Politics PGR Research Design - POL00001D
Module summary
This module provides an overview to research design for students at the postgraduate research level of study. We will discuss methodological approaches and issues that pertain to the study of politics, addressing the broader logic of comparative explanation as well as the strengths and weakness of various quantitative and qualitative methods. For postgraduate research students who are embarking on the process of producing their first major scholarly contribution, this module will provide the tools to be able to properly situate and frame their contributions to the wider field of political science.
Professional requirements
N/A
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
The objective of this module is to provide students with an introduction to empirical and normative research in political science. Students will learn how scholars in the social sciences formulate research questions, develop theories to answer those questions, and use empirical techniques to test the validity of those theories. More specifically, students will learn how to craft and refine a research question, define and measure concepts, formulate a theory and hypotheses, create a research design in order to collect data, and test theoretically-driven hypotheses with empirical evidence. The ultimate goal of this undertaking is to start students down a path to creating knowledge about the world of politics using a social scientific process.
Module learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
A. Distinguish and articulate key concepts in basic social science research design
B. Consume academic research in political science
C. Demonstrate critical analysis skills in assessing that academic research
D. Understand how to produce knowledge using a social scientific approach
Module content
This module will be delivered in a one-hour weekly seminar, comprised partly of lecture and partly of scholarly discourse. Students are expected to come to each week’s session having already completed the week’s reading and ready to offer critical analysis for discussion.
Indicative assessment
None
Special assessment rules
Other
Indicative reassessment
None
Module feedback
N/A
Indicative reading
Shively, W Phillips. 2017. The Craft of Political Research 10 th edition. New York: Routledge.