DSPO 25A72 - Research Methods in Political Science: Mix-Methods for the Study of Political Elites

This course offers students the methodological foundations to undertake research related to the study of political elites or any other relevant group using secondary data. The course also allows the student to get acquainted with the production of primary data. The approach is multimethodological, and it will focus on the study of political elites. All the sessions will include a lecture, but they can also include practical sessions using computers. The first six sessions are devoted to qualitative methodologies, while the following six deal with more quantitave approaches to research in political science. The sessions are designed for students who have no prior knowledge and/or background in data analysis or research methods. Each session includes one reading that the students will find useful to prepare for the lecture.

Andrés SANTANA LEITNER,Carles PAMIES

Séminaire

English

Spring 2024-2025

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments: 1º) 1 x individual short written assignment (worth 25% of the mark) of up to 2,000 words based on data analysis homework (to be sent in week 6, to be submitted in week 8); 2°) 1 x group seminar presentation (15 min) worth 25% of the mark, between weeks 3 and 6. Students must work with their group on a topic of their choice related to political elites. They can choose between a proposal for a research study of their choice, or an analysis using secondary quantitative data. The students need to present their findings during the seminar in the allocated week; 3º) 1 x final ‘take-home' exam (sent in week 12, to be submitted within 72 hours) related to the design of a research project