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09
Апрель

Methodology and Methods of Social and Political Research

2022/2023
Учебный год
ENG
Обучение ведется на английском языке
3
Кредиты
Статус:
Курс обязательный
Когда читается:
2-й курс, 1 модуль

Преподаватели

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The main goal of this course is to reinforce the skill of model thinking. Students will work through the theory – research design – analysis – interpretation of results nexus. They will learn how to formulate the right research questions and build appropriate conceptual models for different types and purposes of research, from academic to applied. The course will also discuss how much trust can be placed in different kinds of data, what role they play in the production of scientific knowledge and in data-driven decision-making.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • This course aims at developing students' skills of model thinking. They will learn more advanced approaches to modeling of social/ political processes, and know how to develop their own empirically testable models
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Able to assess, model and predict socio-political processes at the global, international, national, regional and local levels based on the methodology of theoretical and empirical research
  • Able to organize and conduct political analysis of socially significant projects
  • Able to develop the design of scientific and applied research, including that carried out by a team, based on modern methodologies of political science and general scientific approaches
  • Able to independently master new research methods, change the scientific and production profile of their activities
  • Able to reflect (evaluate and process) mastered scientific methods and methods of activity
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Thought experiments in social science. the nature of relationships
  • Causal relations. Defining causality
  • Developing causal diagrams from scratch
  • Project
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking reaction papers
    Students will write short reaction papers (up to 1.5 pages) for each reading they are assigned. Reaction paper should include two parts: description of the main ideas of the text, and student's model following the examples from the book
  • non-blocking in-class activities
    Activity in the class during seminars: students are expected to ask meaningful questions and participate in group discussions. Attendance of classes as such doesn't count as activity.
  • non-blocking presentations
    During the course, each student will have to make two presentations of their own models of some social processes
  • non-blocking final exam
    Final exam is conducted in a form of an essay. Based on the description of a theory, students have to develop a fitting model
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2022/2023 1st module
    0.3 * final exam + 0.3 * presentations + 0.2 * reaction papers + 0.2 * in-class activities
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Hegde, D. S. (2015). Essays on Research Methodology. New Delhi: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1001250
  • Maruyama, G., & Ryan, C. S. (2014). Research Methods in Social Relations (Vol. 8th ed). Malden, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=798826

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Gordon Rugg, & Marian Petre. (2007). A Gentle Guide to Research Methods. Open University Press.
  • Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology : Methods & Techniques: Vol. 2nd rev. ed. New Age International.
  • Theory construction and model-building skills : a practical guide for social scientists, Jaccard, J., 2020