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So how do we ease students' anxiety around this often intimidating and diffi cult subject? To answer this question, we spoke with Janet Buttolph Johnson and Jason D. Mycoff, professors who teach the research methods course at the University of Delaware. Along with the late H.T. "Hank" Reynolds, also of Delaware, they wrote the ninth edition of Political Science Research Methods, which came out in July. Connect the topics to current events: Because research methods may overwhelm some students at fi rst, it is important to stress that research methods topics can be relevant to the understanding of current events. Case studies and articles are a great way to demonstrate the issues, choices, decisions, and obstacles that political scientists typically confront while doing research. Mycoff acknowledges that some students are reluctant to study methods, "and some of them push it off longer than they should. But in the end, hopefully, they see that the course is really quite valuable. They become better students for having taken it." Encourage students to ask questions: Students who can specify what information is needed and what relationships among phenomena must be observed in support of an idea are more likely to develop a deeper understanding of the subjects they study. "We really try to get students to think about how a particular concept is measured," Johnson explains. "How are you defi ning it? Where do you get the data?, and so forth, so that they can really ask themselves these questions as they're doing their own research." Provide opportunities for practice: "Learning research methods is a hands-on experience," says Mycoff, who authored a workbook, now in a fi fth edition, which accompanies the main text. "If a student is simply watching a video, or sitting in class listening to a lecture in a passive manner, that student is not going to learn the research methods content as well as a student who is taking more active approach and working through examples with pencil and paper. And if you add in political science examples, it's a more engaging experience with students." "If I were to make a suggestion to a new political science research methods instructor, I would say leave plenty of time for in-class participation, for working through examples, and reading articles. Talking about things with the students in class is really helpful to them." Have your students ever asked the question, "Why do I have to study research design and statistics if I want to work in government and politics?" Are your students somewhat intimidated by the thought of tackling research methodology? Perhaps some were drawn to the fi eld because they hoped it offered a refuge from math. Motivate students to take a research methods course. Turn the page for a captivating infographic featuring 10 reasons why everyone should take a research methods course. ARE YOUR STUDENTS INTIMIDATED BY RESEARCH METHODS? Bestselling authors Janet Buttolph Johnson and Jason D. Mycoff share strategies for making diffi cult concepts easier to understand. Research Methods in Political Science i

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