78160 - Methodology of Political and Social Research (O-Z)

Learning outcomes

The course provides an introduction to the most important methodological problems students of political and social science have to tackle constantly. It is designed to get participants acquainted with opportunities and limits of data-gathering and data-analysis techniques. The objectives of the class are to prevent a mechanical and non-critical use of these techniques and to make students aware of the peculiar nature of social sciences subjects of analysis: human beings, their symbols, values, and institutions.

Course contents

The first part of the course is about philosophy and epistemology of (empirical social) science. Afterwards the techniques of selection, operationalization and data collection are presented. They are all necessary parts of writing a research design and conducting real research with a qualitative or a quantitative approach.

The course is organized in lectures and seminars. Lectures (28 hours in remote on MS TEAMS) aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline. Seminars aim to provide occasions for in-depth discussions of class materials and exercises. The division into lessons and seminars is specified in the program that follows. For the seminar section, students will be divided into 3 groups according to their preferences and according to rules concerning the current pandemic emergency: two groups will do the seminar in classroom (16 hours) and one groups will do the seminar remotely on MS TEAMS. Therefore, a total of 44 classroom hours are scheduled for each student. Students are required to carefully read the assigned material before the session and - in the case of seminars - active participation through presentations of existing scholarship and exercises will also be expected. Regardless of the health-related conditions and the specific organization of the course, students will be able to follow the lessons of the entire course remotely on MS TEAMS.

The organization of the course will be almost as follows:

10 Hours, lectures: Introduction – Social science research: different approaches.

4 Hours, seminars: Focus on the characteristics of the basic paradigms of social research; exercise on the comparison between quantitative and qualitative research.

10 hours, lectures: Quantitative research techniques – From objects to cases; From properties to variables; Surveys; Scaling techniques; Official documents and statistical sources.

6 hours, seminars: Focus on the design of quantitative research; Exercises on: Concepts and Indicators; Operational Definitions, Questionnaire Questions, Properties.

8 hours, lectures: Qualitative research techniques – Ethnography and participant observation; Qualitative interviews.

6 hours, seminars: Focus on the design of qualitative research and exercises.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory readings:

P. CORBETTA (2015), La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche, Bologna, Il Mulino

• Volume I. I paradigmi di riferimento
• Volume II. Le tecniche quantitative
• Volume III. Le tecniche qualitative

 

Further readings:

A. MARRADI (2007), Metodologia delle scienze sociali, Bologna, Il Mulino

E. AMATURO (2012), Metodologia della ricerca sociale, Torino, UTET

M. CARDANO (2003), Tecniche di ricerca qualitativa, Roma, Carocci

 

Some empirical studies:

P. BORDANDINI e R. CARTOCCI (2009), Cipolle a colazione. Bologna: Il Mulino

R. CARTOCCI (2011), Geografia dell'Italia cattolica. Bologna: Il Mulino

E. CELLINI, L. BRUSCAGLIONI, B. SARACINO (2016), Dentro i quartieri di edilizia residenziale pubblica. Una ricerca etnografica per studiare la qualità dell’abitare, Milano, Guerini

G. DI FEDERICO e M. SAPIGNOLI (2014), I diritti della difesa nel processo penale e la riforma della giustizia. Le esperienze di 1.265 avvocati penalisti. Padova: Cedam

P. IGNAZI e P. BORDANDINI (2018), I muscoli del partito, Bologna, Il Mulino

F. SANTANGELO (2017), La violenza nelle relazioni intime, Milano, Franco Angeli

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars, exercises and discussion.

Assessment methods

In the exam sessions at the end of the course and in the rest of the academic year, the oral exams will be preceded by a written exam. Written and oral exams will focus on the three mandatory readings.

Attending students will be able to participate in an alternative assessment procedure based on three midterm tests. The midterm tests will focus on the topics covered in class; they will be written and will consist of a multiple choice test and / or the solution of 3-4 problems within a specified time.

The participation of the students during the lectures, seminars and exercises will be evaluated by the teacher with one or two points to be added to the average grade obtained in the three midterm tests.

Teaching tools

Students will be provided with the slides used by the teacher during the course and support materials for exercises and discussion.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Saracino