Duration
30h Pr
Number of credits
| Bachelor in political sciences : general | 6 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit 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 the "Pep Serious Game", 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 the unusual method entitled "Pep Serious Game" (with the collaboration of FNAC./AFCN and the Faculty of Applied Sciences);
- writing a research report by suggesting a general tendency based on observations in the field.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
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 Methods in political science (theory) - Sébastien Brunet - Suppl : Céline Parotte et Catherine Fallon
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-structured interviews; organisation and mandatory participation to a "Pep Serious Game" session - April 24th 2021).
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 Pep Serious Game (stakeholders, observation guide, etc.)
- results of the analysis of the collected material
Oral defence during the June exam session (per group). Attendance of each group member is mandatory. The oral defense will be conducted as follows: first, a question about the final report will be asked to every group member. Then, the professors will give feedback on the final written report to the students.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Teaching will be in the form of plenary lectures (all students are obliged to attend) and group sessions.
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
(in case of strong measures related to covid situation): phone or online interviews are allowed.
Teaching support organized with lifesize
Oral defense organized with lifesize
Recommended or required readings
Students were provided with the majority of references during the two co-requisite courses.
The slides and methodological support notes will be available through Ecampus.
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.
70 % - Assessment of field work and the written report (adequacy of the research question, quality of the approach, quality of the interviews and the organisation of the focus group; relevance of the analysis of the material collected and the conclusions reached, integration of the literature, quality of the writing)
30 % - Oral presentations of the work (intermediary presentations and defence)
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
The two lecturers for the course are :
Catherine Fallon
Céline Parotte plays an important role in providing individualised support for students throughout their work with the help of three support students and a trainee. celine.parotte@uliege.be