Бакалавриат
2020/2021
Научно-исследовательский семинар
Статус:
Курс обязательный (Политология и мировая политика)
Направление:
41.03.04. Политология
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук
Когда читается:
4-й курс, 1-3 модуль
Формат изучения:
без онлайн-курса
Преподаватели:
Григорьев Иван Сергеевич,
Губайдуллина Софья Шамильевна,
Декальчук Анна Андреевна,
Тиняков Даниил Кириллович
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
6
Контактные часы:
30
Course 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
- Assisting the students to prepare their final thesis to be submitted and defended by the end of the undergraduate programme
- Picturing what it means to be a researcher in the modern academic world
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Able to identify scientific subject
- Able to solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
- Able to outlines the need for resources and plan its using for solving professional problems
- 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 do research, including the problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, defining the research subject, selecting research methods including its quality control
- 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 choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks
- Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field
Course Contents
- Introduction to social science research
- Guidelines for a Good Research DesignResearch problem. Research question. What is its role? What are the types of research questions? Literature review. Why do we need it? How do we do it? What is theory? Hypotheses. Conceptualization and operationalization of concepts. What is empirical data?
- Guidelines for planning empirical researchCase selection. Comparative research Case selection: case study Data collection Data analysis. Reliability and validity Research Strategies, Methodologies and Methods. What is the difference? How to plan?
- Political Science as Vocation: what has changed since Weber?What is social science and what questions matter? Discussing social science mainstream. Experimental research. Types of experiments in political science. Quasiexperimental research design and policy evaluation. Field experiments and evidence-based policymaking. Summing-up. Academic knowledge outside the University. Academic vs. corporate career.
Assessment Elements
- Class activityWork in class during the DGs (which of course includes the assessment of their quantitative and qualitative contribution to the discussions, etc).
- Research proposalEach 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 16, 2020 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 Roman, 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.
- ExamThe exam is held online via MS Teams. 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.
Interim Assessment
- Interim assessment (3 module)0.2 * Class activity + 0.4 * Exam + 0.4 * Research proposal
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Geddes, B. (DE-588)171415787, (DE-627)061614629, (DE-576)132211866, aut. (2003). Paradigms and sand castles theory building and research design in comparative politics Barbara Geddes.
- Rethinking social inquiry diverse tools, shared standards ed. by Henry E. Brady and David Collier. (2010).
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
- 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
- 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