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Improving research methods teaching and learning in politics and international relations: a ‘Reality Show’ approach

Improving research methods teaching and learning in politics and international relations: a ‘Reality Show’ approach
Improving research methods teaching and learning in politics and international relations: a ‘Reality Show’ approach
Student dissatisfaction with undergraduate research methods courses in politics and international relations is common across the sector. We suggest that methods teaching suffers from an unhealthy disassociation between research in theory – which we call ‘method acting’ – and research in practice. Our critical interviews with eminent researchers expose the compromises professional researchers make when designing their research. Students appreciate these insights when combined with first-hand research opportunities. We call this approach a ‘reality show’. Our analysis based on survey data and students’ evaluations of our approach suggests that these aids can provide an effective resource to improve teaching and learning of research methods
85-97
Ryan, M.
f07cd3e8-f3d9-4681-9091-84c2df07cd54
Saunders, C.
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Rainsford, E.
f07ffd17-97fb-4629-ae46-5ee81b5f0d46
Thompson, E.
fee77a63-09fc-4dca-b1d3-777f368ebe3e
Ryan, M.
f07cd3e8-f3d9-4681-9091-84c2df07cd54
Saunders, C.
38a38da8-1eb3-47a8-80bc-b9cbb43f26e3
Rainsford, E.
f07ffd17-97fb-4629-ae46-5ee81b5f0d46
Thompson, E.
fee77a63-09fc-4dca-b1d3-777f368ebe3e

Ryan, M., Saunders, C., Rainsford, E. and Thompson, E. (2014) Improving research methods teaching and learning in politics and international relations: a ‘Reality Show’ approach. Politics, 34 (1), 85-97. (doi:10.1111/1467-9256.12020).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Student dissatisfaction with undergraduate research methods courses in politics and international relations is common across the sector. We suggest that methods teaching suffers from an unhealthy disassociation between research in theory – which we call ‘method acting’ – and research in practice. Our critical interviews with eminent researchers expose the compromises professional researchers make when designing their research. Students appreciate these insights when combined with first-hand research opportunities. We call this approach a ‘reality show’. Our analysis based on survey data and students’ evaluations of our approach suggests that these aids can provide an effective resource to improve teaching and learning of research methods

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More information

Published date: February 2014
Organisations: Politics & International Relations

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Local EPrints ID: 361259
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/361259
PURE UUID: 339b08bf-d47f-4e0c-bcf7-0fbe96d31bc8
ORCID for M. Ryan: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8693-5063

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 Jan 2014 13:52
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:35

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Contributors

Author: M. Ryan ORCID iD
Author: C. Saunders
Author: E. Rainsford
Author: E. Thompson

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