Seminar on research and communication methods

lsped2040  2019-2020  Louvain-la-Neuve

Seminar on research and communication methods
Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
4 credits
20.0 h + 10.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Bocquier Philippe; Legrand Vincent;
Language
French
Content
Around the themes of population and development discussed in the Master SPED, the seminar allows the student:
- to identify the different intellectual perspectives
- to identify frequent errors of reasoning
- to assimilate bibliographic research techniques
- to understand the specificities of the scientific reasoning
- to assimilate methods of scientific reasoning
- identify a relevant topic of research for the Master's dissertation
Teaching methods
The active pedagogy method is based on just-in-time teaching, work on small groups, and interactions via an online tool (Wooclap).
Evaluation methods
The student must submit 5 individual works (3 points each, ie 15 points in total):
  • Answers to a question by different media: 3 pts
  • identification errors of reasoning: 3 pts
  • hypothetico-deductive or inductive method: 3 pts
  • theoretical causal diagram: 3 pts
  • justification research question: 3 pts
The 2 individual technical activities will each be scored on 5 points (bibliographic research, establish a bibliography) or 10 points in total.
Attendance at the 5 collective works during the course and the 3 technical activities is mandatory (2 points per participation, ie 16 points in total).
The interim dissertation outline (1 page) must imperatively be delivered (5 points). On 12 and 19 December, two feedback sessions on this interim dissertation outline are organized, with mandatory attendance (4 points).
The final dissertation outline (1 page, 50 points) is due in January.
Online resources
A portfolio of readings is offered to students. Most of the additional references are available on MoodleUCL, or open access on the internet.
Bibliography
Van Campenhoudt, L., & Quivy, R. (2011). Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales-4e edition. Dunod.
John W. Creswell 2009. Research Design - Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Los Angeles: Sage.
Federica Russo 2009. Causality and Causal Modelling in the Social Sciences - Measuring Variations. Dordrecht: Springer.
Nassim N. Taleb 2010. The Black Swan - The Impact of the Highly Improbable. London: Penguin.
Nassim N. Taleb 2008. Le cygne noir – La Puissance de l’imprévisible. Paris: Les Belles Lettres.
Daniel Kahneman 2011. Thinking, fast and slow. London: Penguin. 
Daniel Kahneman 2012. Système 1/ système 2. Les deux vitesses de la pensée. Paris: Flammarion.)
Faculty or entity
PSAD


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [120] in Population and Development Studies