University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Template Revised October 2005)

Code: UPPNGA-10-2 Title: Reading Politics IRS Version: 2

Level: 2 UWE credit rating: 10 ECTS credit rating: 5

Module type: Project

Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: Politics

Valid from: September 2008

Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA/BSc (Hons)

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: Reading Politics (UPPNGA-30-2) is either a prerequisite or a co-requisite.

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

1. Study independently

2. Understand one or more methods/analytical approaches in political science

3. Apply one or more methods and approaches to an empirical investigation

4. Manage time

Syllabus outline:

The student will study a subject derived from or closely linked to the associated taught module:

Perspectives: Pluralist, Elitist, Marxist, Feminist

Approaches: Institutional, Cultural, Comparative, Rational Choice

Methods: a range of qualitative and quantitative, including survey, interview, content analysis, aggregate data anayysis, use of archival and autobiographical sources

Teaching and learning methods:

Supervised independent study

Indicative sources:

L.Berg, Qualitative Research Methods, 3^rd ed (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997)

L. Champney, Introduction to Quantitative Political Science, (New York: Harper Collins, 1995)

M. Denscombe, The Good Research Guide (Buckingham: Open University Press, 1998)

P. Dunleavy and B. O’Leary, Theories of the State (London: Macmillan, 1987)

C.Hakin, Research Design 2^nd ed (London: Routledge, 2000)

R. Hague and M.Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, 5^th ed (Houndmills: Palgrave, 1998)

L. Harrison, Political Research: An Introduction (London: Routledge, 2001)

M. Lichbach and A. Zuckerman, Comparative Politics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997)

J. Manheim and R. Rich, Empirical Political Analysis, 4^th ed (New York : Longman, 1995)

David Marsh and Gerry Stoker (eds), Theory and Methods in Political Science, 2^nd ed (Houndmills: Palgrave, 2002)

A. Monroe, Essentials of Political Research (Boulder: Westview, 2000)

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: B:

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

3000-word Project based on a question set by the module leader 100%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Revised project 100%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)