Bachelor
2024/2025
Research Seminar "Logic of Inquiry and Key Research Methods in International Relations and Public Policy"
Type:
Compulsory course (International Program 'International Relations and Global Studies')
Area of studies:
International Relations
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 3, 4 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This research seminar aims to familiarize students with relevant approaches to and tools for academic research in International Relations and Public Policy Studies. The seminar focuses on major scholarly discussions on logics of inquiry and key research methods in the relevant fields. The course scrutinizes various methodological paradigms and methods used for research on specific topics. It encourages students to reflect on how they conceptualise and analyse issues pertinent to international relations and public policy. This involves exploring the relationship between theory and empirical research with particular emphasis on the collection/production and analysis of data. The research seminar considers practical methodological strategies that will aid students to design their own research (term papers) with a proper fit between research questions and methods. Moreover, the course will consider machine learning techniques that could be used for academic research on key issues in international relations and public policy, including decision trees, gradient boosting, neural networks, etc. The course will also offer ready-made AI tools, developed using machine learning methods and neural networks, to collect and analyse relevant literature.