Overview

    An examination of the contested nature of the political and key methodological approaches to the study of politics both theoretically and in practice.

    This paper examines the contested nature of what constitutes politics and the ways to conduct research. It explores key methodological approaches to the study of politics, including positivism, rational choice theory, intersubjectivity, discourse analysis and interpretivism and examines the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative versus qualitative research methods.

    This paper is 100% internally assessed.

    About this paper

    Paper title The 'Political': Theory and Practice
    Subject Politics
    EFTS 0.25
    Points 30 points
    Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,810.00
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Limited to
    MPols
    Contact
    politics@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Professor Philip Nel

    Paper Structure

    Week 1: Introduction to 'The Political'

    Week 2: The contested nature of 'The Political'

    Week 3: Basic terms; positivism and behaviourism: facts and observation

    Week 4: Rational choice theory

    Week 5: Feminism, ethics of care, and standpoint theory

    Week 6: Essay work

    Week 7: Interpretivism, narrative, and hermeneutics

    Week 8: Postmodernism, identity, and intersectionality

    Week 9: Discourse analysis

    Week 10. Indigenous methodology and race

    Week 11. Mixed methods: combining quantitative and qualitative approaches

    Week 12. Conducting interviews

    Week 13. Essay work

    Textbooks

    The required readings will be available on eReserve on Blackboard.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete the paper will:

    • Demonstrate an understanding of key methodological approaches to the study of politics and the contested nature of what constitutes the political.
    • Have the capacity to undertake independent research and identify relevant research sources.
    • Have the ability to apply ideas and methods to new situations in written analysis and in practice.

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Tuesday 13:00-13:50 9-14, 16, 18-22
    Thursday 14:00-15:50 9-14, 16-22

    Overview

    An examination of the contested nature of the political and key methodological approaches to the study of politics both theoretically and in practice.

    This paper examines the contested nature of what constitutes politics and the ways to conduct research. It explores key methodological approaches to the study of politics, and methods of data collection and analyses.

    This paper is 100% internally assessed.

    About this paper

    Paper title The 'Political': Theory and Practice
    Subject Politics
    EFTS 0.25
    Points 30 points
    Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2024 have not yet been set
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Limited to
    MPols
    Contact
    politics@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Dr Chris Rudd

    Textbooks

    The required readings will be available on eReserve on Blackboard.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete the paper will:

    • Demonstrate an understanding of key methodological approaches to the study of politics and the contested nature of what constitutes the political.
    • Have the capacity to undertake independent research and identify relevant research sources.
    • Have the ability to apply ideas and methods to new situations in written analysis and in practice.

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Tuesday 10:00-11:50 17
    Thursday 10:00-11:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-22
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