Picture this: You’re analyzing voting patterns across different demographics, predicting how new policies might impact various communities, and providing insights that shape important government decisions.
Think about when you last read news about a major policy change – behind those decisions were likely political scientists who studied the potential impacts and provided evidence-based recommendations.
Political scientists bring a unique analytical perspective to understanding how political systems work, how policies affect people, and how governments can better serve their citizens. They study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
Total Employment: 6,800 (2023)
Common Names for Political Scientists
- Political Analysts
- Political Consultants
- Political Advisors
- Political Researcher
- Policy Analysts
What Political Scientists Do
Political Scientists study political systems, analyze governments, policies, political trends, and social issues through research, data analysis, and theoretical frameworks to understand how politics works and offer insights for policy-making and social change. They scientists examine the political systems and behavior through various analytical lenses:
- Research and Analysis: Conduct systematic research on political subjects, governmental systems, and public policy issues to develop theories and identify trends that impact society and governance.
- Policy Development: Evaluate existing policies and propose new approaches by analyzing data, studying historical precedents, and assessing potential outcomes to help inform decision-making processes.
- Data Collection and Management: Gather and organize political data through surveys, public records, and historical documents to establish evidence-based conclusions and support policy recommendations.
- Report Writing and Publication: Create detailed reports, articles, and presentations that communicate research findings and policy recommendations to stakeholders, including government officials and the public.
- Statistical Analysis: Apply quantitative methods to analyze political data and trends, using standard statistical tools to support research conclusions and policy proposals.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with government officials, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to facilitate research and ensure findings reach relevant decision-makers.
- Public Communication: Present research findings and policy recommendations through various channels, including academic conferences, public forums, and media appearances to educate and inform diverse audiences.
- Grant Writing: Secure funding for research projects by developing comprehensive grant proposals and managing relationships with funding organizations to sustain ongoing research initiatives.
Signup or login for free access!
Signing up is easy and takes about 1 minute.
