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POL301Social Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Research Methods In Political Science

This course introduces undergraduate students to research methodology in political science. It covers the nature, meaning, types, and importance of political science research. Students will learn about philosophical approaches, conceptual foundations, research designs, data collection methods, and political data analysis. The course also addresses ethics in political science research, providing a comprehensive overview of the research process and its application in understanding political phenomena.

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150h

Study Time

13

Weeks

12h

Per Week

basic

Math Level

Course Keywords

Research MethodologyPolitical ScienceData AnalysisResearch DesignEthics

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

➕

Math Level

Basic Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Research Design

2

Data Collection

3

Data Analysis

4

Sampling Techniques

5

Hypothesis Testing

6

Ethical Considerations

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Political Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Advisor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Research Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Data Scientist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Government Official

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentNon-profit OrganizationsResearch InstitutionsPolitical CampaignsConsulting Firms

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Foundation Knowledge in Political Science Research

3h

Unit 1: Nature of Political Science Research

3 study hours

•Read the introduction to understand the scope and objectives of political science research.
•Define key terms like 'politics' and 'science' in the context of research.
•Identify the challenges in applying scientific methods to political phenomena.

Week

2

Module 1: Foundation Knowledge in Political Science Research

7h

Unit 2: Meaning, Types and Importance of Political Science Research

4 study hours

•Define 'research' and differentiate between basic and applied research.
•Identify and explain the different types of research methodologies used in political science.
•Discuss the importance of research in various aspects of political science.

Unit 3: Philosophical Approaches in Research

3 study hours

•Compare and contrast positivism, interpretivism, and realism as philosophical approaches to research.
•Discuss the implications of each approach for research design and data interpretation.
•Define ontology, epistemology, and methodology, and explain their relationships.

Week

3

Module 1: Foundation Knowledge in Political Science Research

4h

Unit 4: Conceptual Foundation of a Research

4 study hours

•Define 'theory' and distinguish it from related concepts like models and paradigms.
•Identify and explain the components of a theory: concepts, constructs, definitions, and propositions.
•Discuss the roles of theory and models in political science research.

Week

4

Module 1: Foundation Knowledge in Political Science Research

3h

Unit 5: Relationship between Research and Theory

3 study hours

•Explain the roles of theory in inductive and deductive research approaches.
•Discuss how grounded research can be applied to deductive research.
•Analyze the relationship between research and theory in the context of political science.

Week

5

Module 2: Conducting a Research Project

7h

Unit 1: Choosing a Research Topic

4 study hours

•Identify and explain the different approaches to choosing a research topic.
•Apply techniques for choosing research topics, such as background study and personal interest.
•Evaluate a research topic for scope, clarity, and feasibility.

Unit 2: Writing Research Proposal

3 study hours

•Outline the key components of a research proposal: introduction, problem statement, objectives, literature review, methodology.
•Explain the techniques for producing a good research proposal.
•Discuss the benefits of writing a well-structured research proposal.

Week

6

Module 2: Conducting a Research Project

4h

Unit 3: Statement of Problem in Research

4 study hours

•Define 'problem statement' and explain its importance in research.
•Apply criteria for formulating a good problem statement.
•Discuss how to generate a research problem and refine it into a researchable question.

Week

7

Module 2: Conducting a Research Project

5h

Unit 4: Formulating and Testing Hypothesis

5 study hours

•Define 'hypothesis' and explain its role in research.
•Identify the sources for generating hypotheses.
•Formulate null and alternative hypotheses.
•Explain the steps involved in hypothesis testing.

Week

8

Module 3: Research Designs

7h

Unit 1: Research Methods in Political Science

4 study hours

•Define 'research design' and explain its nature and role in political science research.
•Identify and explain the different types of research designs: experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal, case study, comparative.
•Discuss the components of a research design and their importance.

Unit 2: Scientific Research Method Process

3 study hours

•Explain the steps involved in the scientific research process.
•Discuss the components of a scientific research process: problem identification, hypothesis formulation, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
•Apply the scientific method to a political science research problem.

Week

9

Module 3: Research Designs

5h

Unit 3: Conceptualisation and Operationalisation of Variables

5 study hours

•Define 'concepts' and 'variables' and explain their relevance in empirical research.
•Differentiate between different types of variables: independent, dependent, intervening, etc.
•Apply the principles of conceptualization and operationalization to political science research.

Week

10

Module 3: Research Designs

4h

Unit 4: Levels of Measurement and Scaling

4 study hours

•Define 'measurement' and explain its nature in research.
•Identify and explain the different types of measurement scales: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio.
•Discuss the characteristics of sound measurement: validity and reliability.

Week

11

Module 4: Data Collection Methods

7h

Unit 1: Sample and Sampling Techniques

4 study hours

•Define 'population' and 'sample' and explain their relationship in research.
•Discuss the characteristics of a good sample and the factors influencing sample size.
•Identify and explain the different sampling methods: probability and non-probability.

Unit 2: Research Instruments

3 study hours

•Define 'research instrument' and identify different types of instruments used in data collection.
•Discuss the validity and reliability of research instruments.
•Apply the principles of instrument design to create effective data collection tools.

Week

12

Module 4: Data Collection Methods

4h

Unit 3: Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

4 study hours

•Define 'literature review' and explain its purpose and scope in research.
•Conduct a literature search and identify relevant sources for a research topic.
•Discuss the importance of theoretical frameworks in research.

Week

13

Module 4: Data Collection Methods

3h

Unit 4: Ethics in Political Science Research

3 study hours

•Identify and explain the ethical principles in political science research: beneficence, veracity, privacy, confidentiality, consent.
•Discuss the ethical problems that may arise in research: fraud, plagiarism, bias.
•Apply practical tips for avoiding plagiarism and ensuring ethical conduct in research.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review key definitions and concepts from each unit.

2

Practice formulating research questions and hypotheses.

3

Study examples of different research designs and their applications.

4

Familiarize yourself with basic statistical techniques and their interpretation.

5

Review ethical guidelines and their implications for research practice.

6

Practice writing clear and concise research reports.

7

Create concept maps linking research methods to appropriate data analysis techniques.

8

Focus on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different research approaches.

9

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback.

10

Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final exam.

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