Methodology in political science (theory)

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Catherine Fallon, Céline Parotte

Coordinator

Catherine Fallon

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

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.


This reading list is composed of 6 scientific articles or book chapters.
Those articles must be read before the session where they are explicitly mobilized (see planning presented at the introductory session):
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.
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.
Guba, Egon G., et Yvonna S. Lincoln. « Epistemological and methodological bases of naturalistic inquiry ». Educational Technology Research and Development30, no4 (1982): 233-252.
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 (considered as a pre-requis):
- Van Campenoudt L. et Quivy R., 2017, 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 
Concerning the group work,  the written individual report and the oral presentation by the group have to be done. the work contribute to the final score for 10%. In case of non participation, the student will be sanctioned : minus one on his/her global score.

Concerning the fieldwork done during the semester, The evaluation of the written individual report (interview, transcription, summary) realized by group of two students will be integrated in the final score (10%).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Titulaire : Catherine Fallon (catherine.fallon@uliege.be)  
Céline Parotte (celine.parotte@uliege.be)

Assistant du cours : Damien Piron (damien.piron@uliege.be)

Items online