SMALL PRIVATE ONLINE COURSE
Description
The focus is on introducing students to the fundamentals of research design in political science. Methodologically, we discuss how to design a research project, paying attention to picking a topic and formulating a research question, identifying a gap in the literature, identifying and using theoretical arguments, and research strategies. As part of this online course, students will also learn how to evaluate other research projects and to develop the first outline of a research design at the end of the course.
The course will explain to students the importance of research design to structure a research project. It will also briefly present students to a variety of approaches to empirical political science research including experimental and quasi-experimental designs, quantitative and qualitative methods. As a result, topics introduced in the course will be varied and span all areas of political science including political behaviour, institutions, comparative politics, international relations, and public administration and policies.
Mode of instruction
Online lectures, online feedback, and assignments
Literature
Maryann Barakso, Daniel M. Sabet, and Brian F. Schaffner, Understanding Political Science Research Methods: The Challenge of Inference (New York: Routledge, 2014).
Assessment method
Multiple choice questions, discussion questions and peer review, and a final Research Design outline written assignment.
Registration
Registration
Students who are required to take the SPOC as stated in their admission letter, must enrol themselves via MyStudyMap using the catalogue number 6444RDPS. It is highly advised to have taken this course before starting your thesis.
Students who want to take this course on a voluntary basis can also enrol themselves via MyStudyMap using the catalogue number 6444RDPS.
Students who fail the SPOC in the first semester of their studies, can retake it the following semester by re-enrolling themselves during the course enrolment period for that semester.
Please find more information on course enrolment on the website and contact the SSC for questions regarding course enrolment.
Brightspace
Students that take the SPOC will use Brightspace as their digital community.