Year 2010-11

  

Mathematical and Computing tools in Political Analysis (21290)

  

Qualification: Political and Administration Sciences

Year: 1st

Term: 2^nd   

Number of ECTS credits: 4 credits

Hours of student dedication: 100

Teaching language: Catalan

 

 

1. Introduction to the course

 

In our current knowledge-based society, and in a context where quantitative data is increasingly being used in all areas, knowledge of numeric aspects, and computer programmes used to analyse them is basic and necessary transversal knowledge for any discipline. 

 

The non uniform knowledge of mathematics among the students that are accepted to this degree makes it necessary to ensure a minimum level of common knowledge in this area.  The aim therefore of introducing this course into the syllabus for the degree of political and administration sciences, is to provide students with the basic mathematical tools necessary to successfully learn the different subjects that are taught throughout the degree.  It will also provide students with the ability to analyse and understand reality, which will be useful for their future professional career. 

 

 

2. Competencies to be achieved

 

The course seeks to develop generic competences and the more elementary part of the following specific competences (which will be further developed in later courses):

 

Generic competences:

 

-          Basic computing skills

-          Problem solving skills

-          Ability to apply knowledge in practice

 

Specific competences:

 

- Identifying political and social research methods and techniques. Ability to propose the study of political phenomenon, designing techniques to collect data and the verification of hypothesis.

- Ability to work with qualitative and quantitative research data. Competent use of quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools and their application in a research process.

 

  

3. Contents

 

Capacity to apply elementary mathematical models to the analysis of political and social reality and its use in the planning and design of public and social policy.  Functions as models of reality and as tools for making predictions. The characteristics of some elementary functions.  Basic mathematical analysis, the concept of limits, continuity, derivatives and integral and their application in elementary functions. Matrixes and determinants.  

 

Ability to use computer programmes to present tables and graphics, to analyse data and use elementary mathematical models to perform simulations. 

 

 

4. Assessment

 

The final mark will be a combination of continuous assessment (40%) and final assessment (60%).  In addition students are encouraged to complete all formative assessment activities since, although they do not affect the final grade, will allow them to find out the degree to which they are developing the relevant competencies.

 

Continuous assessment will consist in the assessment of individual activities consisting of exercises and problems and reports derived from the work done in the seminars.

 

 

5. Readings and resources

  

5.1. Basic reading

 

BLANCO, F. (2004) Introducción a las matemáticas para las ciencias sociales. Madrid:

CIS (Colección Cuadernos metodológicos 33).

BAUM, A. M.; MILLES, S. J. and SCHULTZ, H. J. (1992) Cálculo aplicado. México:

Limusa.

HAGLE, T (1995) Basic Math for Social Scientists: Concepts. London: Sage (Series

Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, 108).

HAGLE, T (1996) Basic Math for Social Scientists: Problems and Solutions. London:

Sage (Series Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, 108).

SÁNCHEZ CEREZO, S. (1999) Matemáticas. Madrid: Editorial Santillana (col·lecció

Imago Biblioteca temàtica en esquemas y síntesis).

  

5.2. Educational resources

 

Educational resources for the course in the aula global:

- Educational material used in lectures

- Exercise lists and their solutions

- Consolidation exercises and their solutions

 

6. Methodology

 

The teaching-learning activities will consist of lectures in which the teacher will introduce the concepts and the theoretical notions for each topic, small group seminars in computer rooms where students must learn to use IT tools by completing guided practical exercises, and in individual or small group tutorial sessions where remaining doubts can be addressed and errors clarified.  Students will also have to work on their own to complete a series of exercises that will help them to understand the theoretical contents and to acquire the necessary procedures and attitude to be able to apply them.  The formative activities in and outside the classroom are the following:

 

- Classroom based:

- Lectures where concepts and procedures are explained.

- Tutorial sessions to solve exercises and problems.

- Practical sessions in computer rooms working with spreadsheets

 

- Outside the classroom:

- Individual work solving exercises and problems, and preparing and writing reports on the results obtained in practical sessions.

-  Studying and correcting the exercises and problems and reports.

 

7. Programme of activities

  

Week	Classroom activity group type / type of activity
1	Lecture on limits and continuity
2	Lecture on the concept of derivatives and the derivatives of elementary functions Practical session on the use spreadsheet functions
3	Lecture on calculating derivatives and problems related to optimising Practical session on the use spreadsheet functions
4	Lecture on the primitives for a function and its quasi immediate integrals Practical session on the use of spreadsheets as a management tool
5	Lecture on defined integrals and calculating areas Practical session on the use of spreadsheets as a management tool
6	Lecture on matrixes Practical session on how to do operations with matrixes in a spreadsheet
7	Lecture on determinants, the inverse of a matrix and its applications Practical session on how to do operations with matrixes in a spreadsheet