This seminar style course will teach students the three main qualitative methods used in political science: (elite) Interviewing, document analysis and participant observation. In this practically-focused course, students will learn to generate research questions suited to qualitative methods, design research protocols and implement them. They will then learn how to go about analysing the data they produce or encounter.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand and identify qualitative methods and their use in political science and international relations research;
- propose a research protocol using qualitative methods in political science and international relations;
- design and conduct qualitative research for political science and international relations; and
- communicate effectively and defend in written format an empirical argument appropriate to political science and international relations.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
In this course, students will learn to design and management a project of their own devising.
Indicative Assessment
- Class Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3]
- Research design paper (approx 1000 words) (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- Poster Assignment (Max 500 words) (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Research Paper (approx 3000 words) (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures/interactive activities, and 12 hours of tutorials; and
b) 94 hours of independent student reading, writing and diagramming.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed texts for this course. Readings will be provided via wattle.
Preliminary Reading
Beach, Derek, and Rasmus Pedersen. Process-Tracing Methods: Foundations and Guidelines. Accessed November 21, 2018. https://www.press.umich.edu/2556735.
Brady, Henry E, and David Collier. Rethinking Social Inquiry?: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md.?: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010. http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/48781380.
Dowding, Keith. The Philosophy and Methods of Political Science. Political Analysis. London?; New York, NY: Palgrave, 2016.
Gerring, John, and Lee Cojocaru. “Selecting Cases for Intensive Analysis: A Diversity of Goals and Methods.” Sociological Methods & Research 45, no. 3 (August 1, 2016): 392–423. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124116631692.
Jacob, Stacy, and S. Furgerson. “Writing Interview Protocols and Conducting Interviews: Tips for Students New to the Field of Qualitative Research.” The Qualitative Report 17, no. 42 (October 15, 2012): 1–10.
Moravcsik, Andrew. “Transparency: The Revolution in Qualitative Research.” PS: Political Science & Politics 47, no. 1 (January 2014): 48–53. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096513001789.
Ragin, Charles C., and Howard Saul Becker. What Is a Case?: Exploring the Foundations of Social Inquiry. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Toshkov, Dimiter. Research Design in Political Science. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
Assumed Knowledge
POLS1009: Research and Writing in Political Science
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4680 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $6360 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8598 | 27 Jul 2026 | 03 Aug 2026 | 31 Aug 2026 | 30 Oct 2026 | In Person | N/A |