BA Politics and Arabic

"Making sense of Politics" introduces students to the idea of using data to resolve central questions in politics research, and to the methods used to gather, analyse and present data. The main goal is to develop the ability to conduct primary research and to develop a critical awareness of the use of data in political and media debate. In a world of information overload and misinformation, employers are increasingly looking for people with the ability to find, analyse and be critical of existing data. Students considering a career in journalism or interested in doing research in think tanks, public bodies or third sector organisations will find in this course a stepping stone into becoming an advanced data analyst, giving them an edge in an increasingly competitive graduate jobs market.

The course takes a hands-on and applied approach: students get the opportunity to

analyse real data and obtain original research findings around key questions in politics research. POLI10302 will draw very widely from across the discipline, using examples from relevant political topics which should engage student interest. The topics explored are revised every year to ensure the most recent data available is used and to capture relevant events taking place around the time of the course (e.g. an election). POLI10302 is relevant for students on many different degree programmes and students with diverse academic backgrounds and interests. Previous knowledge of politics is not expected. The course also takes a very different approach to A-level politics, so it will offer a new intellectual challenge for those with previous experience studying politics. For all those looking to understand and use data in the study of politics and society, POLI10302 provides an essential foundation in the basic skills of data collection, evaluation and analysis.

POLI10302 Making Sense of Politics offers a gentle introduction to how political scientists use numbers to understand our politics. To do so, it takes a hands-on approach. As such, students learn by doing and will explore interesting research questions using the same data as established political scientists as they advance progress further through the module. Making Sense of Politics also has a strong focus on applied examples that might be useful in the world of work. With this in mind, the module assesses students using tasks that they might face in their future employment like writing a piece of data journalism or a policy report. Thus, students should leave the module as budding political scientists who understand the value of political data and are ready to use their skills in both their future studies and their future work.

 

Students will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

An ability to analyse some of the central questions in politics research empirically;

Knowledge about how politics researchers develop strategies to analyse relevant and contemporary questions;

Knowledge of widely used data analysis techniques and software (SPSS and Excel);

Knowledge of some of the most widely used data resources, such as election studies, comparative surveys or databases of democracy;

A critical awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of different methods of gathering data and applying them to political research questions;

A critical awareness of the use of data in political and media debate;

Knowledge of how data resources can be found and used to inform research on central political and social issues;

An ability to communicate ideas in writing and verbally.

POLI10302 will draw very widely from across the discipline, focusing on fundamental questions which should engage student interest. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the idea of using data to resolve central research questions across the discipline, and to the methods used to gather, analyse and criticise data used in politics research. The topics examined in the course will cover the full range of politics research, including:

Political behaviour: Why do some people vote (and why do others stay home)? When and why do protest movements emerge? When and why do people support extremist movements and parties?

Comparative politics: When and why do dictatorships rise and fall? When does democracy emerge, and what makes it stable?

International relations: When and why do nations go to war? When and why do civil wars happen?

[note: this list is indicative. Final list of topics will be updated each year by the team teaching the course]

Report 1 - 1,000 words 40%

Report 2 - 2,000 words 60% 

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission. Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.

For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results.

You will receive feedback on assessed reports in a standard format. This will rate your report in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented, the analyses conducted, your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the report. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor.

On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff.