Master
2024/2025
Core Seminar "Advanced theories and methods in political science"
Type:
Compulsory course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)
Area of studies:
Political Science
When:
1 year, 1-4 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Denis Stremoukhov
Master’s programme:
Comparative Politics of Eurasia
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course offers an in-depth study of contemporary theories and methods in political science. Students will explore various approaches to analyzing political processes, institutions, and actors in the modern world. The course will cover general social scientific such as agency-structure dichotomy and the nature of causality, major approaches to theorizing political phenomena, contemporary methods of single-N and comparative research as well text analysis and data collection.
Learning Objectives
- To familiarize students with relevant approaches to and tools for academic research in contemporary Political Science
- To scrutinize various methodological paradigms and methods used for research on specific topics in Political Science
- To equip students with the necessary academic skills for MA thesis writing
Expected Learning Outcomes
- understands and critically assesses major ontoepistemological and theoretical approaches to political research
- formulates coherent research frameworks for one's research
- conducts methodologically sound academic research
Course Contents
- Ontological and epistemological foundations of Political Science
- Conducting your own research
- Advanced Political Sceince Methods
- Thesis proposals discussion
Assessment Elements
- In-class participationStudents 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.
- Methodological book reviewStudents are expected to read a book from the field of Political Science and comment on its methodological framework and methods. Write a paper that analyses its research objectives, approaches and methods and present your reflections on the connections between these elements. The paper's volume is 2000 words. The reference style is Chicago, in-text citations. The reference list is not included in the word count. The list of books for review is provided by the instructor.
- TestThe test will consist of 4 open-ended questions covering the material of the respeptive semester.
- Article ReviewStudents are expected to choose any article from one of the top International Relations journal published in the last 5 years (from 2019 to 2024) and not covered in the course. Students are to write a review on this article that will summariz its content, place it in the context of debates and categories discussed in the first semester of the course as well as critisize it where appropriate. The volume is 1,500 words (one grade point is substracted for each full 150 words above or below the specified word count.) The reference style is Chicago, in-text citations. The reference list is NOT included in the word count.
- Research project presentation
- Progress report
Interim Assessment
- 2024/2025 2nd module0.4 * Article Review + 0.2 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Test
- 2024/2025 4th module0.2 * In-class participation + 0.5 * Methodological book review + 0.3 * Test
- 2025/2026 2nd module0.3 * In-class participation + 0.7 * Research project presentation
- 2025/2026 3rd module0.3 * In-class participation + 0.7 * Progress report
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Halperin, S. (DE-588)171616154, (DE-627)061837849, (DE-576)177909633, aut. (2012). Political research methods and practical skills Sandra Halperin and Oliver Heath.
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Mahoney, J. (2015). Process Tracing and Historical Explanation. Security Studies, 24(2), 200–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2015.1036610