Tags
See further down.
Admission requirements
Academic Writing.
Other requirements may be in place for specific research projects, please check each project outline separately.
Course description
This course introduces students to academic research, from start to finish, by engaging them in ongoing research projects of LUC staff members. Students are invited to participate in the various stages of a project, from the set-up or the application for research grants, over the gathering of data and the drafting of findings, to the final polishing of a text and preparing it for publication.
Students are invited to select up to 3 projects in which they would like to participate, as well as rank them in order of preference. Also, they are requested to submit a motivation letter (→ via email to course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl) of how they intend to offer added value to the project (for example, because they speak a specific language relevant to the field of research or because they have taken one or more courses dealing with issues that the project relates to).
PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR MOTIVATION LETTER IS 10 AUGUST
Based on students’ preference and their qualification, the course convenor will assign each student to a project, in consultation with the project leaders. Should this not be possible (for example because the student has only indicated a preference for one particular project for which there are many applicants), the course convenor will contact the student, who will then be offered a choice among the remaining positions, or, opt to take another course.
The tagging of this course depends on the particular project (see overview below).
Last year, many students and project leaders indicated they would prefer for projects to be less time-intense, but longer running. Hence, next academic year, research projects will run over two blocks (block 1 and 2). The amount of time that students are expected to spend on their project remains the same (5 EC course) but it is spread out more.
Available clinics
Institutions and Violence: An Experimental Approach
Dr. David Ehrhardt, Dr. Brandon Zicha, and Dr. Shelley McKeown
Tags: GED, ID, PSc, Psy
The Political Economy of Natural Resource Funds
Dr. Anar Ahmadov
Tags: GED, ID, PSc
Effective Governance of Environmental Issues: A Case Study
Dr. Brandon Zicha and Dr. Thijs Bosker
Tags: EES, S
Knowledge Gain and Changes in Environmental Attitudes and Behavior
Dr. Thijs Bosker and Dr. Shelley McKeown
Tags: EES, S, Psy
Meaning and Mortality: Origins of the Existential Philosophy of Death
Dr. Adam Buben
Tags: HD, HI
Documenting Transnational Feminism in the Second Wave
Dr. Ann Wilson and Dr. Anna Tijselling
Tags: HD, HI
Foreign Investment Structuring Under Investment Treaties and Abuse of Process: Lessons from International Tax Law
Dr. Freya Baetens and Mr. Alexandre Genest
Tags: IJ, GJ
Historical Memory, Identity and Peace-building
Dr. Maja Vodopivec
Tags: WP
Shaping the Political Communities of the 21st Century: Multicultural Stories from Brazil and China
Dr. Y. Hwang and Dr. D. Vicherat Mattar
Tags: WP, HD, HI
Learning objectives
After having successfully completed this course, students will have gained a better idea of how to:
formulate research questions and structure a collective project;
draft and revise an academic text of high quality;
cooperate in a research team.
As such, this course provides excellent preparation for students’ Capstone projects as well as later academic research at graduate or post-graduate level.
Mode of instruction
Each student is expected to meet with her/his project leader at least once per week to discuss her/his progress, receive feedback on earlier work, ask questions and outline further assignments.
Individual project leaders may require additional meetings during which students can be asked to give presentations to all project participants. Project leaders may also ask students to attend specialist lectures, seminars or conferences – insofar as relevant for the project.
Plenary meetings are organized to explain the set-up of the course and to prepare students for the writing of their final report. The dates of these meetings will be communicated via Blackboard. The first meeting will be on Wednesday 27 August from 12:00-13:00 (room TBC). In addition, the course convener is available for individual feedback.
Important: students are expected to keep a log of their activities, detailing per hour spent on the project what they have accomplished.
Assessment
Participation during research clinic meetings: 10%
Weekly assignments: 40%
Keeping a research log: 10%
Writing a report on the content and relevance of the research project for society: 40%
Compulsory literature
Relevant readings differ per project – this will be indicated by the project leaders during the first week of the course.
Registration
First choice registration is open to LUC The Hague students. Remaining positions will be offered to Honours Academy students.
Contact information
f.baetens@luc.leidenuniv.nl