Universität Wien

400003 SE SE Methods for Doctoral Candidates (2011W)

Ideal Point Estimation

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 40 - Doktoratsstudium Sozialwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

MO 15.00 - 18.00 Uhr
10.10., 17.10, 24.10, 31.10., 07.11., 14.11., 21.11., 28.11.,05.12.,12.12., 19.12.

Ort: Fakultät für Sozialwissenschaften, Rooseveltplatz 2, Besprechungsraum 4. Stock, 1090 Wien

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes

Currently no class schedule is known.

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

How are political actors positioned? This is a key question for much political science and the spatial theory on which it is based has been called the work-horse theory of political science. A plethora of methods to determine the position of the political actors using different forms of data exists. This course introduces both the application of the methods through existing literature and provides the participants with the possibility to actively use the methods as well.

In this seminar we will deal with the question of how it is possible to estimate ideal points using a variety of methods and data. Focus will primarily be on using roll calls and texts to estimate ideal points. We will cover methods like Optimal Classification, NOMINATE and IDEAL for roll calls and Wordscores and Wordfish for texts. Individual level ideal points, i.e. voter self-placements will also be covered in the seminar.

Requirements:
The seminar is open for all PhD students at the Faculty of Social Sciences working on a quantitative dissertation in which ideal point estimation could be a useful tool. Knowledge of quantitative methodology at an MA level is assumed to be on hand for all participants.

Schedule
The course is taught in blocks of three-four hours. One or two sessions may be changed into individual sessions or smaller groups with participants dealing with the same subject.

Assessment and permitted materials

In order to receive a grade for the course each participant must hand in a paper (15-20 pages) on a date to be decided later, with either a discussion of already existing ideal point estimation methods and results or using new data to estimate ideal points in a political setting chosen by the participant

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The goal of the course is that after successfully completing it participants are:
- able to explain and critically discuss the various forms of ideal point estimation

Examination topics

Reading list

A full literature list will be available at the first meeting of the class.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:46