POL222 Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning I

Essay Assignment 1

List of Possible Dependent Variables

To develop a causal theory for your essay, I’d suggest you first think about a
political/economic/social event or phenomenon that you are interested in and would like to
understand. This will be your dependent variable.

You may choose any event/phenomenon of your interest, as long as it is broadly related to
politics and public policy. To help you identify a dependent variable of interest, I list below
potential events or phenomena you might use as a dependent variable in your essay. You may
choose the dependent variable for your essay from this list. While you may choose your
dependent variable from this list, you should elaborate and define it with your own words. Some
concepts listed in this document may be too broad to be used as they are to formulate a causal
theory; you should appropriately refine or modify such concepts in your argument.

Note that you are NOT required to use a dependent variable from this list. The list is meant to
help you if you don’t know what variable to use. You should feel free to choose a dependent
variable not listed here.

Once you choose your dependent variable, ask yourself what could cause the dependent variable
of your choice and how. When you develop your causal theory, it would also be helpful to
identify the unit of analysis for your theory, such as individual voters, politicians, political
parties, electoral districts, cities, provinces, countries, and time periods (e.g., years). Use the
Essay 1 outline exercise sheet, which is posted on Quercus together with this document, to
develop you arguments and the outline of your essay.



Abstention
Anti-Americanism

Bank Crisis
Bureaucratic Discretion

Campaign Spending
Central Bank Independence
Civil War
Corruption
Coup d’etat

Democratization
Demonstration (Street Protest)

2
Economic Development
Economic Growth
Election Fraud
Election Outcome
Electoral Rule
Electoral Violence
Entrepreneurship
Environment Degradation

Foreign Aid
Foreign Direct Investment
Free Trade Agreement

Government Debt
Government Default
Government Spending

Health Spending
Humanitarian Aid

Immigration
Inequality
Innovation
International Cooperation
International Trade
Interstate War

Judicial Independence

Military Conflict
Military Spending

Neighbourhood Safety

Party Support
Political Participation
Popularity of Prime Minister (or President)
Poverty
Propensity to Vote
Public Service Provision (e.g., Water Supply, Education)

Revolution

Size of Police Force
Social Welfare Spending
Stock Price
3
Supreme Court Judge’s Voting Behaviour
Support of a Policy Position (e.g., Legalization of Marijuana, Death Penalty, Right to Die)

Terrorist Attacks
Trust in Government
Trust in Democracy

Use of Social Media (e.g., in election campaign)

Vote Choice
Voter Turnout

Youth Mobilization