PDA: 7206 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO PDA: 7206 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS COURSE LECTURER: M.M. YUSIF SESSION: 2007/2008 TIME: VENUE: INTRODUCTION This is a teaching programme in Social Research Methods available as a requirement for Postgraduate Students of PGDPPA programme run by Department of Political Science. It is a 3-credit course taught in the First Semester of the Session which every student in the programme must pass before is allowed to graduate. ORIENTATION OF THE COURSE Social Research Methods involve varied approaches, methodologies and forms of analyses to the study of social issues in not only Political Science but also Sociology, Economics, Geography, Law Anthropology, Psychology and other disciplines in social sciences. Although there are some common principles and methodologies applied by Social Research Methods in all these disciplines, yet there are differences. As Political Scientists concerned with political methodology Chris Achen (1983) has shown a direction when he said that “political methodology is derived largely from forays through other disciplines’ attics”. This seems a weakness, in a sense an inferiority, however, there is a new development which political methodology captures. Reflecting on the above problem of political inquiry, I am feeling that it is created by traditional social research methods which dominated social investigation in all fields of social sciences, for many decades until recently. The traditional social research methods employ quantitative methods in designing research and in short it is all about manipulation and analysis of opinions collected through questionnaire methods and other statistics. These obviously has methodological limitations, one of which is what Rejeev Bhargava (1992) called “individualism in Social Science”. With collapse of University and higher education generally, the quantitative method is misused and abused by students and other researchers. My experience in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano, particularly among undergraduate students is to sit down in their rooms, create the data, tabulate the data and present them as their field works and result of their social investigation. At readings of many other works from different sources could observe lack of scientific method in both collection, preparation and analysis of data for social research. An important aspect of any social research in general and political methodology in particular is its scientificity. From a dynamic point of view a theory of science is essentially a theory of research. Notwithstanding that one cannot always be identified with the other. One great quality of science to be expected in social investigation is to be undertaken in a spirit of free inquiry as well as to present result which does not contain limit to human knowledge. In view of these limitations social research methods are now suffering from, other intellectual sources variously labelled as “interpretive”, “postmodern”, “post structuralist”, “constructivist”, or “post-positivist” which have emerged and are being used to re-orient the course of social investigation including writing the report. This “New Social Research Method” does not do away with quantitative methods, but brings in philosophy of social research and qualitative methodology to reconstruct the methods and the techniques of social investigation. In short the New Social Research Methods teaches how to combine a number of methods and techniques in conducting social investigations. Furthermore, it avails us with other new methods and techniques such as Computer-Assisted Pilot-Testing and Web surveys; Visual Research Methods; Feminist research methods; discourse analysis; Action research; as well as writing the research report and the politics of Social Research. OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE The aim of this course is to develop understanding of, and competence in social investigation and analysis of social science data. Students will be introduced to scientific method and the techniques of the “New Social Research Methods” in collection, preparation, analysis and presentation as well as writing the research report. Among the topics to be addressed are political methodology: Old and New; Science and Research; development in the philosophy of social research and their relevance to social inquiry; theory and research; Computer-Assisted research; data collection; preparation, analysis and presentation of data etc. Students will be expected to understand the philosophical underpinnings in social science inquiry”. They will be expected to be able to apply the “New Social Research Methods” in their undertaking in social inquiry. TOPICS TO BE TREATED General Introduction: Introducing the course and what it is about; topics to be treated; recommended reading materials; course requirement; assessment of the teaching programme by students; other issues political methodology: Issues on the Old and New Perspectives Readings Robert E. Goodin and Hans-Dieter Klingemann (ed.) (1996). A New Handbook of Political Science. Chapters 32, 33, 34 and 35. J.B. Johnson and Richard A. Joslyn (1991) Political Science Research Methods Chapter 2 Dean Jaros and Lawrence V. Grant (1974). Political Behaviour. Chapters 1, 2 and 7 Sidney Ulmer (ed.) (1961) Introductory Reading in Political Behaviour. Introduction and Chapter 1 Varma S.P. (1975). Modern Political Theory Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 Paul Hirst (2005). “The future of Political Studies”. 3. Science and Research Readings Margaret Stacey (1969). Methods of Social Research. Chapter 1 Paolo Bisogno, “Scientific Research and Human Needs”. In Augusto Forti and Paolo Bisogno (ed.) (1981). Research and Human Needs Augusto Forti, “Scientific Research, Human Needs and the New Economic Order”. In A. Forti and P. Bisogni (ed.). Op. cit Kenneth D. Barley (1982). Methods of Social Research Pgs 6-10 Theresa Baker (1980). Doing Social Research. Introduction and Chapter 2 Eart R. Babbie (1973). Survey Research Methods. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 Andrew Seyer (1992). Method in Social Science: A Realist Approach. Chapter 1 J.B. Johnson and R.A. Joslyn (1991). Political Research Methods. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 4. Theory and Research Readings Andrew Seyer (1992). Op. Cit. Chapter 2 David Garson (1976). Handbook of Political Science Methods. Chapters 1 and 4 Varma S.P. (1975). Op Cit. Chapter 3 5. Literature Review and Ethical Concerns Readings Earl R. Babbie (1973). Op. Cit. Chapter 19 J.B. Johnson and Richard A. Joslyn (1991). Chapter 6 Kenneth D. Bailey (1978). Op. Cit. Chapter 17 David Garson (1976). Op. Cit. Chapter 6 6. Method and Methodology: Quantitative and Qualitative Method Readings a. Theresa Baker (1980). Op. Cit. Chapters 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. b. Margaret Stacey (1969). Op. Cit. Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 c. J.B. Johnson and R.A. Joslyn (1991). Op. Cit. Chapters 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. d. Kenneth D. Bailey (1978). Op. Cit. Parts I II, and III e. Eart R. Babbie (1973). Op. Cit Part III f. David Garson (1976). Op. Cit. Chapters 13, 14, 15 and 16, 18 g. Catherine Kell, “Activists and Academics: the role of liberal Universities in research for the democratic movement”. In Elaine Unterlatter et al (ed.) (1991). Apatheid Education and Popular Struggles. h. Melenie Walker, “Action research and the transformation of teaching for peoples education”. In Elaine U. (1991). Op. Cit. i. Otivere M. Igbuzor, “Methodological issues in gender studies in Nigeria”, The Nigerian Social Scientist: Newsletter of the Social Academy of Nigeria, Volume 3 Number 1, March, 2000 7. Critical appraisal of traditional social science research Readings a. Rajeeve Bhargava (1992). Op. Cit. Chapters 1 and 2 b. Andrew Seyer (1984). Op. Cit. c. John A. Hughes (1990). The Philosophy of Social Research d. V. I. Lenin, “Materialism and Empirio-criticism: Critical Comments on a reactionary philosophy”. e. Gareth Stedman Jones, “History; the poverty of empiricism”, in Robin Blackbum (ed.) (1971). Ideology in Social Science Readings in Critical Social Theory f. Otwin Marenin, “Essence and Empiricism in African Politics”, Yolamu Barongo (ed.) (1983) Political Science in Africa; A Critical Review 8. Alternative Approach to Social Science Research: the perspectives of theory, method and philosophy in interpretation of social data. Readings a. Andrew Seyer, Op. Cit. b. Rajeeve Bhargave, Op. Cit. c. John A. Hughes, Op. Cit. 9. Writing Research Reports: the issues and the politics Readings a. Theresa Baker (1980). Op. Cit. Chapter 17 b. J. B. Johnson and R. A. Joslyn (1991) Op. Cit. Chapter 14 c. Andrew Sayer (1984). Op. Cit. Appendix d. David Johnson, “People’s Education and the Politics of Writing; issues, perspectives and possibilities for a future South Africa”. In Elaine U. (1991). Op. Cit. 10. Practical Lecture room exercise (i) 11. Practical Lecture room exercise (ii) 12. Conclusions: This will be divided into two parts. Part I will be presentation of end of Semester Seminar reports and part II will be critical comment by students on their classroom experience and observation during the course. Joint Readings a. * Heald and Hay, “Problems of Theory and Research” ROAPE No.34 (1985) b. * James Petras, “The divergence between scientific work and political action”. In his critical perspectives on imperialism and social classes in Third World Countries. c. Nertil Egero, “Mozambique and Angola! Reconstruction in the social science”, UPPSALA REPORT No.42 d. * Selltiz, C. et al”, Research Methods in Social Sciences”, UPPSALA REPORT e. Harold W. Starley et al, “Partisanship and Group Support Overtime; A Multivariate Analysis”. American Political Science Review Vol.8 Number 3, September, 1986 f. Jimi Adesina, “Doing work Place Study: Reflections on a field research”. In Dafe Otobo (ed.) further readings in Nigerian industrial relation g. A. R. Tyagi, “Methodology of research in community development and rural local administration”. The Nigerian Journal of Public Affairs”. Vol. IV No.1 October 1973. h. K. A. B. Okoko “Causality and the Study of Politics: A theoretical Exploration”. Nigerian Journal of Political Science. Vol.2 No.2 December, 1980 i. * Chamba M. Ngou “Foundations of Systematised Political inquiry. Ancient root of a contemporary debate”. Nigerian Journal of Political Science Vol.2 No.2 December 1980 j. Michael T. Hannan and Nancy Brandon Tuma, “Methods for Temporal Analysis”, Annual Review of Sociology 1979 k. Paul Lubeck, “The value of Multiple methods in researching Third World Strikes: A Nigerian Example”. Development and change Vol. 10 (1979). l. Layi Erinolo, “The social sciences in Nigeria in the 21st Century. Matters arising”. The Nigerian Social Scientist Vol. 2 No.2 (September 1999) m. Akin L. Mabogunje, “Nothing Profits more: Social Knowledge and National Development”. Nigerian Social Scientist Vol.2 No.2 (September, 1999). Organisation and Evaluation Responsible for the course is the course instructor, who in each week will give a talk on a topic on the programme. The period will be divided into two parts. The first will highlight the major issues covered in the literature listed under each topic. The second part will be for discussion on a written literature report or topic of interest by students who would be called upon seminar by seminar to present their weekly assignments. Assessment of students is based on end of Semester Examination (60%) and continuous Assessment (40%). Evaluation of the class work will be determined in the following ways. - There will be a weekly presentation and discussion of a packet of articles and chapters of books scheduled for class discussion throughout the semester. Readings marked by an asterisk (*) in the syllabus would be thoroughly discussed in weekly class discussions - The class will be divided into seminars and each week, for the purpose of presentation and discussion; a seminar would be called upon of which all its members will lead the class in discussion - Each student will write a term paper on a relevant topic and present the report to the class - Each seminar will write a research proposal on a relevant social problem for funding by any international agency. - Students would be exposed to use of internet and E-mail for teaching, learning and research. This too, would be awarded marks in evaluating students class performance - Class attendance is strictly regarded very important. As mature students if you want to attend come before the lecture begins. Otherwise, please don’t come and disrupt us.