Methods of Analysis in the Social Sciences
| Title | Μέθοδοι Ανάλυσης στις Κοινωνικές Επιστήμες / Methods of Analysis in the Social Sciences |
| Code | ΚΥ0405 |
| Faculty | Social and Economic Sciences |
| School | Political Sciences |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter/Spring |
| Coordinator | Georgios Katsampekis |
| Common | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600023129 |
Programme of Study: PPS Tmīma Politikṓn Epistīmṓn 2023-sīmera
Registered students: 0
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | Compulsory Course | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Academic Year | 2025 – 2026 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600281767
|
Class Schedule
| Building | Amphitheaters Law & Social and Economics Sciences |
| Floor | Groundfloor |
| Hall | ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ Α (155) |
| Calendar | Monday 18:00 to 21:00 |
Course Type 2021
General Foundation
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600281767
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
Prerequisites
General Prerequisites
No prerequisite courses
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will:
(1) Understand the basic concepts, principles, and methods of social research;
(2) Be familiar with the main stages of the research process and the requirements of research design;
(3) Have a good understanding of the particularities of different approaches and strategies (idiographic and nomothetic research, productive and inductive strategies) and their significance;
(4) Be able to link theoretical frameworks to the formulation of hypotheses and research questions;
(5) Be capable of conducting social research using specific methods.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Generate new research ideas
- Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
- Be critical and self-critical
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
The course offers a general introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles, and methods of social research. It examines the main stages of the research process in the social sciences, beginning with issues of ontological and epistemological nature and progressing to more specific, practical steps of research design. It familiarises students with the specificities of different strategies and approaches, such as idiographic and nomothetic research, as well as deductive and inductive strategies. At the same time, it highlights the importance and role of theory in research, particularly in formulating research questions and hypotheses. In addition, the course addresses issues related to sampling strategies and the collection, production, processing, and analysis of data. Depending on the academic year, emphasis is placed on specific research methods and techniques, such as content analysis and discourse analysis, interviews and focus groups, participant observation and ethnography, experimental research design, grounded theory and the comparative method (indicative list).
Keywords
methods, methodologies, research, social sciences
Educational Material Types
- Slide presentations
- Multimedia
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | 1.4 | ✓ | ||
| Reading Assigment | 88.5 | 3.2 | ✓ | ||
| Exams | 10 | 0.4 | |||
| Total | 137.5 | 5 |
Student Assessment
Description
Final written exams
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Summative)
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Earl Babbie (2023) Μεθοδολογία κοινωνικής έρευνας, Αθήνα: Κριτική.
Additional bibliography for study
Alan Bryman (2017) Μέθοδοι Κοινωνικής Έρευνας, Αθήνα: Gutenberg.
Dawn Brancati (2017) Έρευνα στις κοινωνικές επιστήμες, Αθήνα: Προπομπός.
Vivien Lowndes, David Marsh & Gerry Stoker (επιμ.) (2020) Θεωρία & Μέθοδοι της Πολιτικής Επιστήμης, Αθήνα: Πεδίο.
Uwe Flick (2017) Εισαγωγή στην Ποιοτική Έρευνα, Αθήνα: Προπομπός.
Last Update
05-05-2025
