Аспирантура
2021/2022
Методология исследований международных отношений и истории
Статус:
Курс по выбору
Направление:
46.06.01. Исторические науки и археология
Кто читает:
Департамент международных отношений
Когда читается:
1-й курс, 1 семестр
Формат изучения:
без онлайн-курса
Охват аудитории:
для своего кампуса
Преподаватели:
Дегтерев Денис Андреевич
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
6
Контактные часы:
40
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course is designed to introduce doctoral students to the process of scientific research in international relations; hence it is not just about “research methods” (empirical data collection and analysis) but about the entire “research process”. Research method is only one phase in that research process, and possibly the easiest and most structured one. Whereas most doctoral students become fairly competent at research methods during their Ph.D. years (and even earlier), they quite often struggle to generate interesting or useful research questions or build scientific theories. You will be provided with a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of how to construct effective research studies and of the principal methods of collecting and processing information and data. You will also be introduced to some of the ways in which the results of social science research are disseminated.
Learning Objectives
- To provide students with a thorough understanding of the central components of designing research and of developing a well-structured research project and proposal.
- To expose students to basic quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods skills for the purposes of describing and explaining political phenomena, and the analysis of data on issues in global politics.
- To teach students how to plan an original study, develop an instrument, and gather data to test hypotheses
- To develop students' skills to work in small project groups
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Be able to use statistical data.
- Construct a coherent research proposal that includes an abstract, introduction, literature review, research questions, ethical considerations, and methodology.
- Define a research problem.
- Define an optimal publication strategy
- Identify and explain the difference between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research and what types of research questions can be answered with each method.
- Identify the logic of different methodological approaches (notably the positivist and non-positivist epistemology).
- Identify variables needed for research questions and apply the appropriate method.
- Identify, explain, and apply the basic concepts of research, such as variables, operationalization, sampling, reliability, and validity
- Master different techniques of textual analysis
- Read, interpret, and critically evaluate research in international relations.
- Recognize the ethical issues involved in research, and practice ethical research standards.
- Use a variety of research methods through hands-on experience (notably case study/comparative case study, process tracing, interviews/focus groups, content analysis/discourse analysis, QCA, and surveys).
- Use theory and previous research (based on appropriate literature review) to create research questions and hypotheses.
Course Contents
- Introduction
- Knowledge and knowing in social science research
- Values versus objectivity in social science research
- Research ethics
- Finding a research topic and devising a research question
- Literature review
- Finding answers
- Qualitative methods: Case study
- Historical methods
- Textual analysis
- Making sense of statistical data
- Presentation and discussion of group work
- Publishing your research
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Political science research methods, Johnson, J. B., 2012
- Sandoval, I. S. (2016). Understanding Political Science Research Methods: The Challenge of Inference. Political Studies Review, 14(3), 451. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929916655062
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social Science Research : Principles, Methods, and Practices. Place of publication not identified: Global Text Project. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsotl&AN=edsotl.OTLid0000079