“It Was My Understanding That There Would Be No Math”: Using Thematic Cases to Teach Undergraduate Research Methods

ABSTRACT

Undergraduates frequently approach research methods classes with trepidation and skepticism, owing in part to math-phobia and confusion over how methodology is relevant to their interests. These self-defeating barriers to learning undermine the efficacy of methods classes. This essay discusses a strategy for overcoming these barriers—use of a case study as a thematic framework for the class. In theory, the case study engages students and renders the material less abstract. A research methods class recently taught by the author was organized around political assassinations, with an initial framing focus the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In an end of semester Qualtrics survey, students reported that they liked this approach and believe that it kept them interested in the material.

“[S]tats are dry. The Kennedys are not dry.” ∼A student

KEYWORDS:

• Research methods
• thematic cases
• undergraduate curricula

Notes

Dr. John McAdams, Marquette University, teaches a social inquiry class organized around the Kennedy assassination that predates mine. Our approaches are quite different, but McAdams’ syllabus and online resources are excellent. See: http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/home.htm and http://www.marquette.edu/polisci/documents/4191SyllabusMcAdams.pdf.

Undergraduate methods training is more prevalent in Europe (Parker 2010).

Given that women (Bradley and Wygant 1998) and people of color (Onwuegbuzie 1999) experience different levels of statistics anxiety, I checked to see if there were significant differences in student assessment of the class based on these categories. None were found.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth A. Oldmixon

Elizabeth A. Oldmixon (PhD, University of Florida) is professor of political science at the University of North Texas and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Politics and Religion. She is formerly a Fulbright Scholar (2010) and an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow (2001–2002). Her research investigates religion and legislative policymaking and political activism among clergy.