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PL52156: Research methods in political science and international relations

[Page last updated: 16 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CWRI 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Research Note on Approaches to Research Design (CWRI 30% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
  • Research Proposal (CWRI 70% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  • critique and summarise research findings and processes
  • understand how theory and data fit together
  • critically apply different types of research methods
  • formulate appropriate research questions
  • design research studies which answer the question they want answered



Synopsis: Learn how to uncover evidence and better understand how the (political) world operates. You'll learn about some of the basic research tools used in the study of politics and explore how to pose and answer empirical research questions by acquiring evidence and forming coherent arguments.

Content: The unit introduces the general research process when doing empirical academic research and presents various quantitative and qualitative methods used by political scientists in empirical studies. The unit then provides students the knowledge necessary to conduct objective investigations of empirical phenomena on their own or to better understand and evaluate the research of others.

Course availability:

PL52156 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.