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Research Experience

Module description

Modern political science is a research focused discipline. Exeter is rightfully proud of its “research led teaching”, and this module is designed to give you the opportunity to participate in research by Politics faculty. This module will enable you to collaborate with a research active member of staff in the Politics department. Immediately prior to the start of term, research active members of staff who wish to supervise students seeking research experience will advertise projects and opportunities to students. Participating academic staff will define 1-2 small projects to be carried out as part of their current research profile. If you are interested in taking the course, you will apply directly to advertising member of staff. The module convener will meet with students on the module during the term assure the collaboration is functioning properly.

Acceptance onto the module is, in other words, competitive and not guaranteed. Opportunities are subject to who wants to bring an undergraduate student on board, and your skills must match what the researcher is looking for. The module provides you with an opportunity to be part of an active and ongoing research project. This experience should give you an understanding of an academic work environment through practical activities and enabling you to gain experience in the application of relevant methods and technologies.

Module aims - intentions of the module

By the end of this module you will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to work effectively as a researcher, including how to communicate with your project manager, how to manage your time, and how to work as part of a team. You will also learn one political science or international relations research project in depth. During the module you will receive support and training and mentoring from the research active member of staff (your project leader). You will be tasked with conducting original, independent research and producing a substantial piece of writing that will form part of a larger research project that the project manager is working on. In the process, you will gain experience in how to demonstrate knowledge of political science and international relations as well as academic and practical research methods. While there are no guarantees, the expectation is that the student will contribute sufficiently to a project to be added as a co-author on a manuscript to be submitted for peer-review for publication or other public-facing work that could become part of a professional portfolio (e.g., op-ed, blog post, official memo).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Develop methodological research skills, specifically in reading, designing, and conducting experimental research
• 2. Attain knowledge of landmark experimental research studies in political science

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Exercise informed judgement concerning the practical constraints of conducting research in Politics/International relations
• 4. Exhibit an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice
• 5. Communicate (in writing and in speech) in a manner appropriate to professional research environment

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Conduct both independent and directed research tasks
• 7. Exercise critical judgment in the form of cogent and persuasive writing

Syllabus plan

While the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover the following topics in chronological order:

• Initial meeting with staff member/researcher
• Outlining of specific tasks and responsibilities by the research
• Assignment of a relevant reading list to understand the project
• Submission of 1000 word literature review (using and expanding on the list provided)
• Submission of a 2500 word project contribution

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Designing Social Inquiry by King, Keohane, and Verba

Key words search

Research, Politics