Department of Political Science
School of Social Sciences
College of Humanities
First Semester, 2015/2016 Academic Year
Lecturer: Dr. Isaac Owusu-Mensah
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Course Title
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Course Code
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Poli 343
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Purpose and
Objectives
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The course is intended to introduce students to
philosophies underpinning social science research. The purpose of this course
is to give students a firm grounding in the fundamentals of political
research and to familiarize students with a range of typical research designs
and processes in political science. Consequently, students will be provided
with the core foundation of research and skills that can be applied in an
academic setting or work.
OBJECTIVES:
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Week No.
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Date
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Lecture
Course
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Tutorials
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Venue
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Assessment
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1
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17th
and 18th August 2015
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Introduction to course
a.
Administrative elements of the course/Course structure
b.
What is and what is not a research.
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Lecture: JQB 14 and City Campus
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2
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24th
and 25th August 2015
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Political Research
Qualitative Research
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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3
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31st
August and 1st September 2015
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Qualitative Research
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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4
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7th
and 8th September 2015
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Quantitative
Research
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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5
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14th and 15th October 2014
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Quantitative
Research
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Lecture:
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6
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21st and 22nd
September, 2015
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Mixed Methods
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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7
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28th
and 29th September 2015
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Research Design
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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Interim Assessment
(30%)
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8
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5th
and 6th October, 2015
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Research
Design
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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9
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12th
and 13th October 2015
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Introduction
The significance and use in various research designs:
a.
Quantitative
b.
Qualitative
c.
Mixed Methods
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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10
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19th
and 20th October
2015
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Statement of the Problem in Research
Designing and defining a research question
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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11
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26th
and 27th October, 2015
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Hypotheses
The significance and use of hypothesis in various
research designs:
d.
Quantitative
e.
Qualitative
f.
Mixed Methods
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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12
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2nd and 3rd November, 2015
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Theory
The significance and use of theory in various research
designs:
a.
Quantitative
b.
Qualitative
c.
Mixed Methods
Types of theories
Levels of theory
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Lecture: JQB
14 and City Campus
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13
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9th
and 10th November 2015
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Revision
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Revision
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Lecture: JQB
14
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Exam (70%)
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KEY Reference
Texts:
1. Leedy,
P.D and Ormrod, J. E. ( 2010). Practical Research: Planning and Design.
Ninth Edition. New Jersey: Pearson
Education Inc. pp: 1-7.
2.
Kreuger L. W and Lawrence Neuman, W
(2003). Social Work Research Methods:
Qualitative and Quantitative Applications.
Boston: Pearson Education Inc. pp. 11-16 (Steps of the Research Process)
3.
Creswell, J.W (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative
and Mixed Methods Approaches. Third Edition.
London: Sage Publishing Inc. Chapter One: The Selection of Research
Design pp 1-20
4.
Dawson, C (2011). Introduction to Research Methods: A practical
guide to anyone undertaking a research project.
Oxford: How To Books Ltd pp. 1-8
5.
May, T (2010). Social Research: Issues, Methods and
Process. New York: Open University
Press. Chapter One: Perspective on Social scientific research pp. 7-27.
6.
Wolfer, L (2007). Real Research: Conducting and Evaluating
Research in the Social Sciences. Boston:
Pearson Education Inc. pp 13-18.
7. Blaikie,
Norman (2010). Designing Social
Research: The Logic of Anticipation. Second Edition. Cambridge: Polity Press. pp. 124-147
8. Punch,
K.F (2005). Introduction to Social
Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Second Edition. London: Sage Publications Ltd. pp. 37-39
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