Academic Skills: Research Design
Description Academic Skills in year 2
In year 2 of the bachelor’s programme, students are offered two academic skills courses of 5 ECTS each. Research Design takes place during block 1 and 2 and guides students through the process of developing a literature review and a theoretical framework. In block 3 and 4 you take the course Academic Skills: Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis.
These courses build on the academic skills courses of year 1, and allow students to practise the research skills required to successfully complete the BSc in Political Science: International Relations and Organisations. These courses help students to extend and develop their knowledge and understanding, form judgments, and communicate their findings.
Students are supported during workgroups, office hours and through an online learning environment. The courses build upon one another. Ideally, students successfully complete Academic Skills: Research Design before they participate in the course on quantitative and qualitative data analysis. However, this is not compulsory.
During these courses students practise designing, conducting and reporting political science research as preparation for the Bachelor Project in year 3. Therefore, Academic Skills: Research Design has to be passed before students are eligible to participate in a Bachelor project.
Semester 1: Academic Skills: Research Design
The first objective of Academic Skills: Research Design is to allow students to gain experience with developing a literature review on a specific political science topic, including a relevant and researchable research question. Students select a topic within one of the available themes. They then read the assigned literature and use it to independently look for additional academic literature. Based on this literature, they write a literature review that contains a research question. This research question is the starting point for the development of a theoretical framework. Moreover, the variables in the research question have to be conceptualised.
Course objectives
Objective 1: Students have knowledge about and insight into the criteria for a sound literature review, research question and theoretical framework.
Objective 2: Students gain experience with developing a literature review, research question and a theoretical framework of an adequate standard.
Objective 3: Students gain experience with developing a project over a sustained time period. Working independently, time management and taking responsibility for the development of the project are central to this experience.
Mode of instruction
Lecture during week 1
Weekly workgroups or individual meetings with instructor
Online office hours
Digital learning environment
Assessment method
This course is assessed on a pass/ fail basis. Students will have to submit various small (weekly) assignments and two larger assignments: the Literature Review and the Theoretical Framework.
Reading list
Halperin, S. & Heath, O. (2020). Political research: Methods and practical skills. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
This book is used during the Research Methods in Political Science course as well.
See the full course syllabus for other literature. This additional literature will be available at the University Library.
Registration
See 'Practical Information'
Timetable
See 'MyTimetable'