Presentation

This method seminar aims to teach the students about the main principles for collecting and analysing (qualitatively or quantitatively) empirical data in the social sciences. The aim is to develop in the student the ability to  assess which empirical method is best suited for addressing an issue in the field of social sciences. The objective is also to foster the ability to critically assess the methods used in the literature.  At the end of the year, students are able to perform the first manipulations of descriptive data collected through a survey questionnaire, using statistical analysis software (Excel, SPSS, or Stata). The ability to work in groups is fundamental, as is the ability to adopt a cumulative and reflective posture to methodologically address a social science research question.

Bibliography

• Flora Chanvril-Ligneel et Viviane Le Hay, Méthodes statistiques pour les sciences sociales, Ellipses, 2014.
• William Fox, Statistiques sociales, Louvain-la-Neuve, De Boeck, 1990.
• Serge Paugam (dir.), L’enquête sociologique, Paris, PUF, 2010.
• Raymond Quivy, Luc Van Campenhoudt, Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales, Paris, Dunod, 2017.
• Volumes du Bulletin de méthodologie sociologique (revue de sciences sociales).

Educational formula

The aim of this course is to prepare the students for fieldwork, i.e. to prepare them to confront social reality by collecting empirical data — by themselves —whether qualitative (interviews, observation) or quantitative (questionnaire survey).