APPROACHES TO RESEARCH - 2021/2

Module Overview

 

In this class, we build on students’ understanding of research skills introduced at Level 1. We investigate in depth the basic assumptions that inform social scientific research including philosophical issues such as the source of knowledge in social science. We will review different quantitative and qualitative methodologies employed in political science such as experiments, surveys, interviews, focus groups, content analysis, document analysis, discourse analysis, ethnographic research, case studies and comparative analysis, and practice on designing solid research projects that will require application of one of the above methods to solve a specific political puzzle.

 

Module provider

Politics

Module Leader

EXADAKTYLOS Theofanis (Politics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Introduction to the research theories and methodological approaches employed in the study of politics

Philosophy of science

The outline of a research proposal

Formulating research questions and building hypotheses

Introduction to quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches: Experimental design, Surveys and Public Opinion Polls, Comparative methodology, Content analysis, Documentary and Archive Analysis, Elite interviewing, Participant observation, Focus Groups, Discourse analysis, Ethnographic research

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A  

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• Mid-term quiz: it aims to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their fundamental knowledge of the class material, ensuring that all students are on the same page; to reflect on their own learning and make use of the reading material; consolidate knowledge through short-answer questions and multiple choice questions.


• Research proposal outline: it aims to provide students the opportunity to identify relevant theoretical frameworks and schools of thought; critically apply their perception on the needs of a research project; evaluate different research approaches and their relevance to research questions; deploy a range of research skills; access relevant material to extract information; understand the research process strategy.


• Research proposal: it aims to provide the students with the opportunity to apply all the above in the outline; reflect on their own performance, assess and constructively incorporate previous feedback; identify relevant literature that supports their choice of method; identify, investigate, analyse and project different research strategies; adopt a proactive approach to understanding the implications of the research process; demonstrate a range or research skills

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A mid-term quiz in the middle of the term, unseen and taken in-class. It is 40 minutes long and assesses knowledge of the material of the previous lectures through short-answer questions and multiple choice questions.


• A research proposal outline of 500 words on a topic of their own choice that forms the basis of the research proposal—as outlined in the handbook.


• A research proposal of 2500 words that incorporates a revised version of the outline above in addition to expanding on the research methods and research design components.

 

Assessment deadlines to be confirmed in the module handbook.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will receive regular feedback based on their knowledge of the module material through the quiz and the additional workshops spread throughout the term, and their first assignment will provide feedback to be used in the final research proposal. Seminars will be an opportunity to discuss feedback and provide peer review to the students’ work.

Module aims

• Identifying research questions in research articles and structuring research questions for their own research;
• Establishing the relevance of research questions for theory and society;
• Searching and integrating theoretical literature to a research
• Engaging with a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Developing testable hypotheses
• Understanding the principles that relate to hypothesis testing
• Learning to incorporate feedback into an improved, revised version of one's presentation;
• Producing written work that satisfies the criteria required in scientific publications, including proper citation and bibliographical references.
• You are expected to participate and discuss the main concepts and studies from each section's readings.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Introduce students to a new topic, and provide room for student-led discussion of the topic.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• lecture 1x11


• seminar 1x11


• revision workshops 2x3


•  research project workshop 2x1

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POL2027

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.