SPOL2333-1 : Methodology and analysis of public policies (practice)

Study Programmes 2015-2016

SPOL2333-1

Methodology and analysis of public policies (practice)

Duration :

30h Pr

Number of credits :

Bachelor in political sciences : general		6
Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS)		6
Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS)		6

Lecturer :

Jérémy Dodeigne, Catherine Fallon

Coordinator :

Jérémy Dodeigne

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

Students must carry out a field study to implement a qualitative analysis approach to a public action sector or a precise system, with collection of primary data through semi-direct interviews and focus groups, then write a report including a biographical study.
During classes and tutorials, the following points will be the subject of particular attention:
- elaboration of a research question
- identification of contextual and institutional elements, as well as the stakeholders concerned;
- establishing and analysing a scientific bibliography on the chosen theme;
- identification of the aspects to be taken into consideration in the analysed policy in order to establish the interview guides and the outline of the focus group, and to bring together the relevant elements;
- analysis of the qualitative data collected through interviews and focus groups;
- writing a research report by suggesting a general tendency based on observations in the field.

Learning outcomes of the course :

The aim of this course is to involve students in all the stages of a qualitative analysis approach to a public policy system, so that they can :

examine in detail and use the theoretical concepts studied during the two co-requisite courses in Q1
implement a field survey both individually and in a group
acquire practical skills to analyse public policies, develop analysis tools, and elaborate theorisations leading to an approach based on the separation of facts and values
reproduce the methodological choices and the conclusions reached during verbal communication and in a written report.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Two courses are co-requisites :
SPOL2330-2 Qualitative methodology (theory) - Sébastien Brunet - Suppl : Aurore François
SPOL2331-1 Analysis of public policies (theory)- Catherine Fallon

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Carry out a piece of research in groups (5 to 7 students, according to the number of students enrolled. They will be informed of the groups during the first session): the field work must be organised by the students, who have to use reference methods used in political science (bibliographical research; semi-directive interviews; organisation of a focus group).
Regular support from the teaching team and formal compulsory presentations during plenary lectures devoted to the following major steps :

elaboration of the research question, constitution of a bibliographical corpus, presentation of the methodological choices, contextual elements (institutional and social) and identification of the stakeholders
results of the exploratory survey stage (first interviews) and honing of previous experiences; preparation of the focus group (stakeholders, interview guide, etc.)
results of the analysis of the collected material

Written report must be handed in on : Tuesday 10 May 2015 -15h00.
Oral defence during the June exam session (per group)

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Teaching will be in the form of plenary lectures (all students are obliged to attend) and group sessions.