UROP Project
Theory and Hypothesis Testing with Panel Data
political science; data science; hypothesis testing; causal inference; panel data
![](https://cre.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu391/files/7.png)
Research Mentor: Mr. Damian Boldt,
Department, College, Affiliation: Political Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: dmb19d@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Political Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: dmb19d@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Political Science
Economics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10 hours, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Thursday, Sept. 7 from 6:00 to 6:30pm (Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99415704736)
Friday, Sept. 8 from 1:30 to 2:00pm (Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96301462218)
Friday, Sept. 8 from 3:30 to 4:00pm (Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96321700237)
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Political Science
Economics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10 hours, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Thursday, Sept. 7 from 6:00 to 6:30pm (Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99415704736)
Friday, Sept. 8 from 1:30 to 2:00pm (Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96301462218)
Friday, Sept. 8 from 3:30 to 4:00pm (Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96321700237)
Project Description
This project aims to understand how political scientists typically formulate hypotheses and test null hypotheses using panel data (i.e., multiple units observed over multiple time periods). Panel data are frequently used to test theories in a variety of sub-fields of political science including international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and public policy. Recent advances in political methodology suggest that statistical models such as linear regression and fixed effects regression estimate different quantities of interest than what social scientists believed for many years. This project seeks to understand how political scientists typically formulate hypotheses in panel data settings to understand the theoretical comparisons that political scientists view as reasonable. The project also aims to compare these hypotheses to the null hypothesis tests that are actually implemented in quantitative analysis. To accomplish these goals, we will collect data on hypotheses and empirical tests that use panel data and appear in the top journals in Political Science (APSR, AJPS, and JOP), in addition to sub-field journals such as International Organization, Comparitive Politics, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and more. This data will be used to quantify how political scientists formulate hypotheses and the extent to which their empirical approaches match theoretically relevant hypotheses, in an attempt to understand how large the gap between theory and empirical tests is in practice. This project aims to produce a publicly available data set, in addition to academic output (e.g., peer-reviewed publications), and public-facing output.Research Tasks: Data Collection
Literature Review
Preliminary Data Analysis
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required:
Library database research skills
Preliminary data entry and management skills
Recommended:
Familiarity with hypothesis testing
Familiarity with social science research methods