Duration
15h SEM
Number of credits
| Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS) | 5 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
7) Structure and form
8) Dissertation's defence
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
- Cours ex cathedra
- Students will have to actively participate in class ;
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
All the sessions will be taught onsite in a classroom setting.
Online viewing with live course instruction using the platform Lifesize following the existing course and module timetables.
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
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
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.
Any session :
- In-person
oral exam
- Remote
written work
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred remote
Additional information:
Preparation of a research project.
The research project is based on the final dissertation.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Dr. Antonios Vlassis
avlassis@uliege.be