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MODULE TITLE: Research Theories & Methods POL2008
MODULE PROVIDER (AOU): Politics SUBJECT (3 LETTERS): POL
LEVEL: 2 NUMBER OF CREDITS: 20
MODULE CO-ORDINATOR: Tereza Capelos
MODULE AVAILABILITY: Year Long
ASSESSMENT PATTERN
Unit(s) of Assessment Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
SPSS Project A (2000 words) 30%
SPSS Project B (2000 words) 30%
Final Exam (2hrs) 40%
PRE-REQUISITE/CO-REQUISITES
POL 1006
MODULE OVERVIEW
In this class, we build on students’ understanding of research methodologies
introduced at Level 1. We investigate in depth the basic assumptions that inform
social scientific research including philosophical issues such as the source of
knowledge in social science. We will review different methodologies employed in
political science and practice on designing solid research projects. We will also
practice the use SPSS to conduct statistical analysis tests of data.
MODULE AIMS
Our aim is to focus on improving the following: Identifying research questions;
Establishing the relevance of research questions for theory and society; Finding
theoretical literature; Developing hypotheses concerning the relationship between
variables; Understanding the principles that relate to hypothesis testing; Thinking in
terms of relationships between variables, including possible causal relationships;
Learning to incorporate feedback into an improved, revised version of one’s
presentation; Presenting a written work that satisfies the criteria required in scientific
publications, including proper citation and bibliographical forms. In addition, in our
class we cover descriptive statistics, fundamental distributions, and measures of
association. We then move to statistical inference and hypothesis testing, including
linear regression, and discuss the application of inferential methods to qualitative
research designs. You are expected to participate and discuss the main concepts
and studies from each section’s readings.
Knowledge and understanding
• Have an understanding of research processes and practical methodologies.
• Gain insights into the current issues facing research.
• Gain insights into the nature of evaluation and be able to understand the
nature of evidence.
• Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from secondary
and primary sources.
• Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems.
• Construct reasoned arguments, synthesize relevant information and exercise
critical judgement.
• Reflect on your own learning and seek and make use of constructive
feedback.
• Engage in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary debates.
• Evaluate texts and research material.
Transferable and Practical Skills
• Communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing.
• Use communication and information technology for the retrieval and
presentation of information, including, where appropriate, statistical or
numerical information.
• Deploy a range of relevant research and evaluation skills.
• Adopt a proactive and effective approach to problem solving.
• Apply self organisation.
• Make appropriate use of information and communications technology.
• Demonstrate the ability to present work orally.
• Employ relevant research and evaluation skills to investigate politics - or
policy-related areas.
• Gain competency in the use of the SPSS statistical package To access
MODULE CONTENT
Introduction to the Methods and Methodology in the study of politics
Philosophy of science
Research Design: meaning and types, Comparative methodology, Content analysis,
Documentary and Archive Analysis, Elite interviewing, Participant observation, Focus
Groups, Surveys and Public Opinion Polls, Experimental design
Using the Internet for political research, Ethics and research practices
Formulating research questions, Building Hypotheses and deciding on Variable
Operationalization
Hypothesis testing, Descriptive statistics, Inferences and causal relations
METHODS OF TEACHING/LEARNING
Lectures, Seminars, and discussion elaborating on course-book
SELECTED TEXTS/JOURNALS
Essential Books:
• Burnham et al. 2004. Research Methods in Politics. Palgrave
• Field. 2005. Discovering statistics using SPSS. Sage Publications
• Walliman. 2004. Your undergraduate Dissertation. Sage Publications
Complementary reading:
• Bryman, A. (2002) Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
• Punch, K S. (2000) Introduction to Social Research, Quantitative and
Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage.
• Vogt. 2005. Dictionary of statistics and methodology. Sage Publications
Date Last Revised: Feb 2009

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POL2008 Research Theories & Methods

  • 1. MODULE TITLE: Research Theories & Methods POL2008 MODULE PROVIDER (AOU): Politics SUBJECT (3 LETTERS): POL LEVEL: 2 NUMBER OF CREDITS: 20 MODULE CO-ORDINATOR: Tereza Capelos MODULE AVAILABILITY: Year Long ASSESSMENT PATTERN Unit(s) of Assessment Weighting Towards Module Mark (%) SPSS Project A (2000 words) 30% SPSS Project B (2000 words) 30% Final Exam (2hrs) 40% PRE-REQUISITE/CO-REQUISITES POL 1006 MODULE OVERVIEW In this class, we build on students’ understanding of research methodologies introduced at Level 1. We investigate in depth the basic assumptions that inform social scientific research including philosophical issues such as the source of knowledge in social science. We will review different methodologies employed in political science and practice on designing solid research projects. We will also practice the use SPSS to conduct statistical analysis tests of data. MODULE AIMS Our aim is to focus on improving the following: Identifying research questions; Establishing the relevance of research questions for theory and society; Finding theoretical literature; Developing hypotheses concerning the relationship between variables; Understanding the principles that relate to hypothesis testing; Thinking in terms of relationships between variables, including possible causal relationships; Learning to incorporate feedback into an improved, revised version of one’s presentation; Presenting a written work that satisfies the criteria required in scientific publications, including proper citation and bibliographical forms. In addition, in our class we cover descriptive statistics, fundamental distributions, and measures of association. We then move to statistical inference and hypothesis testing, including linear regression, and discuss the application of inferential methods to qualitative research designs. You are expected to participate and discuss the main concepts and studies from each section’s readings.
  • 2. Knowledge and understanding • Have an understanding of research processes and practical methodologies. • Gain insights into the current issues facing research. • Gain insights into the nature of evaluation and be able to understand the nature of evidence. • Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from secondary and primary sources. • Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems. • Construct reasoned arguments, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement. • Reflect on your own learning and seek and make use of constructive feedback. • Engage in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary debates. • Evaluate texts and research material. Transferable and Practical Skills • Communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing. • Use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information, including, where appropriate, statistical or numerical information. • Deploy a range of relevant research and evaluation skills. • Adopt a proactive and effective approach to problem solving. • Apply self organisation. • Make appropriate use of information and communications technology. • Demonstrate the ability to present work orally. • Employ relevant research and evaluation skills to investigate politics - or policy-related areas. • Gain competency in the use of the SPSS statistical package To access MODULE CONTENT Introduction to the Methods and Methodology in the study of politics Philosophy of science Research Design: meaning and types, Comparative methodology, Content analysis, Documentary and Archive Analysis, Elite interviewing, Participant observation, Focus Groups, Surveys and Public Opinion Polls, Experimental design Using the Internet for political research, Ethics and research practices Formulating research questions, Building Hypotheses and deciding on Variable Operationalization Hypothesis testing, Descriptive statistics, Inferences and causal relations METHODS OF TEACHING/LEARNING Lectures, Seminars, and discussion elaborating on course-book
  • 3. SELECTED TEXTS/JOURNALS Essential Books: • Burnham et al. 2004. Research Methods in Politics. Palgrave • Field. 2005. Discovering statistics using SPSS. Sage Publications • Walliman. 2004. Your undergraduate Dissertation. Sage Publications Complementary reading: • Bryman, A. (2002) Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • Punch, K S. (2000) Introduction to Social Research, Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage. • Vogt. 2005. Dictionary of statistics and methodology. Sage Publications Date Last Revised: Feb 2009