provide a critical overview of existing literature on the topic related to your research project. The literature review should be five-page long, excluding a list of references at the end of the text. Final Research Paper Each student is expected to write a 15-page paper (double-space, 12-point font, Times New Roman) that applies political socialization theory to a topic of his or her interest and involves original empirical research. The paper should include an introduction, a brief literature review, methodology, the findings, and the conclusion. More details will follow. Important Dates October 17 Research Design due November 21 Literature Review due December 1/5 Student Presentations December 8 Final Paper due 2

3 Late Penalty You are responsible for submitting a hard copy of each assignment at the beginning of the class on due date. Assignments handed in after the class will be considered late. The late penalty is of your assignment grade per business day. Academic Integrity Failure to properly acknowledge the intellectual contribution of others constitutes plagiarism and is a very serious academic offence. Please consult the Fordham University Undergraduate Policy on Academic Integrity to get familiar with the standards of academic integrity. Class Schedule and Reading Assignments Sept 1. Introduction (no readings) Sept 7. Children and Politics Easton, David and Robert D. Hess The Child s Political World. Midwest Journal of Political Science 6: Sept 8. Adolescence and Politics Torney-Purta, Judith and Jo-An Amadeo A Cross-National Analysis of Political and Civic Involvement among Adolescents. PS: Political Science and Politics 36 (2): Sept 12. Family Hello, Evelyn, Peer Scheepers, Ad Vermulst and Jan R. M. Gerris Association between Educational Attainment and Ethnic Distance in Young Adults: Socialization by Schools or Parents? Acta Sociologica 47 (3): Sept 15. Schools Ehman, Lee The American School in the Political Socialization Process. Review of Educational Research 50 (1):

4 Sept 19. Peers Shea, Daniel and Rebecca Harris Why Bother? Because Peer-to-Peer Programs Can Mobilize Young Voters. PS: Political Science and Politics 39 (2): Sept 22. Mass Media Putnam, Robert Turning In, Turning Out: The Strange Disappearance of Social Capital in America. PS: Political Science and Politics Sept 26. Religious Institutions Gibson, Troy Religion and Civic Engagement among America s Youth. Social Science Journal Sept 29. Quantitative Research Methods in the Study of Political Socialization Orr, Shannon New Technology and Research: An Analysis of Internet Survey Methodology. PS: Political Science and Politics 38 (2): Oct 3. Qualitative Research Methods in the Study of Political Socialization Leech, Beth Asking Questions: Techniques for Semistructured Interviews. PS: Political Science and Politics 35 (4): Dyer, Colin Case Studies and Interviews. In Beginning Research in Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods and Statistics. Oxford, UK: Blackwell, pp Oct 6. Research Design in Social Science Research What Is a Research Design? Retrieved from Oct 13. Research Design Review Note: Bring a draft of the short assignment to the class 4

5 Oct 17. Life-Cycle Theory and Age Norms Note: A one-page summary of the research design is due at the beginning of the class. Settersten, Richard and Barbara Ray What s Going on with Young People Today? The Long and Twisting Path to Adulthood. Future of Children 20 (1): Oct 20. Generations and Politics Egri, Carolyn and David A. Ralston Generation Cohorts and Personal Values: A Comparison of China and the United States. Organization Science 15 (2): Oct 24. The Significance of Social Change Beck, Paul and Kent Jennings Political Periods and Political Participation. American Political Science Review 73 (3): Oct 27. Gender and Politics Hooghe, Marc and Dietlind Stolle Good Girls Go to the Polling Booth, Bad Boys Go Everywhere: Gender Differences in Anticipated Political Participation among American Fourteen-Year-Olds. Women and Politics 26 (3/4): Oct 31. Neighborhood Effects Predborska, Irina, Katya Ivaschenko, and Ken Roberts Youth Transitions in East and West Ukraine. European Sociological Review 20 (5): Nov 3. Immigration Rumbaut, Ruben and Golnaz Komaie Immigration and Adult Transitions. Future of Children 20 (1): Nov 7. Political Socialization in Non-Democracies Tessler, Mark and Michael Robbins What Leads Some Ordinary Arab Men and Women to Approve of Terrorist Acts against the United States? Journal of Conflict Resolution 51 (2): Nov 10. Writing a Literature Review 5

6 Nov 14. Using Library Resources Nov 17. No class Nov 21. How to Make a Research Presentation Note: The literature review is due at the beginning of the class. Nov 28. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science Dec 1. Student Presentations Dec 5. Student Presentations Dec 8. Wrap-Up Discussion 6