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Regular version of the site
Master 2022/2023

Methodology and Research Methods of Political Science and Economics

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Elective course (Politics. Economics. Philosophy)
Area of studies: Political Science
When: 1 year, 3, 4 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Ilia Inshakov
Master’s programme: Политика. Экономика. Философия
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 64

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is designed to introduce students to the philosophy and methodology of research in social sciences and show them how specialization and integration of different methodologies work across social sciences and beyond. Besides, the students get familiarized with main methods of qualitative, quantitative, and ‘mixed’ research and learn about challenges associated with their application. The course outlines key approaches to (neo)institutionalism(s) and discourse analysis and main challenges connected to them.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • shaping students’ critical thinking in the face of multiple epistemological strategies, working methodologies and theoretical approaches practiced in contemporary social sciences
  • making students understand their limitations and capabilities
  • helping students to develop skills necessary for choosing analytical tools adequate to specific research areas and tasks, for designing research programs
  • helping students to develop skills necessary for choosing analytical tools adequate to specific research areas and tasks, for designing research programs.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • critically evaluates research projects in political science and economics
  • critically evaluates research projects in political science and economics
  • designs methodological frameworks for research projects in political science and economics
  • knows the key principles of the most common methodologies and research methods of political science and economics
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Topic 1. Introduction to the philosophy and methodology of science
  • Topic 2. Methodological specialization and integration
  • Topic 3. Challenges of Quantitate Research
  • Topic 4. Challenges of Qualitative Research
  • Topic 5. Challenges of 'Mixed' Research
  • Topic 6. Challenges of (neo)institutionalism(s)
  • Topic 7. Challenges of constructivist traditions
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Group Work Papers and Presentation
  • non-blocking Group Work Final Paper
  • non-blocking Participation and Discussions in Class
  • non-blocking Peer review of group projects
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2022/2023 4th module
    0.2 * Participation and Discussions in Class + 0.2 * Peer review of group projects + 0.3 * Group Work Papers and Presentation + 0.3 * Group Work Final Paper
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Approaches and methodologies in the social sciences : a pluralist perspective / ed. by Donatella della Porta . (2008). Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.283822104
  • Hall, P., & Taylor, R. (1996). Political Science and the Three New Institutionalisms. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.45428ED0
  • Keating, M., & Della Porta, D. (2008). Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences : A Pluralist Perspective. Cambridge , New York: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=304674
  • Mahoney, J., & Goertz, G. (2006). A Tale of Two Cultures: Contrasting Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.18538E6D
  • Mäki, U., & ScienceDirect (Online service). (2012). Philosophy of Economics. Amsterdam: North Holland. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=249147
  • Searle, J. R. (2005). What is an institution? Journal of Institutional Economics, (01), 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.jinsec.v1y2005i01p1.22.00
  • Taagepera, R. (2018). Science walks on two legs, but social sciences try to hop on one. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.688BE5ED
  • 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

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • King, G. (DE-588)135604311, (DE-576)166299405. (1994). Designing social inquiry : scientific inference in qualitative research / Gary King; Robert O. Keohane; Sidney Verba. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.039730549
  • Klingemann, H.-D., & Goodin, R. E. (1996). A New Handbook of Political Science. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=273524