Research Seminar
Module Code: PO4600
Module Name: Research Seminar
- ECTS Weighting: 15
- Semester/Term Taught: Michaelmas + Hilary Term
- Contact Hours: 1 hour seminar per week
- Module Personnel: Lecturer - Professor Raj Chari
Learning Outcomes
The module aims to develop students' skills with respect to: - writing research proposals. This includes formulating research questions that advance social scientific knowledge in a particular area of research, and identifying appropriate methods for answering these questions. - applying qualitative and/or quantitative methods. - presenting research. - discussing other students' research projects and offering them constructive criticism.
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Identify interesting research questions in a sub-field of political science.
- Write proposals which demonstrate the significance of a research question and illustrate the method of analysis.
- Identify and conduct an original piece of research, which demonstrates your analytical and research skills in the field of political science.
- Prepare, summarize and present theoretical and empirical findings
- Critically evaluate the original research of others
Module Learning Aims
This module aims to provide students with advice and guidance on the writing of their undergraduate dissertations.
Module Content
This module is only open to single honours political science students, for whom it is compulsory. It offers students specialising in political science experience in conducting political science research. The module aims to develop students' skills with respect to:
- writing research proposals.
- applying qualitative and/or quantitative methods.
- presenting research.
- discussing other students' research projects and offering them constructive criticism.
Recommended Reading List
W. P. Shiveley, 2007. -The craft of political research'. Prentice-Hall, 7th ed.
Charles Lipson. 2005. -How to Write a B.A. Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper'. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Assessment Details
An undergraduate dissertation (c.8000 words), 100% of final mark.
Course work accounts for 100% of the overall grade