Research Seminar "Methodology and Research Design"

2021/2022

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент политологии и международных отношений

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 2 модуль

Преподаватель

Гал Андраш

Course Syllabus

Abstract

1 y. The course offers an introduction to the practice of social scientific research on a graduate level. Considering the interdisciplinary character of the MA programme and the diverse background of the student body, the course aims to familiarize students with international standards of linking empirical and conceptual approaches, data-collection, academic writing, and communicating research results. During the second year, this course primarily functions as a workshop for MA thesis writing. The primary objectives of the course in this crucial period are providing a supportive forum for students in their thesis-writing process, and to develop their critical thinking skills by discussing the projects of their peers. Furthermore, exposure to thesis projects situated in various epistemic and methodological traditions will broaden the intellectual horizon of students. 2 y. The core objective of the course is to facilitate the thesis writing of second-year MA students, building on the skills and knowledge acquired in the first year of their program. In the first four sessions, the logistical, formatting, and ethical issues around thesis writing are discussed, alongside potential avenues for further developing one’s research project (PhD proposals, publications). The second part of the course (sessions 3-8) addresses various content-specific issues. This includes issues that can be crystallized in the progress of thesis writing (such as trade-offs and pitfalls, or data collection), as well as research methods and strategies that have been addressed to a lesser extent in the first year (like set-theoretic methods or process-tracing). In the final, third stage of the course, students will present their MA thesis research, and discuss the projects in a workshop format.

Learning Objectives

• to familiarize students with international standards of linking empirical and conceptual approaches, data-collection, academic writing, and communicating research results

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Avenues of applying research skills outside academia will be introduced
• Students will become familiar with the essential features of academic publishing procedures
• The essential genres of academic writing will be introduced
• Students will be able to confidently mobilize external sources in their research, fully aware of the boundaries between sound academic writing and plagiarism or academic dishonesty.
• Students will be able to effectively communicate their research results
• Students will have a firm grasp on the essential practical guidelines of research design and planning

Course Contents

• The fundamental features of academic research and genres of academic writing
• Research ethics and the use of supporting tools
• Avoiding the “So what?” question: puzzles, problems and research questions
• A practical guide to planning research: term papers, thesis outlines, PhD proposals
• Communicating in academic contexts: presentations and conference discussions
• Pluralistic traditions, mixed methods? Navigating between epistemic and methodological traditions
• The use of research skills in non-academic contexts
• Presentation workshop 1.
• Presentation workshop 2
• Presentation workshop 3
• Presentation workshop 4
• Presenatation workshop 5
• Position paper
• Literature review
• Presentation
• Written exercises
• Thesis writing: formal and substantive planning (2 y.)
• Trade-offs and pitfalls (2 y.)
• Avoiding the “So what?” question: puzzles, problems and research questions (2 y.)
• Qualitative data-collections (essentials) (2 y.)
• Writing a PhD application
• MA thesis workshop 1
• MA thesis workshop 2
• MA thesis workshop 3
• MA thesis workshop 4
• MA thesis workshop 5
• Research question essay (2 y.)
• Reaction paper (2 y.)
• Thesis presentation
• Discussing other thesis project

Assessment Elements

• Class participation
• Written exercises
• Presentation
  The presentation should outline the student’s preliminary proposal for her/his thesis research. The presentation should include the following elements: 1. Empirical problem or theoretical puzzle behind thesis research 2. State of the field 3. Research question 4. Hypotheses/directional expectations/hunches 5. Methodological commitments 6. Logistical plan for research 7. Expected outcomes 8. Discussion on importance of the research
• Literature review
• Position paper
  The position paper shall be a problem-based, argumentative text demonstrating the student’s capacity to identify academically relevant problems, finding avenues to tackle it, and communicating her/his arguments in a persuasive, transparent, and succinct manner. The position paper should also demonstrate the student’s firm understanding on the differences between epistemic and methodological traditions. The position paper’s extent shall not exceed 1,000 words, including foot/endnotes, excluding the bibliography. Essay structure: 1. Short and general formulation of answer, outline of structure 2. Review of relevant claims in the literature 3. Critical review of relevant positions. 4. Core of argument, supported by analytical and/or empirical claims. 5. Conclusion, summarizing the core points of the argument.
• research question essay
  The research question essay should be a 400-600 words-long (including foot/endnotes, excluding bibliography) explication of the student’s central research question in her/his MA thesis, reflecting on its justification, academic relevance, and feasibility.
• reaction paper
  The reaction paper has to explicate how the methodological considerations introduced in one of the mandatory readings contributes to her/his MA thesis. The reactions paper should be 600-800 words-long, including foot/endnotes, excluding bibliography.
• thesis presentation
  The presentation should be a preliminary proposal on the student’s major research project within the program, the MA thesis. Beyond presenting their works, students will also have to comment on other research proposals in a constructive fashion.
• discussing another thesis presentation
  The presentation should be a preliminary proposal on the student’s major research project within the program, the MA thesis. Beyond presenting their works, students will also have to comment on other research proposals in a constructive fashion.
• participation in the general class sessions
  In both class participation components, the following qualities can result in a maximal grade: • frequency and concision of class participations • originality of class contribution • connection between preparation materials and class contributions • contribution to class discussion dynamics • participation in maintaining an inspiring class environment
• participation in thesis workshop sessions
  In both class participation components, the following qualities can result in a maximal grade: • frequency and concision of class participations • originality of class contribution • connection between preparation materials and class contributions • contribution to class discussion dynamics • participation in maintaining an inspiring class environment

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 2nd module
  0.3 * Presentation + 0.2 * Literature review + 0.3 * Position paper + 0.1 * Class participation + 0.1 * Written exercises
• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.1 * discussing another thesis presentation + 0.2 * research question essay + 0.1 * participation in thesis workshop sessions + 0.1 * participation in the general class sessions + 0.3 * thesis presentation + 0.2 * reaction paper

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Hancké, B. (2009). Intelligent Research Design : A Guide for Beginning Researchers in the Social Sciences. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=299002

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Collier, D., & Brady, H. E. (2010). Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards. eScholarship, University of California.
• Eco, U., Farina, G., & Mongiat Farina, C. (2015). How to Write a Thesis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=963778
• King, G. (DE-588)135604311, (DE-627)568593324, (DE-576)166299405, aut. (1994). Designing social inquiry scientific inference in qualitative research Gary King; Robert O. Keohane; Sidney Verba.
• Landman, T. (2008). Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics : An Introduction (Vol. 3rd ed). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=222321
• The Oxford handbook of political methodology / ed. by Janet Box-Steffensmeier . (2008). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.253060168

Authors

• IVANOVA ANASTASIYA SERGEEVNA
• GAL ANDRASH -