Doing Political Research

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 6
• Convenor and tutor: Dr Laura Richards-Gray
• Assessment: a 2000-word essay (40%), 2500-word research design (50%) and two online multiple-choice quizzes (10%)

In this module you will develop your critical analysis skills, as well as your independent research and writing skills.

The first half of the module will develop your critical approach to the evaluation of existing political and social research. We begin by introducing you to a range of different philosophical approaches to political and social research and encourage you to explore what your own approach to political and social science research might be. We will also introduce you to common connections between different approaches and methodological choices, develop your awareness of the role of theory in political and social research and encourage you to explore the contested nature of political concepts.

The second half of the module will train you in independent study skills to prepare you for the dissertation option or for postgraduate study. There will be guidance on planning and conducting research and a significant emphasis on developing your critical reading, academic writing and argumentation skills.

Indicative syllabus

• Approaches to political and social research
• Methodological choices
• The role of theory
• The contested nature of political concepts
• Case study approaches
• Planning research
• Finding and evaluating sources
• Reading critically
• Critical writing skills
• Developing an argument

By the end of this module, you will:

• be familiar with different research philosophies and approaches
• be aware of your own research philosophy
• be able to critically engage with existing political and social science research
• be able to undertake your own independent research
• have developed your academic writing and argumentation skills.