Political Research Methods
Code: 101104Credits: 12
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Public Management | OB | 2 |
| International Relations | OB | 2 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Agustí Bosch Gardella
- Email :
- agusti.bosch@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Juan Pérez Rajó
- Agustí Bosch Gardella
- Roberto Pannico
- Carol Galais Gonzalez
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
No prerequesite is required.
Objectives
This subject is taught differently in the two degrees. You may find more information on this issue in the following links:
Learning outcomes
- Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
- Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
- Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
- Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
- Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
- Working autonomously.
- Designing and planning an investigation in the field of political sciences.
- Critically assessing the usage of inductive, deductive and comparative methods.
- Critically assessing the use of analytical instruments to validate the hypothesis raised.
- Demonstrating the comprehension of the logic behind the scientific analysis of political sciences.
- Managing the methodological foundations of politic sciences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the logic of scientific analysis applied to political science.
- Be familiar with basic methodology in political science.
- Critically evaluate the use of methods of induction, deduction and comparison.
- Use a data political data base and for each case use the appropriate basic techniques of descriptive statistics.
- Critically evaluate the use of analytical instruments for the validation of the proposed hypotheses.
- Apply the methodology of political analysis to specific real or simulated case studies for international relations and design a complete research strategy.
Contents
The main contents of the subject are the following:
- Epistemologies and Methodologies
- The Research Question. Theory and Hypotheses
- Data Sources and Data Collection
- Introduction to Qualitative Research Techniques
- Basic Notions in Data Analysis
- Univariate Descriptive Analysis
- Sampling and Inference
- Contingency Tables
- Correlation and Difference of Means
- Linear Regression
- Introduction to Multivariate Analysis
- Control and Causality
Given that this subject is taught differently in the two degrees, the ordering of these contents may vary between groups. You may also find more detailed information on the subject contents in the following links:
- Groups 1 & 51 (Political Science and Public Management degree & associated double degrees).
- Group 52 (International Relations degree & associated double degree).
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercises presentation | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15 |
| Study | 60 | 2.4 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14 |
| Exercices | 60 | 2.4 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 |
| Theoretical lessons | 60 | 2.4 | 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
| Practical lessons with computer | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 |
| Readings | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15 |
| Tutorials to support exercises elaboration | 30 | 1.2 | 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
This subject is taught differently in the two degrees. You may find more information on this issue in the following links:
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous evaluation and participation | 40% | 11 | 0.44 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| June Exam | 30% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 10 |
| January Exam | 30% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 10 |
The final grade for the whole subject will be the weighted average of the following blocks:
- January exam: 30% of the final grade
- June exam: 30% of the final grade
- Continuous assessment activities and class participation: 40% of the final grade.
To pass the course you must:
- Obtain a minimum of 5 in the mean of the whole subject and, in addition:
- Obtain a minimum of 5 in the January exam and, in addition:
- Obtain a minimum of 5 in the June exam.
If the teaching staff considers that a student has not provided enough evidence for assessment, they will be deemed "non-evaluable".
There will be a re-take exam in which student will be able to re-take the January exam, the June exam, or both exams. The continuous assessment activities cannot be re-taken.
No exams will be held outside the dates set by the Faculty. No continuous assessment tests will be taken outside the dates set by the teaching staff.
The detection of any irregularity in an evaluable activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI) will result in that activity being marked as 0. If irregularities are detected in multiple evaluable activities, the entire subject will be marked as 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities. Should the teaching staff of this subject have doubts as to whether a student has committed any of the aforementioned irregularities, they may conduct oral interviews or an additional assessment in order to verify the effective acquisition of knowledge and, therefore, the validity of the assessments undertaken.
In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted only in certain phases of academic work, such as correcting computer code, reviewing the syntax and grammar of a paper, summarising a text or improving its clarity and structure, asking it to critique what you have written, asking it to instruct you on concepts learned in the course, etc. However, the work submitted by the student to the teaching staff must contain a significant personal contribution to the analysis or it will be considered plagiarism. Even if AI has been used, the student remains the sole responsible for the content of their submitted work. The student will have to clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, and specify the tools used. Failure to be transparent about the use of AI will also be considered plagiarism.
The Faculty Board decided that this subject does not foresee the single evaluation system. Repeating students can have access to a synthesis assessment, but they must contact the teaching staff at the beginning of the academic year. From the day the first continuous assessment activity takes place, no further requests to sit the synthesis assessment will be accepted.
This subject is taught differently in the two degrees. More detailed information on the assessment for this subject can be found in the following links:
Bibliography
This subject is taught differently in the two degrees. You may find more information on this issue in the following links:
Software
This subject is taught differently in the two degrees. You may find more information on the software used in the following links:
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | annual | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 1 | Spanish | annual | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 51 | Catalan | annual | afternoon |
| (SEM) Seminars | 51 | Catalan | annual | afternoon |
| (TE) Theory | 52 | English | annual | afternoon |
| (SEM) Seminars | 52 | English | annual | afternoon |
| (SEM) Seminars | 520 | English | annual | afternoon |