Module POLI2151: ISSUES IN POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Department: GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (POLITICS)

POLI2151: ISSUES IN POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Prerequisites

• Satisfactory completion of at least one level 1 module in Politics.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This core module seeks to develop the knowledge and skills of Politics students in terms of their ability to understand and conduct political analysis as a form of social science investigation. It is structured around three knowledge areas: a description of the emergence of Politics as a modern academic discipline; a consideration of the major epistemological approaches to social science research as understood within the Politics discipline; and an examination of the merits and problems of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in Politics. The module aims to improve the ability of students to conduct political investigation in all Honours modules, not least the modules in which they are required to undertake extended and primarily self-directed investigation of a political problem: the Level 2 Project and the Level 3 Dissertation.

Content

• Issues in Political Analysis forms the core of the Level 2 Politics programme. It develops issues introduced at Level 1 and seeks to develop understanding of the nature of the political and the basis, form and conduct of political analysis. The module explores topics such as the historical development of the study of politics; the place of politics in the philosophy of social science; and comparative political research methodologies. One important aim of the module is to prepare students to conduct a dissertation in politics.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will acquire knowledge and understanding that allows them to:
• describe and assess the significance of the major stages in the development of the study of politics;
• identify major approaches to studying politics, both domestic and international, using tools derived from the philosophy of the social sciences;
• critically analyse several principal research methods;
• understand the significance of the contested nature of politics as part of human activity at levels from the local to the global.

• The module will enable students to develop new intellectual skills and develop those gained at Level 1, including:
• the identification, investigation and analysis of issues and problems in politics;
• the formulation and advocacy of solutions to political problems;
• the recognition of the significance of issues in political analysis for their work in other modules, notably the Level 2 Project and the Level 3 Dissertation.

• Students will develop in depth their ability to:
• research, assess and utilise sources of information independently;
• develop written presentation of work;
• work towards common goals in group work;
• utilise information technology in support of learning and presentation.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Reflecting the varied nature of its knowledge and skills bases, the module has a diverse teaching, learning and assessment regime:
• teaching and learning modes: the module is taught by means of a programme of lectures tutorials and workshops. Three lecture blocks address the three main knowledge areas with tutorials assigned to each of these blocks. Workshops are conducted with specific reference to the production of a dissertation proposal. Student learning is conducted through these meetings and in the preparation they are required to undertake for them.
• assessment mode: The assessment mode is aligned with the teaching and learning modes by means of both formative and summative assignments. Two formative assignments are aligned with the knowledge and skills areas addressed in Lecture blocks 1 and 3. Two of the three summative assignments are aligned with the knowledge and skill areas addressed in Lecture blocks 2 and 3, whilst the final assignment ??? the dissertation proposal ??? aims to assess the knowledge and skills areas developed by the module as a whole.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

20 minutes group tutorial presentation. A piece of statistical analysis.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University