The Department of Political Science at Grove City College offers students the academic freedom to conduct meaningful, relevant research alongside experienced and accomplished faculty. Research opportunities prepare students for top graduate and professional programs and successful careers in public and private sectors.
Students have participated in:
Professor Michael Coulter chaired an eight-member Independent Election Commission appointed by the Mercer County Commissioners after some electronic voting machines used in the county failed to record votes in a presidential election. Student Emily Shaheen served as research assistant for the committee. Data that Professor Coulter and Shaheen collected about the performance of the machine compared to the performance of other electronic voting machines led to a state agency decertifying the voting machines and prohibiting the use of those machines in future elections.
The Midwest PSA is a regional conference held in Chicago every spring. It allows undergraduates the opportunity to present for presenting political science research.
“A Request for Stability: How Presidential Aid Requests Influence Recipient States’ Handling of Diaspora and Displacement” presented by Jaclyn Nichols ’22
“Blown Out of Proportion: Measuring Inflation and Ethnic Discrimination in Africa” presented by Jaclyn Nichols ’22
“A Better Way Forward? An Analysis of Chinese and World Bank Loans to Sub-Saharan Africa and Democratization in the Region” presented by David Calhoun ’20 Since 2000, China has developed a loan apparatus that is consistently giving the state an alternative to the IMF and World Bank. Based on poor quality of governance being a poverty trap and greater levels of democracy leading to greater attainment of human rights, Calhoun tests whether loans from China had a more negative effect on democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa than World Bank loans from 2000-2017.
“When Will the United States Say No?” presented by Ian McGrew ’20 This paper addresses past and contemporary relations of China and the U.S., analyzing how China seeks to become a great power and potentially to surpass the U.S. as the most powerful state in the international system. Attention is paid to understanding what circumstances and changes in China’s relative position would potentially force the U.S. to confront China in an effort for the U.S. to maintain its status as the greatest power in the international system.
“Great Powers and Nuclear Weapons: An Examination of the Relationship between Nuclear Warhead Stockpiles and Militarized Interstate Disputes” presented by Jonathan Skee ’21 Does an increase in nuclear stockpiles cause an increase in militarized interstate disputes involving great powers? Preliminary research shows that great powers appear more willing to engage in militarized interstate disputes as their stockpiles of nuclear weapons increase. Skee concludes though this research that minimal deterrence is the better nuclear policy option.
“China’s Rising Power and Possible Conflict with the U.S. in the Pacific Ocean” presented by Zachary Wilson ’21 This paper seeks to observe China’s rise in power and the U.S. response in the Pacific Ocean. Using consideration of the rise in power by Japan in the inter-war years, a comparison with contemporary Chinese foreign policy is made to consider whether conflict between China and the U.S. is more likely to be caused and engaged in through economic or military factors.
“Public Opinion and the War on Terror: An Empirical Study of the Effects of Income and Education on Public Opinion during the Presidency of George W. Bush” presented by Wyatt Kriebel ’21 The focus of this research paper is to analyze the effects of income and education on public opinion regarding George W. Bush during the War on Terror. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the multiple causes of change in public opinion and the effect of that opinion on the decision-making of George W. Bush.
Danielle (DiQuattro ’18) Weinrich (political science major/economics minor) presented a paper "Racial Tensions, Discrimination, and Relations and Their Effects on Political Participation" at the 2017 annual Pennsylvania Political Science Association Conference.