Duration
30h Th, 15h Pr
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
- Syllabus and theoretical presentations (also 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
Recommended or required readings
Reading list updated and uploaded on MyULg.
This reading list is composed of 3 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):
1. 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.
2. 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
3. Braun V., Clarke V., 2006, « Using thematic analysis in psychology », Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3 (2), pp. 77-101.
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 work / report
Continuous assessment
Out-of-session test(s)
Additional information:
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Out-of-session test(s)
Additional information:
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Out-of-session test(s)
Additional information:
Continuous assessment throughout the year: This course is assessed continuously throughout the semester. These assessment activities are not exempt in that they replace the first semester written/oral exam.
There are four assessment activities. Each of them is set up throughout the year to test the acquisition of effective skills (knowledge and know-how of the student), either individually or collectively.
Module 1/Continuous assessment of the first four theoretical sessions: 30% of the final grade.
The first four sessions focus on the essential theoretical elements to be acquired in the course "methodology in political science".
To prepare for this assessment, students must have read the associated theory chapter and the supplemental reading prior to the session.
To prepare for the evaluation at the end of the session: a Q/A session is organized beforehand, a theoretical reminder of the essentials of the day's session followed by one or several practical exercises.
At the end of the session, the student answers a theoretical application question related to the day's session. The student submits his/her proposed answers to a peer for discussion. The student is then required to electronically encode his/her response on ecampus individually on the same day before 6:00 pm.
Module 2/Practical Written Work: Conducting, transcribing and analyzing a semi-structured interview: 30% of the final grade.
Conducting an individual interview with a member of the Belgian administration (regardless of the level of power) who has initiated or implemented a participatory exercise (inclusion of the public or experts) on a public policy of your choice in groups of 2: 30% of the final score
Preparation for the interview with a reading packet
Full transcript of the interview
Uploading of the interview on Corpus (free software from the Faculty) and thematic coding
Thematic analysis of the interview (2 pages)
Submission of the work on 12/12
Module 3/Practical written work "Evaluating a method data sheet": 30% of the final grade.
In the previous two years, your colleagues have put together several "data sheets" on a range of "unusual" data collection and analysis methods. This data sheet on a particular method not seen in the course was created based on scientific readings, synthesized in a pragmatic manner and presented to the rest of the class.
Group preparation of a method data sheet in groups of 6.
Working with the template (ecampus)
Presentation (ppt) of the method to the class
Continuous evaluation of active participation in the different courses: 10% of the final grade.
Evaluation in the second session: written exam.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Titulaires : Céline Parotte (celine.parotte@uliege.be) et Catherine Fallon (catherine.fallon@uliege.be) Elève moniteur: Pauline Bissot (pauline.bissot@student.uliege.be)