The Palgrave Handbook of Political Research Pedagogy

This Handbook addresses why political science programs teach the research process and how instructors come to teach these courses and develop their pedagogy. Contributors offer diverse perspectives on pedagogy, student audience, and the role of research in their curricula. Across four sections—information literacy, research design, research methods, and research writing—authors share personal reflections that showcase the evolution of their pedagogy. Each chapter offers best practices that can serve the wider community of teachers. Ultimately, this text focuses less on the technical substance of the research process and more on the experiences that have guided instructors’ philosophies and practices related to teaching it.

• pedagogy
• research methodology
• research design
• information literacy
• statistics
• research writing

“The Handbook provides an enjoyable and reflective read about the journeys of colleagues who have taught research and writing. You will be inspired by their wisdom and creativity. Undoubtedly, your own course design and how you approach learning will be impacted.” (— Dr. Janet Box-Steffensmeier, American Political Science Association President (2020–21) and Distinguished University Professor, The Ohio State University, USA)

 “How do we thwart the authoritarians? One way is to teach our students to distinguish fact from fiction, quality research from social media rabbit holes. Mallinson, Marin Hellwege, and Loepp, along with their wide-ranging team of scholars, have written a book that should be on the desk of every political science teacher.” (— Dr. Mark Carl Rom, Associate Professor of Government and Public Policy, Georgetown University, US, member of the Executive Board of the Political Science Education section (ASPA) and Editorial Board of the JPSE)

• Public Policy and Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, USA

  Daniel J. Mallinson

• Political Science, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, USA

  Julia Marin Hellwege

• Political Science, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Whitewater, USA

  Eric D. Loepp

Dr. Daniel J. Mallinson is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Penn State Harrisburg.

Dr. Julia Marin Hellwege is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of South Dakota and is affiliated with the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program.

Dr. Eric D. Loepp is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He received the 2018 CQ Press Award for Teaching Innovation from the American Political Science Association.

Policies and ethics