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Refocusing Methods Courses on Workplace Applications

Abstract Social science research methods are increasingly central to a rigorous political science curriculum. This reflects a shift in both academia and in government toward an appreciation for quantitative analysis to accompany traditional qualitative analyses. As undergraduate and graduate programs develop and update their methods courses, we can optimize their value through a greater emphasis on the application of methods to challenges found in the real world of politics, policy, and governance. This research note presents several examples of methods applications in government and concludes with an overview of the specific methods-related skills government agencies are seeking in potential hires.