- Docente: Luca Pinto
- Credits: 8
- SSD: SECS-S/03
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Local and Global Development (cod. 9200)
Learning outcomes
The course focuses on some central topics in research methodology for social and political sciences. At the end of the course - which does not presuppose any previous competence - the student has a basic knowledge of some central themes of the epistemology of empirical research; she/he is aware of the main techniques of data collection; she/he is able to apply elements of logic in the organization of research designs and in the interpretation of the results of a survey; he/she is aware of the characteristics and problems inherent in the operationalization of the properties under investigation; and he/she is able to use techniques of univariate statistical analysis.
Course contents
The course aims at providing students with the methodological tools for an informed use of statistical data analysis in social and political research. After a short introduction aimed at framing the paradigms, key concepts and principles that guide scientific research in the social and political field, the course focuses on the statistical analysis of survey data.
The first part of the course will illustrate the two fundamental paradigms of social research: quantitative and qualitative.
In the second part, after expolaining the structure of quantitative research, the course will focus on quantitative survey techniques.
In the third part, starting from the distinction between univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis, the main tools of statistical data analysis will be introduced, focusing in particular on the logic of univariate and bivariate analysis.
The last part of the course aims to provide an introduction to Stata®, one of the most popular statistical software to perform data analysis and management.
The course will not adopt a formal approach, but will give priority to empirical aspects, making extensive use of examples.
Further details on the organization of the course will be provided during the first classes.
Readings/Bibliography
- Piergiorgio Corbetta, Social Research: Theory, Methods and Techniques, Sage, 2003.
Foreign students are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course.
Teaching methods
The course is structured in 20 lessons of two hours, each one focused on a specific topic.
The course includes additional activities using Stata software for data analysis.
Attendance is not compulsory, but recommended.
Assessment methods
For all students, the evaluation will be based on a written test consisting of exercises and multiple choice questions.
Attending students will also have the opportunity, on a voluntary basis, to produce a short statistical report starting from some datasets provided by the instructor. The evaluation of the report (max 3 points) will be added to the score of the written test. Further details will be provided at the beginning of the course.
Teaching tools
The slides and other teaching materials will be available on Virtuale.
Links to further information
https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=32873
Office hours
See the website of Luca Pinto