Theories and research in history and politics
BT BB DT GA PA BC BP BDT BJ BY
Malcolm Kennedy
Subject value of 1.0 (6 points) * 3 hours per week * Second semester * Gippsland/Distance * Prerequisites: GSC1501 and GSC1502 or equivalents, and two upper-level history-politics subjects
The subject introduces students to the methodologies of history and political science. It emphasises to the development of a critical analysis approach to research and method in history, political science and the social sciences. Students will develop an ability to apply a critical analysis method to questions of assumptions, facts, values and objectivity, hypotheses, quantification, causation and explanation. Students will prepare a research paper on a history or politics topic. The original topic can be drawn from an issue in the methodology of history or politics or from a general area of interest in either of these disciplines. The research essay will involve the use of primary sources, data bases, interviews, survey work and/or the use of statistical packages.
Assessment
Seminar paper (1500 words): 30% * Method essay (1500 words): 30% * Research essay (3000 words): 40%
Prescribed texts
Barzun J and Graff H F The modern researcher HBJ, 1989
Carr E H What is history? Penguin, 1989
Marwick A The nature of history Macmillan, 1989