The Department of Public Policy (POL) has retitled its Lab for Case Study and Survey Analysis to Political Analysis Lab, with effect from 1 November 2019, to reflect the repertoire of the lab and expertise of scholars associated with it.

PAL aims to help students address the most basic question of what is politics and go further to understand and analyse political structures, institutions, processes and impacts. It also aims to teach students how to use a variety of methodological approaches and tools in conducting political analysis. 

Users of the lab can utilise a list of quantitative and qualitative analysis software packages which are not available elsewhere on the campus, including Python, SPSS, AMOS, R, Ucinet and Nvivo, for data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination exercise. They may also seek advice and assistance from staff members of the lab, who have solid methodological training.

Since its establishment in academic year 2017-18, the lab has invited several academics around the world to conduct lectures on methodologies, techniques and directions of public policy research. It also hosted workshops to introduce the software packages and research methods. These events helped facilitate political analysis and encourage students to become active learners. The lab also supports students-initiated research and methodological training, and provides individual consultation on research. 

Please click here for more details of the Political Analysis Lab.