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POL395: Politics: Theories and Methods
This unit is centred on the question, what is political science? Different approaches to the study of politics are examined. In the first half of the unit we consider questions including: whether there can be a science of politics, and if so, what that would amount to? Are political concepts essentially contested? Has a preoccupation with methodology hindered political enquiry? The second half of the unit examines issues such as whether politics has a distinctive subject matter; the distinction between qualitative and quantitative research; and the nature of evidence in political science research. While the material is philosophically oriented, it also contains an applied element and is of value to any students contemplating doing honours in politics.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D1 - Day; Offered in the first half-year |
| Staff Contact(s): | Politics staff |
| Prerequisites: |
30cp or (6cp in HIST or MHIS or POL units at 200 level including 3cp in POL) |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | POL391 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations |
Timetable Information
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