Academic Year/course:
2020/21
33186 - METHODS FOR THE STUDY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICIES
This is a non-sworn translation intended to provide students with information about the course
Information of the subject
Code - Course title:
33186 - METHODS FOR THE STUDY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICIES
Degree:
720 -
737 -
Faculty:
102 - Facultad de Derecho
Academic year:
2020/21
1.1. Content area
Methods for the study of Public Administration and Policies
1.2. Course nature
Optional
1.3. Course level
Máster (EQF/MECU 7)
1.4. Year of study
737 - : 2
720 - : 1
1.5. Semester
First semester
1.6. ECTS Credit allotment
6.0
1.7. Language of instruction
Spanish and English
1.8. Prerequisites
No prerequisites
1.10. Minimum attendance requirement
Attendance is mandatory.
1.11. Subject coordinator/s
Anne Marie Reynaers , Moneyba Gonzalez Medina
1.12. Coordinator of other university
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1.13. Competences and learning outcomes
1.13.1. Competences
1. General competences:
- G1. Ability to analyze and synthesize complex and extensive information.
- G2. Ability to identify the main ideas of a written text or oral presentation.
- G4. Ability to solve problems and make decisions autonomously.
- G5. Ability to relate theory to concrete situations in the real world.
- G6. Capacity for teamwork.
- G8. Ability to make reasoned judgments, using the language of the study area.
2 Basic competences:
- B1. Ability to communicate orally and in public in a correct, clear and reasoned way in English and, where appropriate, in Spanish.
- B2. Ability to communicate in writing in a correct, clear, reasoned manner and respecting the formal rules of a scientific text, in English and, where appropriate, in Spanish.
- B3. Ability to organize and plan work, adapting it to the time and resources available.
- B4. Ability to search, select and analyze information from different sources in English and, where appropriate, in Spanish.
- B6. Ability to interpret analysis of relatively complex data.
3 Specific competences
- E2. Can formulate questions and hypotheses and design an investigation based on them.
- E3. Can identify the main methods of production of quantitative and qualitative data used in Political Science.
- E5. Able to develop a critical spirit, always argued and reasoned, that allows students to make judgments about the quality of research in their area of study.
- E13. Can understand the main instruments of analysis applied in the investigation on Administration and Public Policies.
- E22. Can carry out autonomously an activity typical of the professional world, whether research or activities related to their area of study.
- E23. Can produce work following the established formal guidelines regarding structure, length, references, time and adequate language.
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1.13.2. Learning outcomes
G2. Ability to identify the main ideas of a written text or oral presentation.
G4. Ability to solve problems and make decisions autonomously.
G5. Ability to relate theory to concrete situations in the real world.
G6. Ability to work as part of a team
G8. Ability to make sound and reasoned judgments, using the language of the area of study.
B1. Ability to communicate orally and in public in a correct, clear and reasoned way in English and, where appropriate, in Spanish.
B2. Ability to communicate in writing in a correct, clear, reasoned manner and respecting the formal rules of a scientific text, in English and, where appropriate, in Spanish.
B4. Ability to search, select and analyze information from different sources in English and, where appropriate, in Spanish.
B6. Ability to interpret analyzes of relatively complex data.
E10. Knowledge of the organization and management of Public Administration at its different levels.
E11. Knowledge of the planning, implementation, evaluation, and analysis of public policies.
E12. An understanding of the behavior of bureaucrats and other actors involved in the
elaboration and implementation of public policies.
E13. Knowledge of the main instruments of analysis applied in the investigation on Administration and Public Policies.
1.13.3. Course objectives
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1.14. Course contents
This course covers the instrumental or methodological aspects in the analysis of Administration and Public Policies. In it, the different methodologies normally used in studies on these topics (semi-structured interviews, focus groups, observation, etc.) will be explored and students introduced to the analysis techniques most frequently used. During the course, students must carry out exercises aimed at developing different aspects of the research project and deliver them by the date and in the way indicated by the teachers.
1.15. Course bibliography
Chuliá, E. & Agulló, M. V. (2012). Cómo se hace un trabajo de investigación en ciencia política. Los Libros de la Catarata.
2. Teaching-and-learning methodologies and student workload
2.1. Contact hours
|
|
#hours
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Class work (minimun 33%)
|
50
|
Time needed to study and write essays
|
100
|
Student obligations:
Students are expected to prepare for the classes by prior reading of the assigned materials, and to participate actively during the classes.
2.2. List of training activities
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Training activity
|
Hours
|
|
Theoretical classes
|
10
|
|
Practical classes
|
14
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Tutoring
|
12
|
|
Reading
|
23
|
|
Weekly assignments
|
23
|
|
Presentations
|
8
|
|
Final assignment
|
60
|
3. Evaluation procedures and weight of components in the final grade
3.1. Regular assessment
During this course, each student develops, week by week, a scientific research proposal on a topic related to Public Administration or Political Science, putting into practice qualitative data collection and analysis methods. To develop the final work (the proposal), the student will deliver throughout the semester short exercises (continuous evaluation part I) in which they connect what they have learned in class with their own proposal. The student will present their research proposal by means of an oral presentation (continuous evaluation part II).
The final grade consists of the following elements:
Final work (research proposal): 50%
Classroom presentation of the research proposal: 20%
Weekly exercises: 30%
Requirements for passing the subject:
The student must score a minimum of 4 in each of the components of the continuous evaluation - the weekly assignments and the classroom presentation of their research proposal.
The student must obtain a minimum of 5 in their final work (the research proposal).
The course is approved if the final grade adds 5 points or more.
Class attendance is mandatory. The lack of attendance to a minimum of 80% of the sessions or the non-delivery of a
minimum of 80% of the work in the required form and deadlines will imply the failure in the subject in the first call.
3.1.1. List of evaluation activities
| Activity |
% |
| Final assignment |
50 |
| Continuous assessment |
50 |
3.2. Resit
The recovery test consists of the delivery of the final work.
3.2.1. List of evaluation activities
| Activity |
% |
| Final assignment |
60 |
| Continuous assessment |
40 |
4. Proposed workplan
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Week
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Content
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Week 1
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Presentation
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Week 2
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The rules of the game of academic qualitative research
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Week 3
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Literature review and the research question
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Week 4
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Method 1
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Week 5
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Method 2
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Week 6
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Method 3
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Week7
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Method 4
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Week 8
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Method 5
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Week 9
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Qualitative data analysis
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Week 10
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Design of the research proposal
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Week 11
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Presentations of the research proposals: sesion 1
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|
Week 12
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Presentations of the research proposals: sesion 2
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Week 12
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Compulsory tutoring
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The schedule is purely indicative of the planning of teaching times, and changes may occur in accordance with the needs and development of the program.