2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
PIED5790M Data Collection in Political Science
30 creditsClass Size: 20
Module manager: Dr Kris Dunn
Email: K.P.Dunn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module provides intensive training on how to collect empirical data in political science. The techniques learned in this module are applicable across the social sciences and relevant to collecting data at the micro, meso, and macro levels. Through a series of workshops and seminars, you will gain the knowledge and practical experience necessary to operationalise and measure concepts relevant to social, economic, and political research; evaluate the data collection techniques of others; design your own data collection instruments; and clearly and concisely explain your data collection techniques to others.Objectives
This module will provide students with the knowledge and skills to collect and curate primary data in the pursuit of testing viable research hypotheses. Students will learn the intricacies of how to collect data relevant to various levels of analysis, from the individual-level to the country-level and beyond. Students will learn how data collection fits into the social-scientific process and how we use that process to guide our data collection techniques. In conjunction with the Data Analysis and Research dissertation modules, students will be capable of designing and conducting an empirical research project.Learning outcomes
SUBJECT SPECIFIC
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Identify and reflect on the various processes used for data collection in political science research.
SKILLS SPECIFIC
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
2. Critically assess data collection techniques in social-scientific research.
3. Understand the ethical issues around person-centred data collection.
4. Demonstrate the ability to operationalise and measure concepts in empirical research.
5. Understand how to gather data from appropriate populations and/or samples to address formulated research questions and hypotheses.
6. Demonstrate the ability to design data collection instruments.
7. Demonstrate the ability to collect data using self-designed data collection instruments.
Syllabus
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Practicals | 10 | 2.00 | 20.00 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Independent online learning hours | 70.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 200.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 30.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
The Data Collection Reports will be practical exercises that require students to design a data collection instrument (e.g., survey, python code) appropriate for testing a particular hypothesis or set of hypotheses. Students will practice these skills in the computer labs before the relevant assessment.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Assignment | Coursework | 50.00 |
| Assignment | Coursework | 50.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
There is no reading list for this moduleLast updated: 29/04/2024 16:19:21
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