Research Seminar "Design and Methodology"

Master 2021/2022

Type: Compulsory course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 2 year, 1-3 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: András Gál

Master’s programme: Comparative Politics of Eurasia

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 36

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The core objective of the course is to facilitate the thesis writing of second-year MA students, building on the skills and knowledge acquired in the first year of their program. In the first four sessions, the logistical, formatting, and ethical issues around thesis writing are discussed, alongside potential avenues for further developing one’s research project (PhD proposals, publications). The second part of the course (sessions 3-8) addresses various content-specific issues. This includes issues that can be crystallized in the progress of thesis writing (such as trade-offs and pitfalls, or data collection), as well as research methods and strategies that have been addressed to a lesser extent in the first year (like set-theoretic methods or process-tracing). In the final, third stage of the course, students will present their MA thesis research, and discuss the projects in a workshop format.

Learning Objectives

The core objective of the course is to facilitate the thesis writing of second-year MA students, building on the skills and knowledge acquired in the first year of their program
to familiarize students with international standards of linking empirical and conceptual approaches, data-collection, academic writing, and communicating research results

Expected Learning Outcomes

becomes familiar with the essential features of academic publishing procedures
has a firm grasp on the essential practical guidelines of research design and planning
has avenues of applying research skills outside academia
is able to effectively communicate their research results
Avenues of applying research skills outside academia will be introduced
Students will be able to effectively communicate their research results.
Students will become familiar with the essential features of academic publishing procedures
The essential genres of academic writing will be introduced
will be able to confidently mobilize external sources in their research, fully aware of the boundaries between sound academic writing and plagiarism or academic dishonesty
will have a firm grasp on the essential practical guidelines of research design and planning.

Course Contents

The fundamental features of academic research and genres of academic writing
The fundamental features of academic research and genres of academic writing
Research ethics and the use of supporting tools
Avoiding the “So what?” question: puzzles, problems and research questions
Avoiding the “So what?” question: puzzles, problems and research questions
Writing a PhD application
A practical guide to planning research: term papers, thesis outlines, PhD proposals
An introduction to the basics of academic publishing
Communicating in academic contexts: presentations and conference discussions
Trade-offs and pitfalls
Pluralistic traditions, mixed methods? Navigating between epistemic and methodological traditions
Mixed-methods research
The use of research skills in non-academic contexts
Process-tracing & QCA
Presentation workshop 1
Qualitative data-collections (essentials)
Presentation workshop 2
Presentation workshops (10 sessions)
Position paper
Short assignments
Literature review
Research question essay
Presentation
Reaction paper
Written exercises
Thesis presentation
Discussing other thesis project

Assessment Elements

Position paper
The position paper shall be a problem-based, argumentative text demonstrating the student’s capacity to identify academically relevant problems, finding avenues to tackle it, and communicating her/his arguments in a persuasive, transparent, and succinct manner. The position paper should also demonstrate the student’s firm understanding on the differences between epistemic and methodological traditions. The position paper’s extent shall not exceed 1,000 words, including foot/endnotes, excluding the bibliography.
Literature review
The literature review should be a narrative text demonstrating the student’s ability to identify the relevant sources for her/his research, to identify various positions and debates in the relevant literature, and to situate her/his own research within these debates. The literature review’s extent shall not exceed 600 words, including foot/endnotes, excluding the bibliography.
Presentation
The presentation should be a preliminary proposal on the student’s major research project within the program, the MA thesis. Beyond presenting their works, students will also have to comment on other research proposals in a constructive fashion. The oral presentation shall be max. 10 minutes long.
Written exercises
The written tasks are short exercises, following up on specific aspects of a given class, e.g. discerning cases of academic dishonesty and plagiarism, transgressing boundaries in academic genres, etc. Depending on the discussions within the class sessions, 2-4 of these will be assigned throughout the semester, always touching upon specific practical matters.
Class participation
In the class participation component, the following qualities can result in a maximal grade: • frequency and concision of class participations • originality of class contribution • connection between preparation materials and class contributions • contribution to class discussion dynamics • participation in maintaining an inspiring class environment
Short assignments
The short assignments are brief exercises, following up on specific aspects of a given class, e.g. discerning cases of academic dishonesty and plagiarism, transgressing boundaries in academic genres, etc. Depending on the discussions within the class sessions, 2-4 of these will be assigned throughout the semester, always touching upon specific practical matters.
Research question essay
The research question essay should be a 400-600 words-long (including foot/endnotes, excluding bibliography) explication of the student’s central research question in her/his MA thesis, reflecting on its justification, academic relevance, and feasibility.
Reaction paper
The reaction paper has to explicate how the methodological considerations introduced in one of the mandatory readings contributes to her/his MA thesis. The reactions paper should be 600-800 words-long, including foot/endnotes, excluding bibliography.
Thesis presentation
The presentation should be a preliminary proposal on the student’s major research project within the program, the MA thesis. Beyond presenting their works, students will also have to comment on other research proposals in a constructive style.
Participation in the general class sessions
In both class participation components, the following qualities can result in a maximal grade: • frequency and concision of class participations • originality of class contribution • connection between preparation materials and class contributions • contribution to class discussion dynamics • participation in maintaining an inspiring class environment
Participation in thesis workshop sessions
In both class participation components, the following qualities can result in a maximal grade: • frequency and concision of class participations • originality of class contribution • connection between preparation materials and class contributions • contribution to class discussion dynamics • participation in maintaining an inspiring class environment
Discussing another thesis presentation
Beyond presenting their works, students will also have to comment on other research proposals in a constructive fashion.

Interim Assessment

2020/2021 2nd module
0.2 * Literature review + 0.3 * Position paper + 0.1 * Written exercises + 0.3 * Presentation + 0.1 * Class participation
2021/2022 3rd module
0.1 * Participation in thesis workshop sessions + 0.1 * Short assignments + 0.1 * Discussing another thesis presentation + 0.3 * Thesis presentation + 0.15 * Research question essay + 0.15 * Reaction paper + 0.1 * Participation in the general class sessions

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Bob Hancké. (2009). Intelligent Research Design : A Guide for Beginning Researchers in the Social Sciences. OUP Oxford.
Hancké, B. (2009). Intelligent Research Design : A Guide for Beginning Researchers in the Social Sciences. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=299002
King, G. (DE-588)135604311, (DE-627)568593324, (DE-576)166299405, aut. (1994). Designing social inquiry scientific inference in qualitative research Gary King; Robert O. Keohane; Sidney Verba.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Eco, U., Farina, G., & Mongiat Farina, C. (2015). How to Write a Thesis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=963778
Henry E. Brady, & David Collier. (2010). Rethinking Social Inquiry : Diverse Tools, Shared Standards: Vol. 2nd ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Janet M. Box-Steffensmeier, Henry E. Brady, & David Collier. (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Political Methodology. OUP Oxford.
Landman, T. (2008). Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics : An Introduction (Vol. 3rd ed). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=222321
The Oxford handbook of political methodology / ed. by Janet Box-Steffensmeier . (2008). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.253060168
Todd Landman. (2003). Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics : An Introduction: Vol. 2nd ed. Routledge.

Course Syllabus