Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in law | 5 crédits | |||
| Bachelor in political sciences : general | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
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 (interviews, focus groups, scenario workshop and Delphi)
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 (available on ecampus);
- solving a few practical cases during class.
- group activity (with final written report) on the construction of "methodological card with practical hints"
- fieldwork with another student : interview with a regional/federal policymaker, transcription, summary
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face.
Covid: theoretical articles are available on the ecampus platform and face-to-face to apply the theory
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Compte tenu des mesures Covid-19, nous avons choisi de déboubler les cours. Les étudiants inscrits à ce cours seront divisés en deux groupes. Chaque cours est donc condensé en 1h30. - Il est donc doublement important pour assurer le succès du cours que l'étudiant assure la préparation en amont.
Recommended or required readings
Reading list updated and uploaded on MyULg.
This reading list is composed of 4 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):
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.
Creswell, John W. Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five traditions. Second Edition. London¿; Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications, 2007.
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.
Optionnel: 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
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
Exam
if face-to-face is possible: 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
covid (if face to face is impossible): ORAL examination will exclusively focus on the resolution of case studies, the understanding of theoretical readings and theoretical chapters.
Individual and group fieldwork
Concerning the group work, the written individual report and the oral presentation by the group have to be done. The group work on "the unsual method" 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%).
Covid: the interview can be realized by phone or other device.
Covid: The "unsual method" will be presented with a participatory powerpoint.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Titulaires : Céline Parotte (celine.parotte@uliege.be) et Catherine Fallon (catherine.fallon@uliege.be) Elève moniteur: Louis Oger (louis.oger@student.uliege.be)