Дизайн политического исследования

Аспирантура 2020/2021

Статус: Курс обязательный

Направление: 41.06.01. Политические науки и регионоведение

Кто читает: Департамент политики и управления

Когда читается: 1-й курс, 1 семестр

Формат изучения: без онлайн-курса

Преподаватели: Маркварт Кайл Лоус

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 3

Контактные часы: 36

Full Syllabus

Abstract

In this course, students will learn cutting-edge methods for designing social-scientific research projects, with particular emphasis on political science. Topics will include general overviews of philosophy of social science and causal inference, as well as case selection, measurement and ethics. While the course will focus on positivist approaches, the course will be broadly applicable to students with a variety of methodological and ontological approaches.

Learning Objectives

Developing familiarity with key aspects of social scientific research design and their application, as well as awareness of resources and skills to develop in order to pursue different research agendas.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will learn how to apply key elements of research design to their own research.
Students will learn how to critique the work of other scholars using principles learned in the course.

Course Contents

Course Plan
The course will consist of 9 classes. The first seven classes will take place in the second module (November-December). Each of these classes will be divided into 1) in-class presentation and discussions of student research, and 2) a lecture in which students will be introduced to the theoretical and practical issues involved in an aspect of research design. In the remaining two classes (held in January) students will present and discuss their research designs, in preparation for their final papers (due February) More specifically, the plan is as follows:
Class 1: Introduction to causality vs. descriptive inference
Class 2: Causality: experiments and natural experiments
Class 3: Causality: observational analysis
Class 4: Case selection
Class 5: Qualitative vs. quantitative research
Class 6: Measurement and data
Class 7: Research transparency and ethics
Class 8-9: In-class presentations

Assessment Elements

Participation
Homework
Presentations
Final project

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (1 semester)
0.4 * Final project + 0.2 * Homework + 0.27 * Participation + 0.13 * Presentations

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Adcock, R., & Collier, D. (2001). Measurement Validity: A Shared Standard for Qualitative and Quantitative Research. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003055401003100
Darden, K., & Grzymala-Busse, A. (2006). The Great Divide: Literacy, Nationalism, and the Communist Collapse. https://doi.org/10.1353/wp.2007.0015
FINKEL, E. (2015). The Phoenix Effect of State Repression: Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust. https://doi.org/10.1017/s000305541500009x

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Coppedge, M., Gerring, J., Altman, D., Bernhard, M., Fish, S., Hicken, A., Kroenig, M., Lindberg, S. I., McMann, K., Paxton, P., Semetko, H. A., Skaaning, S.-E., Staton, J., & Teorell, J. (2011). Conceptualizing and Measuring Democracy: A New Approach. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1537592711000880
Rhodes, R. A. W., & Bevir, M. (2015). Routledge Handbook of Interpretive Political Science. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1021249
Wright, G. H. von. (2009). Explanation and Understanding. Routledge.

Course Syllabus