GV987-7-FY-CO:
Dissertation in Quantitative Political Science
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
60
03 March 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC L20912 Quantitative Political Science,
MSC L20924 Quantitative Political Science,
MSC L209EB Quantitative Political Science
This module is the dissertation for students in MSc Quantitative Political Science.
Students are provided with a set of resources and events giving practical advice on how to complete their own dissertation. The dissertation must demonstrate competent use of relevant quantitative methodologies (such as maximum likelihood estimation, hierarchical modelling, Bayesian statistics, or network analyses).
The aims of this module are:
• To teach students to think and write critically about Quantitative Political Science.
• To enable students to develop the ability to understand and make reasoned arguments about politics by using data.
By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key concepts and models in quantitative political science
2. Identify and evaluate different types of data-involving research questions
3. Present a number of models and structures for writing a data-involving dissertation
4. Undertake peer review of students’ dissertation projects
The module also enables students to acquire the following generic and transferable skills:
1. Library and internet research
2. Data collection, presentation and analysis
3. Exposition and argumentation involving data in a structured fashion
4. Working independently and under supervision
There is no set bibliography for this module, as the module is a dissertation. The bibliography used for dissertations vary for each student, depending on the dissertation they write, and it is developed through supervisions with a dissertation supervisor.
The main learning and teaching method is a series of supervisions with a dissertation supervisor. However, these supervisions will be supplemented with a series of events in the Autumn and Spring term that will provide thorough guidance through the dissertation process. These events will include lectures on the different kinds of quantitative political science dissertation students can write, and on how to use library resources, among other topics.
Resources:
In addition to the events above, there are also many pre-recorded resources available on Moodle to help with the dissertation in quantitative political science. Some of these are more general; others focus on specific and popular topic areas. All are available via the module's Moodle page. Examples of resources:
1. Start thinking about your dissertation (Zorzeta Bakaki)
2. An introduction to academic writing (Robert Kemp)
3. Large-N studies in political science; data management (Ryan Bakker)
4. Experimental research in political science (Julia Park)
5. Dissertation research design (Zorzeta Bakaki)
6. Academic writing and referencing (Hersh Mann)
7. Library use for dissertation (Sandy McMillen)
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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