Prospectus

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Research Clinics

Course
2013-2014

Tag(s)

Depending on the research clinic, either WP, ID, GPH, HI, or GJ.

Admission Requirements

  • Academic Writing (previously Academic English)

  • Other requirements may be in place for specific research projects, please check each project outline separately.

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.

Available projects (click links for project outlines):

World Politics:

  • International Taxation and Global Justice (Project Leader: L. van Apeldoorn)

International Development:

  • Everyone is a Reporter: Perspectives on Participatory Journalism in Africa (Project leader: Dr. B. Mutsvairo)

Global Health:

  • BRICS: Health Care Access at Home and Abroad (Project leader: Dr. P. Kadetz)

  • Developing a Research Garden at LUC in Collaboration with Hortus Botanicus (Project leader: Dr. P. Kadetz)

  • Drones and Child Development (Project leader: Dr. P. Kadetz)

Human Interaction:

  • Investigating Different Imagined Contact Scenarios (Project leader: Dr. S. McKeown)

  • Influence of Group Identity Reminders on Implicit and Explicit Attitudes (Project leader: Dr. S. McKeown)

Global Justice:

  • Autonomous Weapons and Responsibility in International Law (Project leader: Mr. D. Saxon)

  • Popularising International Law & Economics in a Globalised World (Project leader: Dr. F. Baetens)

Course 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;

  • Distinguish the various discrete stages in a research project;

  • Present project results;

  • Explain and evaluate the different methodologies available in academic research, both in practice and in theory;

  • Appreciate the art of interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchange;

  • 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 require students to attend specialist lectures, seminars or conferences – insofar as relevant for the project.

Finally, students are expected to keep a log of their activities, detailing per hour spent on the project what (s)he has accomplished.

Assessment

Assessment: Participation during research clinic meetings
Learning aim: Interactive engagement with project materials
Percentage: 10%
Deadline: Ongoing Weeks 1 – 7

Assessment: Weekly assignments
Learning aim: Individual contribution to the research project
Percentage: 40%
Deadline: Weeks 1 – 7

Assessment: Keeping a research log
Learning aim: Structuring project progress
Percentage: 10%
Deadline: Week 7

Assessment: Writing a report on the relevance of the research project for society
Learning aim: Valorization of research findings
Percentage: 40%
Deadline: Week 8

Literature

-

Contact Information

f.baetens@luc.leidenuniv.nl

Weekly Overview

Please check the individual project outlines for an overview of topics.

Preparation for first session

N/A