Module Identifier IP39420  
Module Title ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dafydd Trystan-Davies  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Course delivery Practical   6 Hours - 3 x 2 hours (2 computing practicals and one survey design workshop)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   8 Hours (8 x 1 hour)  
  Lecture   14 Hours (14 x 1 hour)  
Assessment Semester Assessment   Group Project:   30%  
  Semester Assessment   Student Report:   30%  
  Semester Assessment     40%  
  Supplementary Exam   Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics.    

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module students will be able to:

1. critically analyse the principal theoretical explanations provided for voting behaviour in the UK
2. critically analyse the history of elections in the UK
3. utilize computer software to analyse opinion poll results

Brief description

This module will give students an introduction to the theory and practice of elections in the UK.

Aims

The aims of this module are:

- To give students a thorough understanding of competing explanations of voting behaviour in the UK
- To provide students with a detailed knowledge of the development of the franchise and patterns of electoral behaviour in the UK.
- To introduce students to survey based work and quantitative data analysis.
- To develop team-working and communication skills through in-depth group project work.

Content

Students in this module will firstly be introduced to the history of elections in the United Kingdom. The module will then consider competing explanations regarding electoral behaviour in the UK. The module will illustrate competing explanations by developing a practical project - an opinion poll. In order to undertake the practical element of the module, students will be introduced to questionnaire design, how to conduct a questionnaire and how to analyse results from a questionnaire (using the computer programme SPSS).

Transferable skills

Students will develop a range of transferable skills in this module. In addition to the analytical, communication and research skills developed in 'traditional' modules, students will be introduced to quantitative research methods and report writing skills. The planning, implementation and analysis of the opinion poll will provide an opportunity to develop team working skills, project management skills, quantitative research skills and report writing skills.

10 ECTS credits

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
David Denver. Elections and voting behaviour in Britain.
Paul Webb. The Modern British Party System.