Political Analysis Methods and Techniques I

Presentation

"Political Analysis Methods and Techniques I: Foundations, Role, and Plurality" introduces the plural universe of political analysis methods and techniques, with a focus on exploring what tends to separate them at the level of scientific-philosophical roots, but also what unites them as components of a Political Science research process endowed with steps and elements of a universal nature.

Programme

Political Science and Election Studies

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 5

Year | Type of course unit | Language

1 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULP618-215

Recommended complementary curricular units

Political Analysis Methods and Techniques II; Political Analysis Methods and Techniques III.

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

1) Political analysis as a scientific enterprise

2) The two main families of political analysis

a) The ontological, epistemological and axiological foundations of political analysis in the positivist tradition

b) The ontological, epistemological and axiological foundations of political analysis in the non-positivist tradition

3) The universal stages and elements of Political Science research

a) Exploratory research

b) Formulating a research question

c) Systematically reviewing the literature for guidance on vital research elements

            c1) Theories and hypotheses

            c2) Variables and concepts

            c3) Data and cases

4) Overview of the main political analysis methods and techniques

a) Overview of the main political analysis methods and techniques associated with the positivist tradition

b) Overview of the main political analysis methods and techniques associated with the non-positivist tradition

Objectives

To understand the meaning and scope of "science" in "scientific" political analysis. To gain awareness that the methods and techniques of political analysis tend to orbit two distinct scientific-philosophical "worldviews". To understand the stages and elements of an overall Political Science research process which all methods and techniques are bound to fit into. To recognize the plurality of methods and techniques of political analysis currently in use.

Teaching methodologies and assessment

Classes will be exclusively theoretical, i.e. based on the exposition of programmatic contents.

Continuous assessment will be, in the main, through a traditional final test potentially spanning all programmatic contents (80%). Attendance will be taken in due consideration as well (20%).

Non-continuous assessment will be through a final examination potentially spanning all programmatic contents (100%).

References

CORBETTA, P. (2003). Social research: theory, methods and techniques. London: SAGE Publications.

COUTINHO, C. P. (2013). Metodologia de investigação em ciências sociais e humanas: teoria e prática. 2ª Edição. Coimbra: Almedina.

HALPERIN, S. & HEATH, O. (2020). Political research: methods and practical skills. 3ª Edição. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

HOWARD, C. (2017). Thinking like a political scientist: a practical guide to research methods. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

JOHNSON, J. B., REYONLDS, H. T. & MYCOF, J. D. (2020). Political science research methods. 9ª Edição. London: CQ Press.

KELLSTEDT, P. M. & WHITTEN, G. D. (2018). The fundamentals of political science research. 3ª Edição. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

MCNABB, D. E. (2015). Research methods for political science: quantitative and qualitative approaches. 2ª Edição. Milton Park: Routledge.

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