Duration
Number of credits
| Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS) | 10 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
All year long
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
1) Theoretical perspectives
2) Research design
3) Literature review
4) Hypothesis formation
5) Qualitative/quantitative methods
6) Different types of data
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
This course is concerned with research design, analysis and theory,
It is designed as an introduction to the research process.
The aim is to introduce:
- some key issues in the main theoretical approaches of political science that bear on the choices researchers must make. In sum, understanding the terms of the major theoretical debates in political science is an important part of producing good research.
- a step-by-step delineation of the process of asking and answering a research question - formulating a question, reviewing the relevant literature, advancing a hypothesis or argument, constructing a theoretical framework; defining concepts, variables and relationships; and designing a test of the hypothesis or argument; and
- the array of methods used in political research and how scholars utilize these methods to answer questions about political phenomena.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Cours ex cathedra
Recommended or required readings
- Janet Buttolph Johnson, H. T. Reynolds, Jason D. Mycoff, Political Science, Research Methods, London, SAGE Editions, 2016.
- Peter Burnham, Karin Gilland, Wyn Grant and Zig Layton-Henry, Research methods in politics, London, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
- Sandra Halperin, Oliver Heath, Political research: methods and practical skills, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017.
Assessment methods and criteria
Final dissertation
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Dr. Antonios Vlassis
avlassis@ulg.ac.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
Systematic follow-up regarding the progress during the year;
Online meetings between the student and the supervisor in order to guarantee a genuine assesment of the master's thesis;
Online sessions for giving advices and feedback;
Online meetings in order to evaluate the accomplished work and to discuss the coming tasks.
Assessment subjects
The master's thesis is evaluated in the following aspects:
conceptual framework and literature review;
scientific process and content;
structure;
form;
defence.
Assessment methods
Submission of master's thesis:
Students must submit their dissertation on the MatheO platform no later than the first Monday in June for the first session, 16 August for the second session.
The platform provides for the on-line conclusion of a licence agreement. The version submitted online and the date of the on-line submission are considered proof of submission.
The dissertation is defended orally and takes place in English.
The oral defence can be held via online session.
Contacts
Dr. Antonios Vlassis
avlassis@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session
Assessment subjects
The master's thesis is evaluated in the following aspects:
conceptual framework and literature review;
scientific process and content;
structure;
form;
defence.
Assessment methods
Submission of master's thesis:
Students must submit their dissertation on the MatheO platform no later than 16 August for the second session.
The platform provides for the on-line conclusion of a licence agreement. The version submitted online and the date of the on-line submission are considered proof of submission.
The thesis' defence will be held via online session (lifesize)
Contacts
Dr. Antonios Vlassis
avlassis@uliege.be
Dr. Antonios Vlassis
avlassis@uliege.be