Undergraduate Course: Social and Political Enquiry 2 (SSPS08004)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Social and Political Science |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 08 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
School (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
This course introduces students to a range of methods used in social and political enquiry; examines the potential and problems of these methods, and helps to develop insights into interpreting and analysing data. It does so by focussing on a series of exemplary studies conducted by social and political scientists, both classic and contemporary. In each case it considers how the research questions were formulated, how these questions were addressed and answered, and how the evidence was produced, interpreted and evaluated, including issues of objectivity, values and policy. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | 12:10 - 13:00 | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 12:10 - 13:00 | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 12:10 - 13:00, Zone: Central. George Square Lecture Theatre |
| Additional information |
Plus 1 tutorial each week starting in week 2 |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- identify the potential and problems of different methods of social and political enquiry;
- appreciate the methodological challenges involved in designing studies, developing adequate measures, establishing causal explanations and drawing up interpretative accounts;
- understand and evaluate how inferences are drawn from numerical and verbal data
- appreciate the contribution of empirical enquiry to the development and assessment of theory and practice. |
Assessment Information
| One two hour examination, one coursework assignment of 2000 words or equivalent. The examination mark contributes 50% and the coursework 50% in arriving at the final mark. Students are required to pass the exam to pass the course. |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Mr Ross Bond
Tel: (0131 6)50 3919
Email: R.J.Bond@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mr Michael Stewart
Tel: (0131 6)50 4457
Email: michael.stewart@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:42 am
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