PO3PBW: Political Behaviour Around the World

Module code: PO3PBW

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

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: 23 May 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. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of why, when, and who votes and engages in elections and other forms of political participation
2. Reason critically and independently about the forms of political participation across democracies
3. Show knowledge of recent work on comparative political behaviour in low and middle-income countries
4. Apply their theoretical knowledge to critically access the quality of existing literature in the field of political behaviour
5. 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: 

• The rationale of voting 
• The costs of participation in elections 
• Social cleavages (e.g., class and religion) and voting behaviour 
• Technologies of participation and political engagement 
• Online forms of protests and contentious participation 
• Direct democracy: promises and pitfalls 

Lectures and seminars will address these topics using a comparative perspective and drawing on applied research in political science.  

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.  

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.

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

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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/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. 

Reassessment

Additional costs