Bachelor
2024/2025
Research Seminar
Type:
Compulsory course (Political Science and World Politics)
Area of studies:
Political Science
When:
3 year, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
2
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course is a freshmen introduction into the craft of academic research. The class is divided into two substantive blocks. The first one attempts to engage students into a broad discussion of what the research is and how working with academic literature contributes to producing original research. The second block covers some major elements of research design, thus, providing students with the general understanding of how the research process looks like and its anticipated outcomes.
Learning Objectives
- The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic steps of conducting and academic research.
- 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
- Сhooses research methods appropriate for resolving the research tasks
- Performs systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
- Applies knowledge on theory building to their own interpretive research
- Applies knowledge on theory building to their own positivist research
- Knows key principles of case selection and sample design
- Knows key principles of mixed-methods application
Course Contents
- How to prepare a literature review?
- Positivist research and theory building
- Interpretive research and theory building
- Case-selection and sample design
- How can we combine research methods?
Assessment Elements
- Written Assignment: Team Literature ReviewA literature review is a written assignment on a topic proposed by the team themselves and approved by the tutor. A review has to include a clear statement of a question / thesis statement of a broader research problem; be explicit as regard the structuring principle of your review and briefly describe perspectives for further research in the concluding section of your review. Review structure: (1) Abstract. (2) Introduction. Includes your question / thesis statement, broader research problem and the structuring principle of your text. (3) Body of the review. Consider selected pieces of literature according to the selected structuring principle and in a way which allows a team to illuminate the question / thesis statement of your review. (4) Conclusion. Sums up your review, provides an answer to your question or major arguments for your thesis statement, and elaborates on several avenues for further research. (5) Bibliography (list of references)
- In-class Tests
- Interim AssignmentThis assignment is designed to check both skills of using Zotero and identification of research questions.
- Final Assignment
- Midterm Assignment
- Detailed Plan of the Term PaperIn the end of the course, students are to write a detailed plan of their proposed term paper. The plan must consist of titles for chapters and paragraphs within the as well as short description of the proposed content of each paragraph (in a form of bullet points or plain text). The proposed literature review must adhere to one of the structural logics discussed in class. The titles must be substantial (not just “Main body” or “Paragraph 1”). Each chapter should contain at least 2 paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain at least 2 footnote references to the literature the student is going to build this paragraph on. Footnotes and the reference list must be in line with the Chicago reference style. All plan items must be coherently numbered. Instructors will assess the depth of the survey of the literature undertaken by the student, the logical coherence of the plan, and its fit with the expectations from a literature review. The plan will be assessed by three criteria: 1) depth of the literature survey (4 points max), structure and logical coherence (4 points max), and compliance with the formal requirements (2 points max) according ot the rules below. The final grade is a sum of points received for these three criteria with the following exceptions: 1) the grade for a submitted plan with no indication of academic dishonesty cannot be lower than 1; 2) if the plan receives 0 for the first (depth) and/or the second (structure and logical coherence) criterion, the final grade cannot be higher than 3 regardless of what number of points a student receives for other criteria; 3) if the plan matches the plan of a published review article it will be considered an instance of plagiarism.
- In-class assignmentsSome of the classes will feature written assignments related to the discussed topic.
- Assignment on Data AnalysisThe final exam will take place at the end of the fourth module of the academic year. It will include working with the dataset, building, and interpreting the statistical model, and writing a short conclusion. The exam’s duration is 90 minutes, the students will be allowed to use their laptops and notes in order to complete the task.
- In-Class Participation (3)The lecturer evaluates students' participation at the seminars. The grade for this component is the average of all seminars attended.
- In-Class Participation (4)The lecturer evalutes students' participation at the seminars.
- Research Proposal (3rd year)In this assignment, students are to submit a research proposal, based on the topic of their term papers.
- Literature reviewA student provides a literature review related to the term paper research topic Plagiarism and artificial intelligence usage are strictly prohibited
- Research theory buildingA student provides a theoretical framework related to the term paper topic. A theoretical framework should include research expectations (hypothesis) and clearly correspond to one of two main research logics (interpretive or positivist). Plagiarism and artificial intelligence usage are strictly prohibited
- In-class participationStudents are expected to attend each seminar and participate regularly in discussions. The instructor evaluates participation based on the quality of answers, evidence of engagement with the assigned readings and homework, and the overall level of involvement in class activities.
- Home assignmentsStudents 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.
- Research proposalThis 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 assignment also includes submitting drafts of the researh proposal's parts for peer-review discussions prior to final submission. The expected volume of the paper is 1500 words (+/- 10%), references and footnotes NOT INCLUDED.
Interim Assessment
- 2022/2023 2nd module0.5 * In-Class Participation (4) + 0.5 * In-Class Participation (4) + 0.5 * Research Proposal (3rd year) + 0.5 * Research Proposal (3rd year)
- 2022/2023 4th module0.2 * Final Assignment + 0.2 * Final Assignment + 0.2 * In-Class Participation (4) + 0.2 * In-Class Participation (4) + 0.2 * In-class Tests + 0.2 * In-class Tests + 0.2 * Interim Assignment + 0.2 * Interim Assignment + 0.2 * Written Assignment: Team Literature Review + 0.2 * Written Assignment: Team Literature Review
- 2023/2024 2nd module0.7 * Detailed Plan of the Term Paper + 0.7 * Detailed Plan of the Term Paper + 0.1 * In-Class Participation (3) + 0.1 * In-Class Participation (3) + 0.2 * In-class assignments + 0.2 * In-class assignments
- 2023/2024 4th module0.5 * Assignment on Data Analysis + 0.5 * Assignment on Data Analysis + 0.5 * Midterm Assignment + 0.5 * Midterm Assignment
- 2024/2025 2nd module0.4 * Literature review + 0.4 * Literature review + 0.6 * Research theory building + 0.6 * Research theory building
- 2025/2026 3rd module0.25 * Home assignments + 0.25 * Home assignments + 0.15 * In-class participation + 0.15 * In-class participation + 0.6 * Research proposal + 0.6 * Research proposal
