Logic & Methods Of Political Inquiry
- Social Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 141 pages
- 25 units
This course provides students of political science with a comprehensive knowledge of logic and political inquiry. It examines logic, approaches, and methods that underpin the study of politics and political inquiry. The course explains the relationship between logic, approaches, and methods in political science research. It also provides an understanding and knowledge of how these issues frame the research methods in political science.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 39 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, research
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of POL312, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL312 · UNIT 1: MEANING AND NATURE OF LOGIC
The main body of the unit guides you through the required reading from other sources. This will usually be either from your reference or from a reading section.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the principles of logic and scientific method in political inquiry
- Be familiar with the formation and application of scientific methods in political science
- Understand the functions of concepts and methods in political research
- Be able to generate data for political inquiry
- Understand the challenges of using logic in substantiating political science as a science
What it prepares you for
- Political Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Research Consultant
- Public Opinion Researcher
- Intelligence Officer
- Government
- Politics
- Research
- Academia
- Consulting
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: The Nexus between Logic and Political Inquiry
Unit 2: Research Paradigms
Requires understanding of complex philosophical underpinnings and diverse research traditions.
- Module 3: The Nexus between Logic and Political Inquiry
Unit 3: Approaches to Political Inquiry
Demands critical evaluation of various approaches and their implications for research design.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Characterizing Logic
Unit 1: Meaning and Nature of Logic · 3 hours
Understand the definition and nature of logic.. Explain the link between argument and logic..
- Week 2Module 1: Characterizing Logic
Unit 2: History of Logic · 3 hours
Explain developmental stages of logic.. Understand the semantics of logic..
- Week 3Module 1: Characterizing Logic
Unit 3: Types of Logic · 3 hours
Identify and explain basic types of logic in details.. Relate branches of logic to their understanding of logical thinking..
- Week 4Module 1: Characterizing Logic
Unit 4: Logic of Social Sciences · 3 hours
Understand the philosophy of social sciences.. Explain the various positions and methods advocated by scholars on socio-political investigation..
- Week 5Module 1: Characterizing Logic
Unit 5: Logical or Critical Thinking · 3 hours
Explain the term critical thinking.. Discuss the usefulness of critical thinking to political inquiry..
- Week 6Module 2: Understanding Political Inquiry
Unit 1: Analyzing Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Explain the traditional approach to the study of politics.. Discuss the opinions of political scientists on the paradigmatic shift..
- Week 7Module 2: Understanding Political Inquiry
Unit 2: The Rationale for Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Understand the reasons for the study of political inquiry.. Explain the importance of normative method of inquiry..
- Week 8Module 2: Understanding Political Inquiry
Unit 3: The Fundamentals of Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Explain what is meant by traditional method of political inquiry.. Understand the justification for the scientific inquiry in politics..
- Week 9Module 2: Understanding Political Inquiry
Unit 4: Generalizations · 3 hours
Define generalization in political inquiry.. Explain the need for generalization in political inquiry.. Examine the nature of generalization..
- Week 10Module 2: Understanding Political Inquiry
Unit 5: Explanation and Prediction in Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Understand explanation and prediction in political inquiry.. Explain the relationship between explanation and prediction in inquiry.. Discuss the conditions necessary for explanation..
- Week 11Module 3: The Nexus between Logic and Political Inquiry
Unit 1: Logic of Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Know the contribution of logic to political inquiry.. Apply logical reasoning while carrying out any scientific investigation..
- Week 12Module 3: The Nexus between Logic and Political Inquiry
Unit 2: Research Paradigms · 3 hours
Know the patterns of explanation in political inquiry.. Explain the various patterns of explanation in political inquiry..
Unit 3: Approaches to Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Identify and use the different approaches to political inquiry.. Differentiate the approaches and their applications to different styles of political inquiry..
- Week 13Module 3: The Nexus between Logic and Political Inquiry
Unit 4: Contemporary Methods in Political Inquiry · 3 hours
Describe the fundamental methods of political inquiry.. Exhibit good knowledge on the methods of data collection and analysis..
Unit 5: Logical Patterns of Explanations · 3 hours
Know the patterns of explanation in political inquiry.. Explain the various patterns of explanation in political inquiry..
Preparing for the exam
- Review key definitions and concepts from Units 1-5 of Module 1 regarding logic.
- Create concept maps linking Units 1-5 of Module 2 on political inquiry.
- Practice applying different research paradigms (Unit 2 Module 3) to sample research questions.
- Focus on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of various data generation techniques (Module 5).
- Prepare examples illustrating the application of different patterns of explanation (Unit 5 Module 3).
- Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs).
- Allocate study time evenly across all modules, but prioritize areas of weakness.
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL312 about?
This course provides students of political science with a comprehensive knowledge of logic and political inquiry. It examines logic, approaches, and methods that underpin the study of politics and political inquiry. The course explains the relationship between logic, approaches, and methods in political science research. It also provides an understanding and knowledge of how these issues frame the research methods in political science.
How many units does POL312 have?
POL312, Logic & Methods Of Political Inquiry, has 25 units across 5 modules, over 141 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL312?
POL312 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL312 hard?
POL312 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and research work.
How long does POL312 take to study?
About 39 hours of study, spread across its 25 units.
How is POL312 assessed?
POL312 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with POL312?
Political Analyst, Policy Advisor, Research Consultant, Public Opinion Researcher and Intelligence Officer.