MODULE DETAILS

Description

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This is an opportunity to undertake an applied politics project in your chosen specialist area. You might choose to research an issue that relates to your career plans, a topic you have encountered in a previous module or a current issue to which you want to respond. You may wish to use this module to bring together your studies in Politics and your second subject, and to explicitly relate the two.

Your project will involve different forms of research, depending on what you are trying to achieve, for example, 

• collecting primary data by undertaking survey research, 

• interviews, a focus group or observational study 

• media analysis

It might involve analysing policy or strategy of a governmental or non-governmental organisation, at a local, regional or international levels, including by working directly with them, where this is possible. In each case, you may be producing recommendations for change, campaign materials, or learning resources, which serve to raise your issue and set out your solutions for a chosen audience.

You may submit a dissertation, a series of research reports or project portfolio, as agreed with your supervisor. 

2. Outline syllabus: 

This is an independent project, in which you’ll design, implement and evaluate your own piece of work. Depending on the nature of the topics chosen, you’ll be able to take part in reading groups, research seminars and writing workshops, together with individual supervisions. Seminar topics may include:

• Collecting data

• Analysing data & answering research questions

• Managing your research project, research ethics 

• Publishing & presenting research findings

• Contributing to political debates and strategies

• Taking political research into public

3. Teaching and learning activities: 

Reading groups, research seminars and supervisions

Assessment Details