Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
4313500 Public Administration | OT | 0 | 2 |
Students must have basic research methods skills (undergraduate social sciences level).
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 analyzing data. In order to meet these objectives, we include both quantitative and qualitative techniques. We prioritize issues of practical training and interpretation over mathematical questions. We want students:
QUALITATIVE METHODS (Convenor:Lara Ivana Maestripieri )
Introduction:
Session 1. Introduction to qualitative research techniques
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: Introduction to CAQDAS and ATLAS.ti
QUANTITATIVE METHODS (Convenor: Dani Marinova)
Session 1: Introduction to data analysis
Session 2: Descriptive statistics
Session 3: Basic bivariate analysis
Session 4, 5: Introduction to statistical inference
Session 6, 7: Bivariate hypothesis testing
Session 8: Correlation and bivariate regression
Session 9: Summary/recap of the previous quantitative sessions
Session 10, 11: Multiple regression (I)
Session 12, 13: Multiple regression (II): Categorical independent variables
The evaluation will be based on the realization of:
1. Exercises applying qualitative techniques
2. Exercises applying quantitative techniques
3. Exam
The assessment of the quantitative part represents 50% of the final mark. Students will complete 2 exercises during the course. Each one of them accounts for 50% of this part
The assessment of the quantitative part represents 50% of the final mark. The students will perform 1 work during the course and a final exam. Each one of these accounts for 50% of this part
NOTE that 15 minutes by the end of the course will be spared to complete a satisfaction survey in the classroom
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.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Master classes | 50 | 2 | 3, 8, 9, 2, 10, 4, 7, 5, 6, 1, 11, 12 |
Type: Supervised | |||
Seminars and tutorial sessions | 75 | 3 | 3, 8, 9, 2, 10, 4, 7, 5, 6, 1, 11, 12 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Assignment and exercises | 125 | 5 | 3, 8, 9, 2, 10, 4, 7, 5, 6, 1, 11, 12 |
The evaluation will be based on the Realization of:
1. Exercises applying qualitative techniques
2. Exercises applying quantitative techniques
3. Exam
The assessment of the qualitative part represents 50% of the final mark. Students will complete 2 exercises during the course. Each one of them accounts for 50% of this part.
The assessment of the quantitative part represents 50% of the final mark. The students will submit 1 exercise and take a final exam. Each one of these accounts for 50% of this part.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Assignments qualitative techniques | 50 | 0 | 0 | 3, 8, 9, 2, 10, 4, 7, 5, 6, 1, 11, 12 |
Assignments quantitative techniques | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3, 8, 9, 2, 10, 4, 7, 5, 6, 1, 11, 12 |
Exam quantitative techniques | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3, 8, 9, 2, 10, 4, 7, 5, 6, 1, 11, 12 |
Core readings
Qualitative
Bryman, A. 2012. Social Research Methods. Oxford, Oxford University Press
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. 2010. The practice of qualitative research. Sage.
Quantitative
Kellstedt, P. M. & G. D. Whitten. 2013. The Fundamentals of Political Science Research, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University 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.
Qualitative Techniques
Quantitative Techniques