Changes to UNC Poli Methods Prelim
Written by Administrator
Structural changes to the methods preliminary exam in political science signal another step forward in graduate training. Subfield director Dr. Thomas Carsey, in a memo released today, announced that MLE and OLS will be rolled into a single integrated section and that game theory will no longer be treated as a requirement on the examination. Rolling MLE and OLS together means that students will concentrate on learning the principles of regression as they apply to generalized linear model (GLM), as opposed to treating them as two separate topics. The previous structure had reflected the course sequence, in which MLE follows OLS in sequence, rather than the theoretical structure of statistics. Unification moves student conceptualization of quantitative techniques toward the understanding that they are learning tools of "regression analysis," which encompasses linear and nonlinear models and a set of tools which can be applied with varying levels of effectiveness toward different ends.
The elimination of game theory as a requirement reflects the understanding that game theory in and of itself is a pursuit that requires a level of dedication equivalent to that of regression. The new structure still requires a minimum level of competency in game theory as one must past challenging required coursework in the subject. However, when preparing for methods preliminaries, only students who have applied the sustained attention required become a practitioner and educator in game theory will be required to demonstrate their skills in the preliminary examination. High failure rates on this portion of the exam signaled that professional competency in game theory required more training that could be feasibly required under the core course sequence.
