Postgraduate course
2023/2024
Research Methods in International Relations and Modern History
Type:
Compulsory course
Area of studies:
Postgraduate Studies
Delivered by:
School of International Regional Studies
When:
1 year, 1 semester
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Galina Nikiporets-Takigawa
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
2
Contact hours:
30
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
- 1. To provide students with a thorough understanding of the central components of designing research and of developing a well-structured research project and proposal.
- 2. 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.
- 3. To teach students how to plan an original study, develop an instrument, and gather data to test hypotheses
- 4. To develop students' skills to work in small project groups
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Read, interpret, and critically evaluate research in international relations
- 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
- Recognize the ethical issues involved in research, and practice ethical research standards
- Define a research problem
- Use theory and previous research (based on appropriate literature review) to create research questions and hypotheses
- Identify, explain, and apply the basic concepts of research, such as variables, operationalization, sampling, reliability, and validit
- Identify and explain the difference between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research and what types of research questions can be answered with each method
- 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)
- Master different techniques of textual analysis.
- 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 an optimal publication strategy.
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
- Johnson, J. B. (DE-588)143613529, (DE-627)647702657, (DE-576)337971323, aut. (2012). Political science research methods Janet Buttolph Johnson; H. T. Reynolds.
- 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