Unit OPINION AND ELECTION POLLS
- Course
- Political sciences and international relations
- Study-unit Code
- GP003833
- Curriculum
- Scienze politiche
- Teacher
- Simone Del Sarto
- Teachers
-
- Simone Del Sarto
- Hours
- 63 ore - Simone Del Sarto
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2024
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Sector
- SECS-S/01
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- Historical evolution of the concept of data journalism.
Basic tools for reading and critically interpreting statistical data.
Graphical representation of statistical data.
Fundamental elements of descriptive statistics.
Official statistics.
Focus on collective phenomena of general interest - Reference texts
- Piergiorgio Corbetta, “La ricerca sociale: metodologie e tecniche. IV L’analisi dei dati”, Il Mulino, Bologna, seconda edizione, 2015.
Per concetti base di statistica:
Domenica Fiordistella Iezzi, “Dai dati alla conoscenza”, Carocci editori, prima edizione, 2024.
Qualsiasi altro testo di statistica per le scienze sociali è comunque sufficiente
Altri testi e articoli forniti dal docente. - Educational objectives
- To provide the knowledge required to produce, source, interpret, critically evaluate, and analyze data related to collective phenomena of general interest. To equip students with the tools needed to retrieve statistical data in response to the needs of investigative journalism. To provide students with the skills to critically assess data quality, analyze data to extract the key information around which to build a story, and effectively construct and communicate quantitative information. To enable students to make evidence-based assessments with a good level of autonomy, while fostering awareness of the challenges and complexity involved in the production of information.
- Prerequisites
- The more technical tools of data analysis and statistics will be introduced within the course. Familiarity with basic mathematical concepts - such as proportions, percentages, and representation in the Cartesian plane - as well as with Excel, can be helpful but is not required.
- Teaching methods
- The course consists of theoretical lectures and practical sessions on the use of data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., spreadsheets and Datawrapper). The core topics of the course will be introduced through a focus on real-world phenomena, from which the underlying theoretical concepts will be drawn and presented.
The lecture slides and the practical case studies discussed in class will be made available on the Unistudium platform. - Other information
- Teaching materials and detailed information are available on the course website on the Unistudium platform.
- Learning verification modality
- For attending students, assessment consists of two written tests (a midterm and a final) and an optional oral exam.
The written tests include both theoretical questions and more technical/practical questions based on real-world examples, involving interpretation and, at times, data analysis. The former are aimed at assessing knowledge of methodologies and analytical tools, while the latter evaluate the ability to select and apply these methodologies and tools to solve concrete problems. Each written test is considered passed with a score of at least 16. If the average of the two written tests is below 18, students are required to take an oral exam, which consists of a discussion of the written tests aimed at addressing any weaknesses or gaps that have emerged. If the average of the written tests is 18 or above, the oral exam is optional.
For non-attending students, assessment consists of one written test and one oral exam. The written test includes both theoretical and more technical/practical questions based on real-world examples, involving interpretation and, at times, data analysis (see the description for attending students). The oral exam consists of a discussion of the written test aimed at evaluating any weaknesses or gaps that have emerged.
For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders, please visit: https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa/studenti-con-disabilita - Extended program
- Data journalism: fundamental concepts and historical evolution
Basic elements of descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency, measures of variability, covariance, correlation)
Statistical ratios, simple and composite index numbers, tools for measuring changes in a phenomenon over time and across space
Graphical representation of simple and complex statistical data
Survey design and planning: introduction to sampling and statistical inference
Official statistics and ISTAT
Focus on collective phenomena of general interest: inflation, electoral flows, voter turnout, etc.