POL2081 : Research Methods in Politics (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Sebastian Popa
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Aims and Objectives:
Politics research must be well-grounded in both theory and sound methodology. This module enables students to thinking about how to undertake politics research based on these considerations. It also introduces useful skills, such as interviewing techniques and statistical analysis. Surveys and statistics in particular are emphasized because they are often used for political purposes. Politics students need to understand how numbers are manipulated and used in politics. This module also provides a background to how qualitative methods are often used in student research. It is intended to enhance the quality of future research projects, such as dissertations, through ‘hands-on’ practice.
Outline Of Syllabus
Topics covered:
Research questions and hypotheses
Data collection
Univariate analysis of data (measures of central tendency, measures of distribution)
Statistical inference
Data visualisation
Bivariate analysis of data (cross tabulations, measures of association)
Multivariate analysis of data (multivariate regression)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Computer lab |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Seminar Discussion |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 164:00 | 164:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will be interactive but are needed to impart basic information and background to the skills. During the small group teaching sessions, the students will discuss how the techniques they've been learning have been applied in the study of politics. In the practical sessions, students will learn how to use SPSS to address a research question.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 60 | 1 | A | 25 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 30 | Research Assignment Portfolio - First Half. Between 1000-1500 words |
| Report | 1 | M | 15 | Media critique - GROUP PRESENTATION |
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 30 | Research Assignment Portfolio-Second half. Between 1000-1500 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The exam will be short answer format, asking students to address very specific questions about the use and interpretation of the methods learned. The research portfolio will consist of a series of assignments asking students to use the techniques taught to study a research question. It has been broken into two parts so that formative feedback can be given. The media critique will ask students to critique the presentation of data or research related to politics in the media.
Exchange Students:
An alternative form of assessment will be set for exchange students from non-English speaking home institutions replacing the examination. The alternative form of assessment is set in accordance with the University Assessment tariff.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- POL2081's Timetable