Research Methods for Political Science
Module Code: PO3600 (2013–14)
Module Name: Research Methods for Political Science
- ECTS Weighting: 10
- Semester/Term Taught: Michaelmas + Hilary Term
- Contact Hours: 2 lectures per week; 1 tutorial per fortnight
- Module Personnel: Lecturer - Professor Tom Louwerse
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Critically analyse existing political science and social science research on the basis of the research methods employed.
- Specify appropriate research questions in political science and construct effective research design strategies to answer these questions.
- Analyse quantitative data to uncover relationships between theoretically relevant variables.
- Effectively use statistical methods to conduct political science research.
- Effectively employ SPSS, a statistical software package, to conduct political science research.
Module Learning Aims
In this module, students study how to conduct their own research. This is the preparation for the dissertation in PO4600: Research Seminar in Political Science.
Module Content
This module explores a variety of both qualitative and quantitative social science research to develop the skills for explaining causal mechanism in political phenomena. Especially, the class focuses on the logic of scientific inference, research design and measurement. This module also explores the uses and abuses of statistical reasoning in social and political studies. Students learn the basic rules of data analysis and the logic of statistical inference. The class covers various topics such as survey methodology, content analysis, (quasi) experiments, and policy analysis by doing such work themselves.
Recommended Reading List
Manheim, J.B., R.C. Rich, L. Wilmat, C.L. Brians and J. Babb (2012) Empirical Political Analysis: An Introduction to Research Methods. Harlow: Pearson Education. ISBN: 1408204622
Field, A. (2009) Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. 3rd edition (4th edition can also be used). London: Sage. ISBN: 1847879071
Assessment Details
Assignments and one essay per term: 20% per term (40% total)
End of year Exam (60%)
1 x 3-hour examination