The course aims to provide basic knowledge on the methodology of social research, with particular attention to techniques used in the analysis of political phenomena. In order to achieve the teaching objectives, the course is divided into two main sections.

1)     The first unit will be devoted to theoretical issues and social research techniques. After having discussed the two main paradigms of the social sciences, this section will focus on the qualitative and quantitative methods and will consider the main investigation techniques. In particular, social experiments, the logic of causality, the basic elements of survey method, and then, the ethnographic approach, qualitative interviews, focus group techniques, content analysis. Basic concepts related to participative, not-extractivist and creative research methods will be discussed too. In order to understand the empirical points of social and political studies activity, a particular space will be devoted to the critical discussion of real research designs, related methodology and interpretation of main findings. The course will be completed with a Workshop, articulated through group work, on the construction of a questionnaire for a socio-political research.

2)  The second unit will focus on opinion survey methods (advanced) and quantitative data analysis procedures. This unit will focus on survey research and quantitative data analysis procedures. Students, through the use of workshops and the computer lab, will be able to familiarize with survey design and with some statistical package for data analysis, using data-sets from real socio-political research activities.

The programme will focus on the following points. 

A) PART ONE

1. Paradigms and social research approach.

2. Quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques. 

3. The empirical translation of the theory. 

4. Hypothesis verification: causality, experiments and statistical controlling.

5. Survey method logic and basic elements. Structure, constructing questions and wording of the questionnaire. 

6. The main qualitative techniques

• semi-structured interview
• focus group
• participant observation
• documentary/content analysis (quali-quantitative approach)

7. The logic of mixed methods research design. 

8. Non-extractivist, decolonial research methods: the epistemologies of the South and the creative methods. 

B) PART TWO

9. Survey research: types of questionnaire administration;

10. scaling;

11. sampling;

12. official statistics;

13. Data analysis:

• the data-matrix;
• working with variables;
• elements of univariate statistical analysis;
• elements of bivariate statistical analysis.

Bridging courses are not required.

- Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course students must have acquired the knowledge of the basic theoretical elements, concepts and main techinques of social and political research methodology. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, workshop, lab sessions, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussions.

- Applying knowledge and understanding: students must be able to identify and apply appropriately, to real research and analysis situations, concepts, models and techniques presented throughout the course. In particular, they must be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of the transformation of politics and political behaviour.  Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussions; workshop and team-working, lab sessions.

- Making judgements: students will strengthen their ability to connect the concepts, theories and research techniques presented throughout the course, their ability to deal with complex research problems and questions independently, to make judgements and critical reflections about political phenomena and their transformations. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, workshops and team-working, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussions.

- Communication skills: students must be able to clearly and incisively communicate, appropriately using the lexicon, the concepts and the techniques of research. Educational methods used to reach these goals: the students will be asked to interact with the lecturer and with their colleagues, asking questions and actively participating to class discussions and publicly presenting ther works.

- Learning skills: students are supposed to develop adequate learning skills, so as to be able to extend and independently deepen the knowledge acquired throughout the course, following new paths of theoretical reflection or research. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, audio-visual materials, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussions, lab sessions and workshops.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The lecturer will provide via blended learning platform a selection of materials, and useful web-links in order to deepen the knowledge on the topics that will be discussed during class. 

Seminars on the diverse topics concerning empirical research are scheduled.

Educational material and information provided by the lecturer will be available, together with an indication about other supporting activities, in the platform Moodle› blended.uniurb.it (see the section devoted to the course)

Teaching

Face to face class with the aid of audiovisual media, analysis and discussion of research outcome carried out by the LaPolis research group and other scholars, data Lab.

Innovative teaching methods

Attendance

Class attendance is not required. Attendance is recommended and students who will attend for at least 75% of the class hours will be considered "attending student". 

Course books

Corbetta, P., Metodologia e tecniche della ricerca sociale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014 (2nd Edition). Paragraphs to study will be communicated to "attending student" during class.

Students are allowed to study the previous edition of the textbook subdivided into 4 volumes (2003) following the content of the chapter reported above and related to the 2nd edition of the volume.

It is possible to use the English language digital version of the reference handbook. Where to find the volume will be provided by the professor.

Assessment

Students can choose between two different examination models:

1) face to face written test according to the examination calendar. This is recommended to students who do not attend
lectures or participate only occasionally and / or do not take part in team-working activity (Workshop and Data Laboratory)
scheduled over the course;

2) joint examination, for students attending at least 3/4 of the lectures. In this case, the final evaluation consists of the sum of scores obtained in three different
exam stages:

A) Intermediary exam: written exam on chapters I-VII of the book;
B) Data Lab: data analysis with a test to be carried out in a computer laboratory (max 8 points);
C) Face to face Written test at the end of the course (max 16 points).

For the data analysis test, carried out in the computer room, the number of correct answers out of the
total number of questions will be considered for the evaluation.

For the written test, the assessment criteria are as follows:
- relevance of responses to the content of the programme;
- level of articulation of the answers;
- relevance of the language used.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Studying for the exam is based on the text book reported below

Attendance

This is a  course with no attendance requirement.

Course books

Corbetta, P., Metodologia e tecniche della ricerca sociale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014 (2nd Edition).

Students are allowed to study the previous edition of the textbook subdivided into 4 volumes (2003) following the content of the selected chapters reported above and related to the 2nd edition of the volume.

It is possible to use the English language digital version of the reference handbook. Where to find the volume will be provided by the professor.

Assessment

Oral examination according to the academic schedule of exams

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

This is a "supported course". Students are able to request to sit the final exam in English or French studying material written in this language upon agreement with the professor.