Research Seminar

Bachelor 2021/2022

Type: Compulsory course (Political Science and World Politics)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 3 year, 2-4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Aleksey Gilev, Aleksei Gorgadze, Egor Ianovski, Oleg Korneev

Language: English

ECTS credits: 2

Contact hours: 24

Full 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
Develop students' skills in formulating and justifying their research designs
The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic steps of conducting an academic research
To highlight the scientific component of research activity
Developing skills of writing good literature review
Master students' capabilities to develop and implement various research strategies
Picturing what it means to be a researcher in the modern academic world
Acquaint students with the selected method of research (Ethnography, QCA, Text-as-Data, Public Choice) and their applications
Getting students acquainted with different kinds of research strategies
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

Student is able to 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)
Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field
Able to identify scientific subject
Able to outlines the need for resources and plan its using for solving professional problems
Student is capable of choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks
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 identify scientific subject
Student is able to identify scientific subject
Student is able to outline the need for resources and plan its using for solving professional problems
Student is able to solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
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 reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to sociopolitical subject matter); - and depending on the target audience
Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); - and depending on the target audience
Able to do research, including the problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, defining the research subject, selecting research methods including its quality control
Able to solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
Defines the basic principles and peculiarities of the selected research method
Develops a research design and research strategy using the selected method
Able to do research, including the problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, defining the research subject, selecting research methods including its quality contro
Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes - by using political science methods - and in support of practical decision making process
Student is capable of choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks.
Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); and depending on the target audience
Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes: by using political science methods and in support of practical decision making process.
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 retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field.
Iinterprets the results of the research using the selected method, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses
Performs data collection and preparation for the analysis using the selected research method

Course Contents

Introduction
Particularities and Constraints of Social Sciences
Guidelines for a Good Research Design
Research Strategies, Methodologies and Methods

Assessment Elements

In-class participation
Written Assignment: Team Literature Review
Exam test
This is a written test scheduled for June 17th, Wednesday. There are two parts in the test: multiple choice quiz (part 1) & open questions (part 2). There are 20 questions in part 1 (multiple choice quiz; four possible answers – always only one correct answer among the four options); there are 10 open questions in part 2 (each question requires a 4-6 sentences answer). The exam lasts for 1 hour 20 min (80 min in total). The exam is conducted on the Moodle (https://et.hse.ru), proctoring on the Examus platform (https://hse.student.examus.net). The student's computer must meet the following requirements: https://elearning.hse.ru/data/2020/05/07/1544135594/Технические%20требования%20к%20ПК%20студента.pdf). There are no breaks. This is not an open-book exam; this means no materials can be used during the exam.
In-Class Participation
Individual participation in seminars and contribution to discussions, based on the mandatory and optional readings.
Group project
A literature review on the chosen topic. Each group presents part of their work throughout first half of the course. For the 7th seminar groups make powerpoint presentation of their literature reviews.
Essay
A written individual assignment of 1000-2000 words. Each student writes an essay answering a question which methods could be applied to the topic of student’s coursework and which data should be collected for that. The list of potential methods and approaches is discussed during the 2nd half of the course.
Test
A written examination with duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Test consists of two open questions based on topics of class seminars.
Class activity
Research proposal
Each 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 17, 2019 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 Romen, 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.
Exam
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.
In-class participation
Students 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.
Home assignments
Students 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.
Revision test
The revision test covers the content of the first module.
Research design
This 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 expected volume of the paper is 2500 words (+/- 10%).

Interim Assessment

2019/2020 4th module
0.4 * Written Assignment: Team Literature Review + 0.35 * Exam test + 0.25 * In-class participation
2020/2021 4th module
0.25 * Group project + 0.25 * Test + 0.25 * Essay + 0.25 * In-Class Participation
2021/2022 4th module
0.25 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Written Assignment: Team Literature Review + 0.35 * Exam test
2022/2023 2nd module
0.3 * Research design + 0.25 * In-class participation + 0.2 * Home assignments + 0.25 * Revision test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Geddes, B. (DE-588)171415787, (DE-576)132211866. (2003). Paradigms and sand castles : theory building and research design in comparative politics / Barbara Geddes. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.104638176
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
Rethinking social inquiry : diverse tools, shared standards / ed. by Henry E. Brady . (2010). Lanham, Md. [u.a.]: Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.33152886X

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
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

Course Syllabus