Module overview
This module provides an integrated introduction to the main quantitative and qualitative approaches used in political science It equips you with the conceptual understanding and practical skills needed to design, conduct, and evaluate quantitative and qualitative empirical studies. The module covers core topics including research design, sampling, measurement, data collection, and the logic of inference, as well as qualitative methods such as interviewing, focus groups, discourse analysis, and ethnography. You will learn to select appropriate methods for different types of research questions, to critically assess the strengths and limitations of each approach, and to interpret and communicate empirical findings effectively. The module serves as a bridge between philosophical foundations and applied research practice across the MSc Politics pathways.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and intercultural awareness in academic and professional settings
- Work independently and collaboratively, exercising initiative and leadership in group contexts.
- Apply problem-solving, decision-making, and critical reflection to complex issues.
- Manage time, projects, and resources effectively to meet deadlines
- Communicate effectively to diverse audiences through written, oral, and digital means.
Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Integrate interdisciplinary insights (e.g. psychology, sociology, economics, communications) into political analysis, demonstrating the breadth and flexibility of the discipline.
- Critically evaluate competing theories and approaches in political science, political psychology, international relations, and security studies, including normative, empirical, and behavioural traditions.
- Apply disciplinary concepts of power, governance, institutions, and political behaviour to analyse political systems at local, national, and international levels.
- Reflect critically on the evolution of the discipline of Politics and its relevance to contemporary political, social, and global challenges.
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Communicate research findings effectively through oral presentations, digital media, and written reports tailored to academic, policy, and public audiences
- Analyse and interpret complex political data sets, survey results, and case study material
- Design and implement small- and large-scale research projects using both qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Prepare professional outputs including policy briefs, reports, and advisory documents for different audiences.
- Apply problem-solving skills to real-world political and governance challenges through simulations, debates, and applied coursework
- Use specialist software (e.g. statistical packages, qualitative analysis tools) to manage and evaluate research data.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Design and conduct independent political research projects
- Engage in comparative political analysis across different systems, cases, and cultures.
- Formulate reasoned arguments and communicate them effectively in both oral and written forms.
- Evaluate qualitative and quantitative data and apply findings to real-world contexts.
- Critically analyse and interpret political concepts, theories, and evidence.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in political science, including political psychology, electoral behaviour, comparative politics, public policy, international relations, and security studies
- Research design principles, data collection methods, and both qualitative and quantitative approaches in political research.
- The ethical and practical issues involved in political research and professional practice
Syllabus
Week 1 – Quantitative Research: Concepts, Variables, and Measurement
Introduction to quantitative research in political science.
Operationalising political concepts (e.g., democracy, participation, power).
Understanding levels of measurement and types of variables.
Addressing issues of validity, reliability, and measurement bias.
Case illustrations from cross-national surveys and election studies.
Week 2 – Quantitative Data Collection and Sampling
Designing surveys and questionnaires; sampling frames and randomisation.
Secondary data sources: e.g., British Election Study, World Values Survey, ESS.
Data quality, representativeness, and non-response bias.
Ethical considerations in quantitative data collection.
Week 3 – Quantitative Data Analysis: Description and Inference
Introduction to data analysis using statistical software (SPSS, R).
Descriptive statistics, visualisation, and summary measures.
Correlation, hypothesis testing, and basic inferential logic.
Interpreting results and presenting findings effectively.
Week 4 – Experimental Design in Political Research
Principles and logic of experimental and quasi-experimental design.
Laboratory, field, and survey experiments in political science.
Causality, control, randomisation, and treatment effects.
Internal and external validity in experimental studies.
Ethical considerations and practical challenges in experimental research.
Case examples: behavioural and political communication experiments.
Practical exercise: designing a simple experiment to test a political hypothesis.
Week 5 – Qualitative Research Foundations
Core principles and characteristics of qualitative research.
Comparing qualitative and quantitative paradigms.
Selecting qualitative designs: case studies, ethnography, comparative analysis.
Sampling and saturation in qualitative research.
Positionality, subjectivity, and the role of the researcher.
Week 6 – Qualitative Data Collection: Interviews and Focus Groups
Principles of qualitative interviewing and focus group design.
Question formulation, sequencing, and managing dynamics.
Recording, transcription, and ethical data handling.
Reflexivity and researcher-participant interaction.
Practical exercise: developing an interview topic guide.
Week 7 – Qualitative Data Collection: Documentary and Discourse Analysis
Identifying and sampling documentary, textual, and visual data.
Introduction to discourse and content analysis.
Data recording, transcription, and analytic memoing.
Reflexivity in textual interpretation.
Practical task: short document/discourse analysis exercise.
Week 8 – Qualitative Data Analysis
Thematic analysis, coding, and interpretation.
Introduction to qualitative data management software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti).
Ensuring rigour: reliability, validity, and transparency in analysis.
Presenting qualitative results: quotes, themes, and narratives.
Workshop: coding and theme development from sample transcripts.
Week 9 – Mixed and Comparative Methods
Principles of mixed-methods research in political science.
Integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence: triangulation and complementarity.
Comparative research design: cross-national and within-case comparisons.
Case studies illustrating the logic of combining methods.
Practical discussion: when and why to adopt a mixed-methods approach.
Week 10 – Research Ethics and Reflexivity
Ethical frameworks in political and social research.
Informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, and data protection.
Research with vulnerable or politically sensitive populations.
Reflexivity, positionality, and power relations in fieldwork.
Completion of ethical checklist for coursework preparation.
Week 11 – Designing Independent Research Projects
Developing coherent and feasible research questions.
Linking research design to theory and methodological choice.
Structuring a full research proposal.
Integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches in dissertation work.
Workshop: peer feedback on research design drafts.
Week 12 – Preparing for Your Dissertation
Transitioning from coursework to independent research.
Managing scope, timelines, and supervision relationships.
Aligning research design, methods, and analysis.
Reviewing examples of strong dissertations.
Final Q&A and reflection on learning progression across the module.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning on this module combine structured guidance with hands-on application to ensure you develop both conceptual understanding and practical research competence.
- Lectures introduce core methodological concepts, research design principles, and key debates in quantitative and qualitative inquiry.
- Seminars provide opportunities for interactive discussion, problem-solving, and the critical evaluation of published research.
- Practical sessions (e.g. surveys, experiments) give students guided experience in data collection and analysis, including the use of relevant software for statistical and qualitative analysis.
- Independent study enables students to consolidate learning through guided readings, applied exercises, and reflective practice on methodological choices.
- Formative in-class activities (e.g., short research design exercises, peer feedback) support the development of analytical and applied skills prior to formal assessment.
By combining lectures, in-class exercises, and independent learning, the module promotes methodological knowledge, critical thinking, and transferable research skills applicable across the MSc Politics pathways.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 24 |
| Independent Study | 120 |
| Total study time | 144 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Assessment on this module is designed to evaluate theoretical understanding and practical application of research methods in political science. It ensures you can critically select, apply, and interpret different methodological approaches to real-world political questions. Summative Assessment: Critical evaluation report (40%) You will produce two critical evaluations (1000 words each) evaluating the research design and methodological choices leveraged in a peer-reviewed journal article. You will evaluate one qualitative and one quantitative article based on a pre-determined list of potential papers. Research proposal (60%) You will draft a research proposal (3000 words) for a hypothetical research project. This project is hypothetical -- there is no expectation that the proposal need to be carried out. Formative Assessment: You will have opportunities to receive feedback on draft proposals and preliminary data exercises through in-class exercises prior to submission. The module assessments test the full range of learning outcomes — from conceptual understanding and methodological reasoning to applied analytical and communication skills — and provide a foundation for the independent research required in the MSc dissertation.Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research proposal | 60% |
| Critical evaluation | 40% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research proposal | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research proposal | 100% |