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2021/2022

Research Techniques

Code: 42277 ECTS Credits: 10
Degree Type Year Semester
4313335 Political Science OB 0 2
4317157 Advanced Research in Political Science OB 1 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Carolina Galais Gonzalez
Email:
Carolina.Galais@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
english (eng)

Teachers

Eva Ostergaard-Nielsen
Carolina Galais Gonzalez

External teachers

Lara Mastripieri

Prerequisites

 

The quantitative part of the course assumes no prior knowledge other than a minimal mathematical background. Students who have not taken any type of quantitative course since high school should read the following text before the course starts:

Bolker, E. D., & Mast, M. 2015. Common Sense Mathematics. Mathematical Association of America. Available at http://www.cs.umb.edu/~eb/qrbook/qrbook.pdf.

Those who want to gain some more statistical insight are also strongly encouraged to read:

Wheelan, C. 2013. Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data. New York: WW Norton & Company.

Objectives and Contextualisation

Aim of course

The aim of this course is for the students to be familiar with and know how to apply a series of the main social science research techniques of collecting and analysing data. In order to meet these objectives we include both quantitative and qualitative techniques. We cannot cover all the research techniques of the social sciences, but centre on those that can be found in the main social science journals.  We prioritize issues of practical training and interpretation over very mathematical questions.

 

ACQUIRED SKILLS

Specific skills

  • To identify and know how to affront the main methodological difficulties that occur in a political science analysis
  • To work with a complex and diverse set of data and sources of information
  • To design a research project that satisfies criteria of excellence and rigorous analysis.
  • To apply those qualitative and quantitative research techniques which are necessary for a systematic and rigorous analysis of political reality.

Transversal skills

  • To be able to evaluate applied or academic research with relevant criteria.
  • To be able to design academic and applied research projects in an independent manner and using the relevant terminology, argumentation and analytical framework.
  • Demonstrate the ability to read and understand specialized texts in English.

 

Competences

    Political Science
  • Apply the qualitative and quantitative techniques necessary for the systematic and rigorous analysis of specific aspects of politics today.
  • Demonstration reading comprehension for specialist texts in English.
  • Design a research project that satisfies the criteria of rigour and academic excellence.
  • Design and write projects and technical and academic reports autonomously using the appropriate terminology, arguments and analytical tools in each case.
  • Identify the main methodological difficulties that arise in political analysis and know how to deal with them using the existing tools.
  • Manage a set of political science data and specific sources, such as statistics, surveys or other documents.
  • Using the appropriate criteria make an individual evaluation of reports, documents and research carried out by third parties.
    Advanced Research in Political Science
  • Apply advanced qualitative and quantitative techniques for the systematic and rigorous analysis of specific aspects of political situations.
  • Design and carry out a research project which satisfies the criteria for academic rigour and excellence.
  • Design and write projects and technical and academic reports autonomously using the appropriate terminology, arguments and analytical tools in each case.
  • Generate and manage sets of data and sources specific to political sciences as statistics, surveys and other documents.
  • Identify the main methodological problems arising from political analysis and be able to address them using existing tools.
  • Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  • Understand and produce advanced specialised research texts in political science.
  • Using the appropriate criteria make an individual evaluation of reports, documents and research carried out by third parties.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Access data sources appropriate for the analysis of political science.
  2. Access data sources that are appropriate for analysis in political science.
  3. Demonstration reading comprehension for specialist texts in English.
  4. Design and write projects and technical and academic reports autonomously using the appropriate terminology, arguments and analytical tools in each case.
  5. Identify appropriate qualitative techniques to address a research questions and analyse qualitative data using the main techniques for analysis and the appropriate coding software.
  6. Identify appropriate to answer a research question and analyze qualitative data using the main techniques of analysis and appropriate software coding qualitative techniques.
  7. Identify the main advantages and difficulties with respect to he validity and reliability of the techniques selected.
  8. Identify the main advantages and difficulties with respect to the validity and reliability of the techniques selected.
  9. Identify the most appropriate statistical method to respond to a research question with the data available and analyse quantitative data using the appropriate statistical software.
  10. Identify the most appropriate statistical methods to answer a research questions with the available data and analyse the quantitative results using the most appropriate statistical software.
  11. Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  12. Make socio-political phenomena observable and/or quantifiable.
  13. Process and prepare collected data for analysis using the corresponding software.
  14. Process and prepare data collected for analysis using the corresponding software.
  15. Relate one of more quantitative and/or qualitative techniques to a research question and justify why this was the most appropriate selection.
  16. Relate one or more quantitative or qualitative techniques to a research question and justify why this is the most appropriate choice.
  17. Understand and produce advanced specialised research texts in political science.
  18. Understand the characteristics of the main quantitative and qualitative research techniques.
  19. Understand the current debates and challenges of the main quantitative and qualitative research techniques.
  20. Understand the main qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
  21. Using the appropriate criteria make an individual evaluation of reports, documents and research carried out by third parties.
  22. Using the appropriate criteria make an individual evaluation of reports, documents and research carried out by third parties.

Content

QUALITATIVE METHODS (Convenor: Eva Østergaard-Nielsen with guest professors)

Introduction:

Session 1.  Introduction to qualitative research techniques (Eva Østergaard-Nielsen)

What are the main characteristics of qualitative research? How to assess validity and reliability in qualitative research? What kind of research questions can we ask using qualitative research techniques? Which types of qualitative techniques can best be combined and how may they be triangulated?

Data collection:

Session 2. Field research  

This class will examine methodological and practical issues of ethnographic research. It will cover: typologies of field research, the fieldwork entry, the (participant) observation, the collection of information, and the analyses of qualitative evidence.

Session 3. Interviews I  

What are the characteristics and differences between structured, semi-structured and open-ended/narrative interviews? How may the researcher sample the interviewees in a qualitative research project?

Session 4. Interviews II -  

Session 5. Interviews III - Focus Group  

In this class, there will be an introduction to focus group, taking into account conceptual considerations, best practices and how to design it.

Session 6. Further issues in Qualitative Research  

We will cover ethical issues, sensitive topics, and transparency in qualitative research (active citation and archiving).

Data analysis:

Session 7. Discourse analysis 

This session will clarify what discourses are, how they function and how we can analyse them. In addition, we will deal with the types of discourse analysis and we will reflect upon the kinds of data we can examine discursively. 

Sessions 8, 9, and 10. Analysis of Interviews 

 

QUANTITATIVE METHODS (Convenor: Carol Galais) 

Pre-course Session A: Introduction to data analysis

Pre-course Session B: Descriptive statistics

Session 1: Basic bivariate analysis

Session 2: Introduction to statistical inference

Session 3: Bivariate hypothesis testing

Session 4: Correlation and bivariate regression

Session 5: Multiple regression (I)

Session 6:  Summary/recap of previous sessions

Session 7: MIDTERM EXAM

Session 8: Multiple regression (II): Categorical independent variables

Session 9: Multiple regression (III): Interactions

Session 10: Logistic regression (I)

Session 11:  Logistic regression (II)

Sessions 12 and 13:  Limits and alternatives to regression for causal inference

Session 14: Recap of previous sessions

Session 15: FINAL EXAM

 

Methodology

The sessions on quantitative and qualitative research techniques will be taught in parallel over the 8 weeks of the course. The classes combine theoretical lectures with seminars and sessions of practicing different techniques. An important part of the course takes place outside of the classroom in order to consolidate the use of a selection of the research techniques.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Collective tutoring/discussion of projects 5 0.2 22, 20, 8, 15
In-class practice 25 1 1, 22, 20, 9, 14
Lecture 30 1.2 19, 20, 9, 8
Type: Supervised      
Individual tutoring 10 0.4 20, 4, 9, 8, 14, 15
Type: Autonomous      
Qualitative data analysis 30 1.2 4
Qualitative data collection/generation 30 1.2 20, 4, 14
Quantitative data analysis 30 1.2 20, 4, 9, 8, 14
Readings 30 1.2 22, 19, 20, 3, 8
Writing essays/reports 30 1.2 22, 19, 20, 3, 4, 8

Assessment

The mayor parte of the evaluation of this module is through continuous practice and feedback on the understanding and use of various research techniques. The evaluation consiste of:

  • Participation in class (it is obligatory to attend at least at 80% of the sesiones in order to pass this module) .
  • Exercises related to the different qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
  • Exams related to the quantitative sesiones.

The evaluation donde qualitative techniques representan 40% of the final grade : The students will hand in 4 exercises during the course:  

  • Exercise 1. Practice of Interview (33% of this parte, 13% of the course)
  • Exercise 2: Practice of Field research (33% of this parte, 13% of the course)
  • Exercise 4: Practice on the main Atlas.ti functions to support the analysis of qualitative entrevistas (33% of this parte, 13% of the course). An Atlas.ti "bundled" project

The evaluation donde quantitative techniques representan 60% of the final grade :

The students will write an essay during the course. The evolution of the assay will be Tracked vía Campus Virtual. Failing to demonstrate progress oro to apply profesores 'advice during the course will have a negative impact on the essay s grade.

  • Essay 1 (33% of this part, 20% of the course)

They will also complete two exams:

  • Midterm exam (25% of this part, 15% of the course)
  • Final exam (42% of this part, 25% of the course)

IMPORTANTE: In order to pass the course, it is required for students to obtain a grade of at least 5 over 10 in each of its two partes - qualitative and quantitative. 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Practice of field research 13% 3 0.12 1, 3, 6, 14
Practice of interviews 13% 4 0.16 19, 20, 4, 8, 6, 15
Practice on the analysis of qualitative interviews 13% 3 0.12 1, 3, 6, 14
Quantitative final exam 25% 8 0.32 21, 22, 19, 20, 18, 3, 12, 10, 9, 8, 5, 6, 14, 13
Quantitative home assignment 1 20% 7 0.28 1, 2, 21, 22, 17, 20, 18, 4, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 6, 14, 13, 11, 16, 15
Quantitative midterm exam 15% 5 0.2 22, 19, 20, 18, 3, 4, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 6, 16, 15

Bibliography

Core readings

 

Qualitative

Bryman, A. 2001. Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press

Creswell, J. 2007. Qualitative Inquiry and research design. Choosing Among Five Approaches

Della Porta, D. & M. Keating, M. 2008. Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kapiszewski, Diana, MacLean, Lauren M., Read, Benjamin L. 2015. Field Research in Political Science: Practices and Principles. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.

Hesse-Biber, S. And Leavy, P. 2004. Approaches to Qualitative Research. A reader on theory and practice. Oxford. Oxford University Press

Hesse-Biber, S. And Leavy, P. 2006. The practice of qualitative research. Sage.

Denzin, N. K., & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.). 2012. Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Sarantakos, S. 2005. Social Research  (third edition). Palgrave Macmillan

Relevant Journals:

International Journal of Qualitative methods http://www.sagepub.in/journals/Journal202499#tabview=manuscriptSubmission

Qualitative Research Journal http://www.emeraldinsight.com/toc/qrj/15/4

 

Quantitative

Acock, A. C. 2014. A Gentle Introduction to Stata, 4th ed. College Station, TX: Stata Press.

Agresti, A. 2009. Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences, 4th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Kellstedt, P. M. & G. D. Whitten. 2013. The Fundamentals of Political Science Research, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lewis-Beck,M.  (1980) Applied regression: An introduction. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Long, J. S. & J. Freese. 2014. Regression Models for Categorical Dependent Variables Using Stata, Third Edition. College Station, TX: Stata Press.

Pollock, P. H. 2016. The Essentials of Political Analysis, 5th ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Pollock, P. H. 2015. A Stata Companion to Political Analysis, 3rd ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

 

Software

Qualitative

  • Nvivo 
  • Atlas-ti

Quantitative 

  • STATA (12)