Module Code: POU22040
Module Name: Introduction to Political Science Research 2025-26
- ECTS Weighting: 10
- Semester/Term Taught: Full year
- Contact Hours: Two lectures per week, fortnightly tutorial
- Module Personnel: TBD [MT] / Dr Lisa Keenan [HT]
- Note: this module is a prerequisite for the Political Science Capstone in Senior Sophister. Since 2024-25, no student will be permitted to do a Capstone in Political Science unless they have completed POU22040 Introduction to Political Science Research.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
- Critically read and evaluate journal articles;
- Conduct a literature review;
- Identify a gap in an existing body of literature;
- Evaluate different research methods;
- Propose a research question and develop an appropriate strategy to answer it;
- Identify sources of data that could be used to answer a research question;
- Create a plan for how to manage a research project;
- Understand the obligations of a social science researcher;
- Collect and choose a strategy for data analysis.
Module Learning Aims
This project aims to build students’ understanding of core research skills, introduce them to the fundamental principles of research design in Political Science, and provide an introduction to the analysis of different kinds of data.
This module is a prerequisite for the Capstone in Political Science, providing the foundations for the prerequisites that students will need to fulfil in Junior Sophister. Students wishing to complete a Capstone in Political Science in their Sophister should consult their programme handbook and/or the module outlines on the Department website prior to making their module selection for 2025-26.
Module Content
This module is an introduction to evaluating and carrying out research as a political scientist. It provides an introduction to the principles of good research design, a review of the suite of available methods of data collection and analysis, and a practical guide to carrying out an original research project.
Recommended Reading List
There are two textbooks for this module.
- Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Manheim, J. B., Rich, R. C., Willnat, L., & Brians, C. L. (2012). Empirical political analysis. Edinburgh: Pearson Education UK.
Assessment Details
- Short assignments [20%]
- Paper critique [10%]
- Term paper [20%]
- End-of-year exam - anonymous, 3-hours in duration [50%]
In the event that a student must sit the supplemental exam (as a first attempt or as a repeat), this will take place during the assessment session in August (see the Academic Year Structure 2025/26).
The supplemental exam is the same format as the end-of-semester exam. It is not possible to request an alternative exam format (i.e., a move to online). It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are present in person at scheduled examination sessions.