Description
Political science is strongly (but not exclusively) empirically oriented. This can be seen in particular from the research activities of many political scientists. This conversion course is therefore meant for those who have had no (or very little) prior experience with such empirical research. After having followed this course you should have the basic knowledge to be able to succesfully finish one of the empirically oriented thesis seminars of the master Political Science Leiden.
During this course there will be a concentration on those fundamental priciples of doing empirical research, which are outlined in the book of Manheim (2012). Attention will be paid for instance to the development of an empirically researchable central question (as part of a complete problem statement), and all intermediating steps, – such as conceptualisation, operationalisation, making reliable and valid measurement instruments -, that have to be taken to arrive at a suitable research design.
A number of those principles will also be illustrated using empirical examples. The practically working through these examples will also be done in class, which is the reason that all course meeting take place in a computer room, giving you the opportunity to immediately do things yourselve.
Methods of Instruction
The course is built around the book of Manheim (2012), that consists of seven parts (I-VII). Every week one part of the book will be studied, illustrated and discussed in class using exercises from chapters of the book and study questions that can be found on the Blackboard. The special character of this course (conversion course of an extensive subject), makes it highly interactive, with short one hour introductions, followed by the second hour practical excercises, where principles of the first hour will be illustrated using examples.
Literature
Dimiter Toshkov, Research design in political science, Macmillan/Palgrave 2016.
Examination
Seven home work assignments of which six should be graded with at least a six.
Seven inclass excercises (second hour of each meeting) of which six should be graded with a ´pass´.
Schedule
Thursdays 8 September – 27 October 2016, 13.00-15.00 h, room 1A46
Registration
Students register in uSis before August 28, 23.59 hrs.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the “Prospective students website”:
http://www.prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/programmes/study-abroad/ for information on how to
apply.