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Course Syllabus

Bachelor 2022/2023

Research Seminar

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Compulsory course (Political Science and World Politics)
Area of studies: Political Science
Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs
Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences
When: 4 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Denis Stremoukhov
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 30

Course Syllabus

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course is devoted to the basics of research activity, methodology and methods in political science. Its goal is twofold. Firstly, the seminar assists the students to prepare their final thesis to be submitted and defended by the end of the undergraduate programme. Secondly, the seminar pictures what it means to be a researcher in the modern academic world, how contemporary political science looks like and why skills in doing research can be useful not just for future researchers, but for those who are going to continue their careers in very different professional fields.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Assisting the students to prepare their final thesis to be submitted and defended by the end of the undergraduate programme
  • Develop students' skills in formulating and justifying their research designs
  • The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic steps of conducting an academic research
  • To highlight the scientific component of research activity
  • Developing skills of writing good literature review
  • Master students' capabilities to develop and implement various research strategies
  • Picturing what it means to be a researcher in the modern academic world
  • Acquaint students with the selected method of research (Ethnography, QCA, Text-as-Data, Public Choice) and their applications
  • Getting students acquainted with different kinds of research strategies
  • As a subgoal the course aims at developing the skill of writing a literature review as one of the steps of any research process
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Student is able to work with information: find, define and use the information from different sources which required for solving of research and professional problems (including the system approach)
  • Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field
  • Able to identify scientific subject
  • Able to outlines the need for resources and plan its using for solving professional problems
  • Student is capable of choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks
  • Work with information: find, define and use the information from different sources which required for solving of research and professional problems (including the system approach)
  • Able to identify scientific subject
  • Student is able to identify scientific subject
  • Student is able to outline the need for resources and plan its using for solving professional problems
  • Student is able to solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
  • Student is capable of posing research problems relevant to the study of political phenomena and political processes; setting particular research tasks; and putting together a research design
  • Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to sociopolitical subject matter); - and depending on the target audience
  • Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); - and depending on the target audience
  • Able to do research, including the problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, defining the research subject, selecting research methods including its quality control
  • Able to solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
  • Defines the basic principles and peculiarities of the selected research method
  • Develops a research design and research strategy using the selected method
  • Able to do research, including the problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, defining the research subject, selecting research methods including its quality contro
  • Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes - by using political science methods - and in support of practical decision making process
  • Student is capable of choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks.
  • Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); and depending on the target audience
  • Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes: by using political science methods and in support of practical decision making process.
  • Student is capable of posing research problems relevant to the study of political phenomena and political processes; setting particular research tasks; and putting together a research design.
  • Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field.
  • Iinterprets the results of the research using the selected method, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses
  • Performs data collection and preparation for the analysis using the selected research method
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction
  • Particularities and Constraints of Social Sciences
  • Guidelines for a Good Research Design
  • Research Strategies, Methodologies and Methods
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking In-class participation
  • non-blocking Written Assignment: Team Literature Review
  • blocking Exam test
    This is a written test scheduled for June 17th, Wednesday. There are two parts in the test: multiple choice quiz (part 1) & open questions (part 2). There are 20 questions in part 1 (multiple choice quiz; four possible answers – always only one correct answer among the four options); there are 10 open questions in part 2 (each question requires a 4-6 sentences answer). The exam lasts for 1 hour 20 min (80 min in total). The exam is conducted on the Moodle (https://et.hse.ru), proctoring on the Examus platform (https://hse.student.examus.net). The student's computer must meet the following requirements: https://elearning.hse.ru/data/2020/05/07/1544135594/Технические%20требования%20к%20ПК%20студента.pdf). There are no breaks. This is not an open-book exam; this means no materials can be used during the exam.
  • non-blocking In-Class Participation
    Individual participation in seminars and contribution to discussions, based on the mandatory and optional readings.
  • non-blocking Group project
    A literature review on the chosen topic. Each group presents part of their work throughout first half of the course. For the 7th seminar groups make powerpoint presentation of their literature reviews.
  • non-blocking Essay
    A written individual assignment of 1000-2000 words. Each student writes an essay answering a question which methods could be applied to the topic of student’s coursework and which data should be collected for that. The list of potential methods and approaches is discussed during the 2nd half of the course.
  • non-blocking Test
    A written examination with duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Test consists of two open questions based on topics of class seminars.
  • non-blocking Class activity
  • non-blocking Research proposal
    Each research proposal is to include all the major elements of the research design discussed in the classroom. The research proposal is to be submitted to the instructor by November 17, 2019 via LMS. The student has to write a short research proposal of her or his final thesis. The paper should be submitted to LMS by the end of the 4th week of the 2nd module. If the paper is not submitted at time, the instructor decreases her or his grade for the paper (one point for each day after the deadline). The length of the research proposal is 5 pages (Times New Romen, 12, single line spacing), excluding bibliography. The paper includes the following elements of the research design: 1. literature review; 2. research problem, research question and the goal of the research; 3. research tasks; 4. theoretical frameworks and hypothesis; 5. research strategy; 6. research methods. All of these elements should be highlighted in bold in the text of the research project. If an evidence of plagiarism is found in the paper, the instructor must grade “0” for the research proposal.
  • non-blocking Exam
    It is a multiple-choice test which consists of three parts. Part one is a simple one correct answer quiz. Part two is a French-system MCQ with the number of correct answers from null to all. Part three consists of open questions where students can demonstrate their deeper knowledge of the subject.
  • non-blocking In-class participation
    Students are expected to attend each seminar and regularly participate in discussions. The instructor grades the participation during the seminars based on the quality of answers, demonstration of engagement with the assigned readings and home tasks, and overall quantitative involvement in the in-class activities.
  • non-blocking Home assignments
    Students are expected to submit regular home assignments (announced in advance) based on the discussed topics and aimed at helping them to grasp the main concepts and apply them to their research designs.
  • non-blocking Revision test
    The revision test covers the content of the first module.
  • non-blocking Research design
    This is an individual written assignment and the main outcome of the research seminar. Students are expected to describe the research design of their future bachelor theses. The expected volume of the paper is 2500 words (+/- 10%).
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2019/2020 4th module
    0.4 * Written Assignment: Team Literature Review + 0.35 * Exam test + 0.25 * In-class participation
  • 2020/2021 4th module
    0.25 * Group project + 0.25 * Test + 0.25 * Essay + 0.25 * In-Class Participation
  • 2021/2022 4th module
    0.25 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Written Assignment: Team Literature Review + 0.35 * Exam test
  • 2022/2023 2nd module
    0.3 * Research design + 0.25 * In-class participation + 0.2 * Home assignments + 0.25 * Revision test
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Geddes, B. (DE-588)171415787, (DE-576)132211866. (2003). Paradigms and sand castles : theory building and research design in comparative politics / Barbara Geddes. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.104638176
  • Ragin, C. C. (2013). The Comparative Method : Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. Oakland, California: University of California Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=784602
  • Rethinking social inquiry : diverse tools, shared standards / ed. by Henry E. Brady . (2010). Lanham, Md. [u.a.]: Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.33152886X

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Bernard, H. R. (2017). Research Methods in Anthropology : Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (Vol. Sixth Edition). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1621755
  • Saris, W. E. (2014). Design, Evaluation, and Analysis of Questionnaires for Survey Research (Vol. Second Edition). Hoboken: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=691292

Authors

  • GILEV ALEKSEY VLADIMIROVICH
  • DEKALCHUK ANNA ANDREEVNA
  • GORGADZE ALEKSEY ALEKSEEVICH
  • STARODUBTSEV ANDREY VLADIMIROVICH
  • KORNEEV OLEG VLADIMIROVICH
  • YANOVSKIY EGOR ALEKSANDROVICH
  • STREMOUKHOV DENIS ALEKSANDROVICH