Study Programmes 2015-2016
SPOL2330-2  
Methodology in political science (theory)
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Bachelor in law3
Bachelor in political sciences : general3
Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS)3
Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS)3
Lecturer :
Jérémy Dodeigne
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
This course presents the elementary principles of the research methods in political science, mostly based on a qualitative approach. The course trains students to design, conduct and report the results of their future research projects (throughout their curriculum of political science but also in their future job occupation). In the first part, it introduces the epistemological foundations of research in political science as well as the goals and functions of concepts and theories. In the second part, the course presents the distinct types of data used in political science as well as the techniques of data collection and data analysis. It mostly covers the collection and analysis of qualitative data (analysis of documents, interviews, and focus groups) but it also gives a short overview of quantitative analysis as well as mixed methods research design.
Learning outcomes of the course :
By the end of the course, the students will be able to carry out a rigorous and empirically based analysis of social and political phenomena. For that purpose, students are expected to :
  • define and describe the terms and concepts deployed in the different parts of the course;
  • reproduce the notions and the link between epistemological reasoning raised in the course;
  • define and describe the research methods in political science, but also identify these in the context of field research;
  • assess the relevance of the techniques in light of a given issue and situation;
  • distance themselves critically and analytically from the information collected.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Co-requisite :
SPOL2333-1 Methodology and analysis of public policies (practice) - Sébastien Brunet,Catherine Fallon - Suppl : Aurore François 
SPOL2331-1  Analysis of public policies (theory)- Catherine Fallon
 
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
  • Theoretical presentations;
  • solving a few practical cases during class.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face.
Recommended or required readings :
Reading list updated and uploaded on MyULg.
Recommended readings:
-Beaud, Stéphane, and Florence Weber. 2003. Guide de l'enquête de terrain. Paris: La découverte.
-Van Campenhoudt, Luc, and Raymond Quivy. 2011. Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales. 4e édition. Paris: Dunod.
-Bauer, M. W., and G. Gaskell. 2000. Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound: A Practical Handbook for Social Research. London: SAGE.
-Creswell, John W., Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2014.
-Kaufmann, Jean-Claude. 2011. L'entretien compréhensif - L'enquête et ses méthodes. Paris: Armand Colin.
-Blanchet, Alain, Anne Gotman, et François de Syngly, L'entretien : L'enquête et ses méthodes. 2ème édition Paris: Armand Colin, 2010.
-Duchesne, Sophie, and Florence, Haegel. 2008. L'entretien collectif : L'enquête et ses méthodes Paris: Armand Colin.
-Martin, Olivier. 2012. L'analyse quantitative des données: L'enquête et ses méthodes. 3ème édition. Paris: Armand Colin.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Written examination in the first session, oral or written examination in the second session depending on the number of students. The objective of the examination is to assess the students' acquisition of the objectives specified in the learning outcomes, using questions of restitution and resolution of case studies.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
Titulaire : Jérémy Dodeigne, j.dodeigne@ulg.ac.be Assistante du cours : Céline Parotte, celine.parotte@ulg.ac.be