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POLS1232 - Approach and methods of research in social sciences II
[2 Q. • 22,5 Th. • 4 ECTS - credits]
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Hubert Michel |
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| Language of instruction :
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The course is taught in French, but the student should be able to read texts in English. |
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| Learning outcomes :
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By the end of the course, the student should:
- be able to critically analyze the production requirements and the results of a research;
- have a good knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of the main methods of collection and analysis of social science data and be able to choose cleverly between these, the one(s) that is (are) appropriate for the studied subject. |
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| Prerequisites :
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The prior attendance to “Approach and methods of research in social sciences I” is mandatory. |
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| Course contents :
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This course is the prolongation of “Approach and methods of research in social sciences I” and is devoted to the presentation of the main data collection and analysis methods in social sciences: the experimental approach, the research interview (questionnaire survey, semi-structured interview, group interview) and the content analysis, the secondary analysis of existing data, observation and field studies. The course ends by putting into perspective the different methods and with considerations on the ethical and political issues of research. |
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| Mode of delivery :
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The course is supplemented with illustrations drawn from actual research practice and presented by the teacher himself or, occasionally, by visiting researchers. |
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| Assessment methods and criteria :
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The assessment consists of 1°/ two essays (one of field observation, and the other on the secondary analysis of data) of limited size, 2°/ an oral examination, about the subjects studied in “Approach and methods of research in social sciences I & II”, that counts for half of the points. |
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| Recommended or required reading :
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Quivy R., Van Campenhoudt L., Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales, Paris, Dunod, 2006 (3rd edition). |
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| Other information :
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In addition to the manual, which serves as reference to the course, an overview of the course as well as some texts will be made available to the students. A website (http://cours.fusl.ac.be) accompanies the course and provides useful resources, in particular for the completion of the course work. |
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