PO2SOP: The Study of Politics

Module code: PO2SOP

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Adam Humphreys, email: a.r.humphreys@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces and covers a range of different methods to understand, explain and analyse Politics and International relations. It focuses on giving students the ability to identify different methods and approaches to study Politics and International Relations and to provide the methodological skills to answer particular research questions appropriately.  

The module covers qualitative methods (such as case studies and interviews), quantitative methods (data analysis and basic statistics), and methods of Political Theory (including normative/evaluative approaches). In doing so, it prepares students for more advanced study in Politics and International Relations, including but not limited to an undergraduate dissertation in Politics and International Relations.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of different research methods used in the study of Politics and International Relations
2. Identify different research questions and identify appropriate methods to answer them
3. Interpret and evaluate current research across the broad discipline of Politics andInternational Relations,incluidng how research methods are used in academic work engaged in with other modules.
4. Understand and apply qualitative and quantitative data relating to political phenomena

Module content

The module covers the following methods across three broader areas: 

1. Qualitative: including the logic of comparison, historical approaches, interviews, and content analysis  
2. Quantitative: including surveys, describing and exploring relationships in data, basic statistical analysis such as regression models 
3. Political theory: including critical, interpretive, conceptual, and normative/evaluative approaches 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is mainly structured around a lecture series introducing a number of research methods used in the study of Politics and International Relations. This series of one-hour lectures will be divided into three sections, each with a particular methodological focus as outlined above. 

There will also be introductory and concluding lectures to support students’ understanding of the division between different methods and kinds of questions, sessions introducing the assignments, as well as a lecture to introduce the Part 3 dissertation for those students who go on to do a dissertation in Politics and International Relations. 

There will further be seminars accompanying the lectures to deepen the understanding of particular methods, and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different methods and research strategies. 

The module contains a PC Lab session (2 hours), where students learn to use a statistical software package and conduct and interpret own analysis based on set exercises. 

Study hours

At least 28 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

The data project will be supported by a workshop  PC Labs also involve formative exercises.

Reassessment

Additional costs