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PI3066: POLITICAL RESEARCH IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:39


Course Overview

Research methods and techniques are fundamental to the study of Politics and International Relations. In addition, they are highly desired by employers. This course will introduce students to a number of different research techniques which they will use throughout their studies at Honours and in particular their Honours dissertation. Moreover, they will also constitute a significant part of their graduate attributes.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Old Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Natasha Danilova

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either International Relations (IR) (Studied) or Politics (PI) (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Programme Level 3

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course Aims

This course will introduce students to a wide variety of research techniques which will be utilized  at honours level in both Politics and International Relations. Students will become proficient in the areas of Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Methods, discourse analysis, archival research and interview techniques. This will allow students to formulate and produce an individual research project proposal. 

Main Learning Outcomes

A proficiency in the areas of Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Methods, discourse analysis, archival research and interview techniques. An ability to formulate and produce an individual research project proposal. 

Course Content

Each of the methods detailed below will be examined in turn.

1. Quantitative Methods
2. Qualitative Methods
3. Discourse analysis
4. Archival research
5. Interview techniques

Further Information & Notes

Available only to students in Politics OR International Relations degrees.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt

The course will be assessed by continuous assessment.

1. Quantitative methods assignment (1000 words) -20%
2. Qualitative methods assignment (1000 words) -20%
3. Online test - 20%
4. Detailed Research Proposal (3-3,500 words) - 40%

Resit

Students will be required to submit or resubmit failed or missing elements at an agreed later date.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will take place in the tutorials/computing labs with oral feedback being provided for presentations.

Feedback

Written feedback and oral will be provided for summative assessment and oral feedback will be provided for formative assessment.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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