Master 2020/2021

Methodology and Research Methods of Political Science

Type: Compulsory course (Political Analysis and Public Policy)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: Public Policy Department

Where: Faculty of Social Sciences

When: 1 year, 1-3 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Ksenia Gerasimova, Artem Uldanov

Master’s programme: Political Analysis and Public Policy

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 44

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course does cover a range of topics, starting from the formulation of research topics and research questions; the tools and the paradigms that helps in the development of research and the analysis of political concepts. It then turns to the notions of principles and theories, as distinct from concepts, and reviews the methodologies of assessing such principles and theories, for the purpose of justifying or criticizing them. Finally, it looks at a recent debate on how abstract and idealized political theory should be, and assesses the significance of disagreement in political theory.

Learning Objectives

• In this course, students should develop a taste for criticism: that does, not believe things written only because they have been published, but in evaluating the evidence presented; in being sceptical, yet fair. This last skill will be most appreciated when you begin to design your own research projects in this course and in later years. For now, much of the focus is on criticism and on developing the skills to distinguish convincing from unconvincing research projects. We will discuss some aspects of philosophy of science, notably questions of the nature of “proof” and evidence in science, but mostly we will learn by doing The objectives of the course "Theory and Methodology of Political Research" are: 1. To gain knowledge of the field of political theory and the public policy theory 2. To acquire skills and abilities of the "fundamental" and applied policy research

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Know the basics of political theory, the basic concepts of public policy (government, public policy and the public sphere, the state, democracy, civil society), the theoretical and methodological approaches to political research, methodology of public policy analysis
• Be able to apply the concepts and methods of political research in the applied areas of public policy analysis

Course Contents

• The Logic of Scientific Discovery.
  The Problem of Induction, Demarcation. Falsifiability.,Paradigm., Scientific Research Program. Hermeneutics and Phenomenology
• What is a theory Political theory and political science- theory and moral philosophy, Political theory and legal theory, Political theory and normative economics- Axiomatizability, Parsimony: What is a concept?
  Political theory and social ontology, Theory and political philosophy, Concepts in political theory, Concepts and conceptions
• Science ‘before Positivism’.
  Conceptual Analysis Epistemological Foundations. Historical, Legal, Institutional approaches.. Political History, Political Philosophy, Comparative Politics. Political Psychology
• Hermeneutic.
  The importance of knowing the context. "Hermeneutic circle" and "motion screw." Modes of interpretation: a «let it pass" method, the method of "filling in", "unless" method, retrospective-prospective interpretation, "the use of" normal form "as a pattern of interpretation, interpretation of irregularities as information. The problem of termination of rotation of the "hermeneutic screw."
• Review of political research epistemological foundation
  Idealism, Marxism, Freudianism, positivism b. Neo-Marxism, post-positivism, structuralism and post-structuralism, post-modernism. Rational choice theory and neo-institutionalism. c. Socio-constructivist. Hermeneutic. Subject institutional approach to the analysis of the political process. (Post-) Positivism: ‘hard’ laws and methods in social sciences Approaches: Behaviorism, System approach, Structural functionalism;
• Post-Structuralism and Discourse Analysis Approaches: Social constructivism, Hermeneutic; Communicational, Feminism.
• Interpretive and Policy Analysis Methods.
  Approaches: Structural constructivism, Actors Centred. Methods: Case studies, Event analysis, Situational analysis, Impact Analysis, Policy Analysis.
• Event analysis.
  The concept of "event". Stages of event analysis. Auxiliary operations in event analysis. Situational analysis. The concept of the "situation." Stages of a situation analysis.
• Democracy and Governance
  Regulatory and procedural definitions of democracy. Stereotypes of political discourse and democracy. Factors (causes) of democratization. "Semi-democracy": Definitions and meanings. Democracy, regime types old and Plato, Aristotle, Montesquieu, individual liberty and Theories of justice (justice as a social contract, justice as impartiality, distributive justice, reconciliation and restorative justice, and retributive justice (negative and positive liberty .Democracy and Governance Regulatory and procedural definitions of democracy. Stereotypes of political discourse and democracy. Factors (causes) of democratization. "Semi-democracy": Definitions and meanings. Democracy, regime types old and Plato, Aristotle, Montesquieu, individual liberty and Theories of justice (justice as a social contract, justice as impartiality, distributive justice, reconciliation and restorative justice, and retributive justice (negative and positive liberty B Governance Traditions of study governance in different social disciplines: Developmental Studies. Legal Theory, Urban Studies, International Relations, Economics. Approaches to governance conceptualization: State-Limited governing, Multilevel governing, Multilateral Governing, and Participatory Governing. Dimensions of Governance. Indices of Governance. Neo-liberalism and its effect on governance. Historical accounts of governance and governace and empire
• Political power
  the concept, the basic forms, methods of research basic methodological approaches. Charles Mills “Power Elite”. Positional approach. Floyd Hunter’s study of Atlanta. Reputational method. Robert Dahl’s study of New Haven. Decision-making approach. Network analysis as a method of studying power Actual/potential problem. Intentionality of power. Outcome of power. Outcome of power: power to vs power over. Interests and power. Asymmetry of power. Agency, structure and power. Two traditions in defining power. Weberian tradition in defining power. Debates over the nature and “faces” of power

Assessment Elements

• Active participation
• Midterm paper
• Group presentation and participation in the Project work
• Final paper

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (3 module)
  0.1 * Active participation + 0.4 * Final paper + 0.2 * Group presentation and participation in the Project work + 0.3 * Midterm paper

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Heck, R. H. (2004). Studying Educational and Social Policy : Theoretical Concepts and Research Methods. Mahwah, N.J.: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=113815
• Ramazanoglu, C., & Holland, J. (2002). Feminist Methodology : Challenges and Choices. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=251706
• Stears, M., & Leopold, D. (2008). Political Theory : Methods and Approaches. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=259514

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Schram, S., & Caterino, B. (2006). Making Political Science Matter : Debating Knowledge, Research, and Method. New York: NYU Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=200938