Psephology Courses in India

The term was coined in the United Kingdom in 1952 by historian R. B. McCallum to describe the scientific analysis of past elections. Psephology is the term derived from the Greek term "Psephos" which means pebble, which the Greeks used as ballots and "Logy" denotes a field of study or academic discipline. Hence the term means the statistical analysis of elections including scientific study of elections and voting behavior. It is also a branch of political science which specalises in public opinion polls, campaign finance information etc. Psephology is often called as "Political Fortune-Telling"

Psephology also has various applications specifically in analysing the results of election returns for current indicators. The professionals engaged in the study of Psephology are known as Psephologist. A psephologist’s main job is to predict the outcome of an election. They utilise tools of information which are in the form of past elections facts, figures and public opinion polls to arrive at a conclusion. Their scope of job includes analysis of aspects like trends in voting, swings in votes, number of votes polled, percentage of total votes polled which lead to translating into the number of seats in the government, percentage swing in the votes which may lead to change in the government etc. Hence Psephologists play a constructive role in any democratic set up.

Some of its specialized fields are -

1.   Election Analysis
2.   Data Collection
3.   Poll Survey
4.   Parliamentary Work
5.   Teaching
6.   Political Adviser

Content

The study of this field includes all or few of these – 

• Comparative electoral systems
• Mechanics of allocating legislative seats and executive offices
• Election analysis
• Electoral system and political order

Objectives 

1.   Interpreting and analysing the compiled data correctly
2.   Public awareness and the need for information
3.   To examine a variety of electoral arrangements worldwide and issues surrounding them

Basic Requirement

Generally, a post-graduate qualification is desirable in either Political Science or Sociology stream. The subject is taught as a part of political science programmes but no university or private institution offers a degree or diploma course in psephology. Aspirants with a doctorate degree in mathematics and statistics or even in economics or management do have an edge for this profession as they then possess comprehensive knowledge of the subject concerned. Aspirants can get training in any of the universities which impart education in political science, sociology or allied fields. 

Job Perspectives

Though no formal training is needed to pursue a career in psephology, one has to be a good statistician and understand politics well. Psephologist may not be very lucrative career, as it is only during the election season that most psephologist's worth is needed the most, for which they are paid handsomely. It is a sort of good part-time career option for a statistician, a political scientist or a political commentator. Psephology is a very risky field too. If your election predictions are correct, you will be applauded but if your predictions are incorrect everyone will be baying for your blood.

Job openings are basically restricted as compared to other fields but the advent of more television channels entering the fray, career options in this field are sort of improving. With the elections being alarming regularly held psephologists are busy the whole year. A well-known psephologist can earn a good deal of money in a year. If no elections they are usually tied up with one or the other media group to write columns and articles related to political science or sociology. With insights into electoral patterns some Psephologist can also enter into elections themselves and become Members of Parliament as well.

Some Employment Areas - 

• Research Organisations
• Television Channels
• Newspapers
• Freelancers
• Market Research
• Parliament