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Core Seminar "Advanced theories and methods in political science"

2024/2025
Учебный год
ENG
Обучение ведется на английском языке
6
Кредиты
Статус:
Курс обязательный
Когда читается:
1-й курс, 1-4 модуль

Преподаватель

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course offers an in-depth study of contemporary theories and methods in political science. Students will explore various approaches to analyzing political processes, institutions, and actors in the modern world. The course will cover general social scientific such as agency-structure dichotomy and the nature of causality, major approaches to theorizing political phenomena, contemporary methods of single-N and comparative research as well text analysis and data collection.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • To familiarize students with relevant approaches to and tools for academic research in contemporary Political Science
  • To scrutinize various methodological paradigms and methods used for research on specific topics in Political Science
  • To equip students with the necessary academic skills for MA thesis writing
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • understands and critically assesses major ontoepistemological and theoretical approaches to political research
  • formulates coherent research frameworks for one's research
  • conducts methodologically sound academic research
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Ontological and epistemological foundations of Political Science
  • Conducting your own research
  • Advanced Political Sceince Methods
  • Thesis proposals discussion
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking In-class participation
    Students are expected to attend each seminar and regularly participate in discussions. The instructor grades the participation during the seminars based on the quality of answers, demonstration of engagement with the assigned readings and home tasks, and overall quantitative involvement in the in-class activities.
  • non-blocking Methodological book review
    Students are expected to read a book from the field of Political Science and comment on its methodological framework and methods. Write a paper that analyses its research objectives, approaches and methods and present your reflections on the connections between these elements. The paper's volume is 2000 words. The reference style is Chicago, in-text citations. The reference list is not included in the word count. The list of books for review is provided by the instructor.
  • non-blocking Test
    The test will consist of 4 open-ended questions covering the material of the respeptive semester.
  • non-blocking Article Review
    Students are expected to choose any article from one of the top International Relations journal published in the last 5 years (from 2019 to 2024) and not covered in the course. Students are to write a review on this article that will summariz its content, place it in the context of debates and categories discussed in the first semester of the course as well as critisize it where appropriate. The volume is 1,500 words (one grade point is substracted for each full 150 words above or below the specified word count.) The reference style is Chicago, in-text citations. The reference list is NOT included in the word count.
  • non-blocking Research project presentation
  • non-blocking Progress report
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2024/2025 2nd module
    0.4 * Article Review + 0.2 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Test
  • 2024/2025 4th module
    0.2 * In-class participation + 0.5 * Methodological book review + 0.3 * Test
  • 2025/2026 2nd module
    0.3 * In-class participation + 0.7 * Research project presentation
  • 2025/2026 3rd module
    0.3 * In-class participation + 0.7 * Progress report
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Halperin, S. (DE-588)171616154, (DE-627)061837849, (DE-576)177909633, aut. (2012). Political research methods and practical skills Sandra Halperin and Oliver Heath.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Mahoney, J. (2015). Process Tracing and Historical Explanation. Security Studies, 24(2), 200–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2015.1036610

Authors

  • STREMOUKHOV DENIS ALEKSANDROVICH