The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the basic principles of research design in the social sciences, and public administration in particular. Students will get the fundamental skills needed to critically evaluate existing research. Students will also learn how to discover interesting and doable research questions, sharpen the theories they use, and develop sound designs for empirical research. The course will provide an overview of experimental, comparative, large-N, and single case study designs. Case-selection strategies and common threats to internal and external validity of different research approaches will also be covered. Students will have ample opportunities to discuss and critique the research design of state-of-the-art academic articles in public administration and related fields, and to develop their own research proposal.
Coordinator:
Dr. J. Schalk
Goals:
The main goals of the course are:
to learn to critically assess empirical public administration research
to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different designs for empirical research in public administration
to understand the most common problems associated with observational studies
to learn how to write a proposal for an empirical research project
Teaching format
Lectures, discussions of academic articles and assignments, and exercises.
Study material
1. King, Gary, Robert Keohane and Sidney Verba (1994) Designing Social Inquiry. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
2. Articles (available on Blackboard or through the University Library services).
Examination
Writing a research proposal. Weekly assignments.
Schedule Block II
Friday 4/11 t/m 16/12 in SB-45. No lecture on 18/11, this is changed to 17/12 from 13-16 hrs in SB 11
Time: 10-13u
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Coordinator: Block IV
Dr. J. Schalk
Schedule Block IV
Wednesday 4/4 t/m 16/5
Time:10-13 hrs, EXCEPT for 16/5 from 10-16 hrs and EXTRA course on 15/5 from 10-16 hrs
Room: Campus The Hague, Stichthage, Lange Voorhoutzaal