6 ECTS credits
170 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1019906BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
The common techniques of statistical and qualitative analysis are part of the toolkit of the political scientist in order to resolve questions in the domain of the political sciences. The introductory course “Introduction to research methods for humanities and social sciences” already pointed to the nature and specificity of social scientific research. That course also treated different research strategies and research designs. In first instance the introductory course focused on quantitative research, the process of sampling, the structured interview, techniques of questioning and gave a review of the most common forms of quantitative data-analysis. It also touched briefly upon qualitative research.
The current module wants to provide insight in the scientific approach of political-sciences problems. It also wants to provide a practical introduction to the common ways to measure social / political characteristics as well, as to “classical” forms of statistical (quantitative) and qualitative data-analysis.
In a first instance we look at the practical ways to translate a research question from the political science domain into a design. The research question as well as the type of knowledge we seek to obtain, determines whether we will resort to a qualitative, a quantitative or a mixed-method approach.
Secondly, we will dig into the so-called qualitative methods. These different methods don’t form a common methodology, but comprise different possible types of designs and forms of analysis. In the current seminar we will provide an overview of the most important forms of qualitative research, but restricting ourselves mainly on the methods that are commonly used by political scientists, and that can be realised by undergraduate political science students. We will focus our attention more specifically on the semi-structured interview as a useful way to gather of qualitative data. In this seminar we will go together through the process of setting up a qualitative research (choosing themes and respondents / data-sources); gathering the data (making a topic list and taking the interviews); and analyse and interpret the resulting data.
Thirdly we will provide a practical introduction to the quantitative models of analysis that were seen in the theoretical introductory course. These models of analysis are associated to certain techniques of analysis. We will learn to use these different techniques in SPSS in order to test hypothesis, to estimate parameters and to interpret the resulting output.
Not applicable
General:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the competences:
More specific:
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Practical Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The final evaluation for this course is based on the following components:
A peer assessment (mandatory) will be used to establish the individual grading on the group work. Students must assess themselves and fellow group members on a number of criteria. The result of this is an individual adjustment factor. The adjustment factor will be used to individualise the group point (= the inherent value of the group work). This is done by multiplying the group point by the adjustment factor. The group work is graded on xx/20, and has a weight of 30 % in the quotation of the entire course unit.
If a student does not complete a peer assessment within the set deadline, the tutor may decide to use the maximum deduction of points.
The lecturer always has the last word and can decide to increase or decrease the adjustment factor, or even not to take it into account at all, if the obtained scores turn out to be unreliable.
This decision will in principle only be taken in exceptional cases, but will always be based on clear arguments, analyses, and/or additional observations/discussions.
All research notes will be screened on plagiarism using plagiarism detection software.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting politieke wetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: Political Science Minor Minor Education (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (ws) (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)