Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Catherine Fallon, Vincent Jacquet
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
Learning unit 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)
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
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) - Catherine Fallon - Suppl : Celine Parotte
SPOL2331-1 Analysis of public policies (theory)- Catherine Fallon
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- Theoretical presentations;
- solving a few practical cases during class.
- group activity (with individual final written report) on a empirical research within a scientific paper
- fieldwork with another student : interview with a local policymaker, transcription, summary
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face.
Recommended or required readings
Reading list updated and uploaded on MyULg.
Della Porta D., Keating M., 2008, « How many approaches in the social sciences? An epistemological introduction », in D. Della Porta, M. Keating (dir.), Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 19-39.
Chapitre de 1 « Les processus de la pensée qualitative » de Paillé P., Mucchielli A., 2013, L'analyse qualitative en sciences humaines et sociales, Paris, Armand Collin.
Pinson G., Sala Pala V., 2007, « Peut-on vraiment se passer de l'entretien en
sociologie de l'action publique ? », Revue française de science politique 2007/5 (Vol.
57), p. 555-597
Braun V., Clarke V., 2006, « Using thematic analysis in psychology », Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3 (2), pp. 77-101.
Brunet S., Parotte C., Vanhaeren S., 2013, « L'enseignement des focus groups en science politique », in S. Brunet, F. Claisse, C. Fallon (dir.), La participation à l'épreuve, Bruxelles, Peter Lang, pp. 181-197.
Other recommended reading :
- Van Campenoudt L. et Quivy R., 2011, Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales, Paris: Dunod
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 which will be based on a file send to the students through MyULG on 15/12/2017 at 12. The student takes a copy of these documents with him for the exam.
Concerning the group work, The evaluation of the written individual report (50%) and the oral presentation by the group (50%) done during the semester will be integrated in the final score (10%).
Concerning the fieldwork done during the semester, The evaluation of the written individual report (interview, transcription, summary) will be integrated in the final score (10%).
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Titulaire :
vincent jacquet (vincent.jacquet@uclouvain.be)
Catherine Fallon (catherine.fallon@ulg.ac.be)
Assistante du cours : Céline Parotte, celine.parotte@ulg.ac.be