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PO3PBW: Political Behaviour Around the World
Module code: PO3PBW
Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Credits: 20
Level: 6
When you'll be taught: Semester 1
Module convenor: Dr Victor Araujo Silva, email: v.araujosilva@reading.ac.uk
Pre-requisite module(s):
Co-requisite module(s):
Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):
Module(s) excluded:
Placement information: NA
Academic year: 2024/5
Available to visiting students: Yes
Talis reading list: Yes
Last updated: 2 December 2024
Overview
Module aims and purpose
This module surveys contemporary research in comparative political behaviour. The module benefits from studies in comparative politics and political economy to address three main outcome variables: (1) voter turnout, (2) vote choice, and (3) protest and other forms of contentious participation. In so doing, it addresses several relevant questions. For example: Is it rational to vote? How do the direct (e.g., the time spent to register to vote) and indirect (e.g., the time invested in comparing candidates running for office) costs of voting impact political participation? Can vulnerability reduction prompt the poor to turn out to vote?How do class, religion, and other social cleavages shape political engagement and voting behaviour? To answer these and other contemporary questions, the module will draw from canonical theories and recent empirical applications in political science. Readings cover all world regions, but particular emphasis will be placed on political behaviour in low and middle-income countries.Ìý
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of why, when, and who votes and engages in elections and other forms of political participation
- Reason critically and independently about the forms of political participation across democracies
- Show knowledge of recent work on comparative political behaviour in low and middle-income countries
- Apply their theoretical knowledge to critically access the quality of existing literature in the field of political behaviour
- Advance their wider skills of critical analysis, and their ability to articulate their ideas orally and in writing
Module content
The module covers topics such as:Ìý
- The rationale of votingÌý
- The costs of participation in electionsÌý
- Social cleavages (e.g., class and religion) and voting behaviourÌý
- Technologies of participation and political engagementÌý
- Online forms of protests and contentious participationÌý
- Direct democracy: promises and pitfallsÌý
Lectures and seminars will address these topics using a comparative perspective and drawing on applied research in political science.ÌýÌý
Structure
Teaching and learning methods
The module will be taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures will introduce students to the most relevant discussions in political behaviour. Seminars will be structured around informal student presentations, class discussions, and computer labs.Seminars and hands-on practical activities will focus on applying core concepts to the analysis and interpretation of public opinion and electoral data around the world.ÌýÌý
Study hours
At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.
ÌýScheduled teaching and learning activities | ÌýSemester 1 | ÌýSemester 2 | ÌýSummer |
---|---|---|---|
Lectures | 11 | ||
Seminars | 8 | ||
Tutorials | |||
Project Supervision | |||
Demonstrations | |||
Practical classes and workshops | 4.5 | ||
Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
Scheduled revision sessions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | 4.5 | ||
Fieldwork | |||
External visits | |||
Work-based learning | |||
ÌýSelf-scheduled teaching and learning activities | ÌýSemester 1 | ÌýSemester 2 | ÌýSummer |
---|---|---|---|
Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | |||
Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Other | |||
Other (details) | |||
ÌýPlacement and study abroad | ÌýSemester 1 | ÌýSemester 2 | ÌýSummer |
---|---|---|---|
Placement | |||
Study abroad | |||
ÌýIndependent study hours | ÌýSemester 1 | ÌýSemester 2 | ÌýSummer |
---|---|---|---|
Independent study hours | 172 |
Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.
Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.
Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.
Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.
Assessment
Requirements for a pass
Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written coursework assignment | Policy brief | 50 | 2,000 words | Semester 1, Teaching Week 11 | Students will work independently to propose and pilot ideas to stimulate political participation across electoral systems. This might include target programs to foster participation across voters' cohorts, new technologies for voting casting, or even redesigning the existing electoral rules. In terms of outputs, students will produce a written report explaining and justifying their proposals. |
Written coursework assignment | Public opinion report | 50 | 3,000 words | Semester 1, Assessment Week 2 | Students will write a discussion paper based on their analysis of public opinion and electoral data that the module convener will introduce and discuss during the practical hands-on sessions, i.e., computer labs. |
Penalties for late submission of summative assessment
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
Assessments with numerical marks
- where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
- the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
- where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
Assessments marked Pass/Fail
- where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Formative assessment
Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.
Students will receive formative feedback on their case study plans during the tutorial week.Ìý
Reassessment
Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written coursework assignment | Policy brief | 50 | 2,000 words | During the University resit period | Students will work independently to propose and pilot ideas to stimulate political participation across electoral systems. This might include target programs to foster participation across voters' cohorts, new technologies for voting casting, or even redesigning the existing electoral rules. In terms of outputs, students will produce a written report explaining and justifying their proposals. |
Written coursework assignment | Public opinion report | 50 | 3,000 words | During the University resit period | Students will write a discussion paper based on their analysis of public opinion and electoral data that the module convener will introduce and discuss during the practical hands-on sessions, i.e., computer labs. |
Additional costs
Item | Additional information | Cost |
---|---|---|
Computers and devices with a particular specification | ||
Required textbooks | ||
Specialist equipment or materials | ||
Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
Printing and binding | ||
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.