| Code |
11317
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| Year |
1
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| Semester |
S2
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| ECTS Credits |
10
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| Workload |
TP(45H)
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| Scientific area |
Ciência Política
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Entry requirements |
n.a.
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Mode of delivery |
Face to face and videoconferencing.
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Work placements |
UBI and UA.
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Learning outcomes |
This unit is mainly aimed at teaching doctoral students how to identify, understand and apply a variety of methodological tools conducive to research in Political Science. The unit is a continuation of Research Methodologies I, enabling students to move from the epistemological, conceptual and methodological dimensions of the research question to the choice of the practical tools that can be used in their research. In other words, the curricular unit is not only meant to help students identify the most suitable method to their research, but also to train them how to apply them in the context of their specific research. This serves two purposes that are crucial to the doctoral programme: first, doctoral candidates will be introduced to a wide range of research tools from which to choose according to the specificities of their research proposal; second, it will allow them a more complete and critical assessment of the methodological options in the existing literature.
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Syllabus |
1. From epistemology to the choice of research tools
2. Relationship between research methods and tools
3. The logic behind the selection of research tools
4. The experimental method and research tools
a. Types of experimental research
b. Experimental and quasi-experimental research design
c. Practical applications of the experimental method
5. The statistical method and research tools
a. Types of quantitative research
b. Quantitative methods
c. Practical applications of quantitative methods
6. The comparative method and research tools
a. Types of comparative methods
b. Selection of comparative cases: logic and dynamics
c. Practical applications of comparative methods
7. Other Political Science research tools
a. Interviews
b. Surveys
c. Documental analysis
d. Participant observation
e. Content analysis
f. Hermeneutics
8. Discussing research ethics issues and guidelines
9. Designing strategies for the diffusion of research results: impact and outreach
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Main Bibliography |
Box-Steffensmeier, J. M.; Brady, H. E.; & Collier, D., eds. (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Political Methodology. Oxford: Oxford Univ Press.
Brady, H. E. & Collier, D., eds. (2010), Rethinking social inquiry: diverse tools, shared standards (2nd edition), Canham: Rowman & Littlefield
Della Porta, D. e Keating, M., eds. (2008). Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences. Cambridge: CUP
Geddes, B. (2003.). Paradigms and Sand Castles: Theory Building and Research Design in Comparative Politics. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ. of Michigan Press
Leopold, D. e Stears, M., eds. (2008). Political Theory: Methods and Approaches. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.
McNabb, D. (2010). Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. New York: ME Sharpe.
Ragin, C. (2008). Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond. Chicago: The Chicago Univ. Press
Van Evera, S. (1997). Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. NY: Cornell Univ. Press.
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Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria |
a) Presentations in class, class discussions or Perusall discussions, based on readings to be distributed (20%).
In cases where the PhD student cannot make the presentation or participate in Perusall before class, he can substitute the presentation with a 2-page essay based on the indicated readings. In this essay, it is recommended that, whenever possible, the student also briefly considers whether and how the methodology or method focused is applicable to their project.
- Deadline for delivering these essays: 24th May
b) Final methodological project (80%).
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Language |
Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
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