New Approaches to Sociopolitical and Economic Development of Asia

2019/2020

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

12

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

School of Asian Studies

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

2 year, 1-4 module

Instructor

Kudelin, Andrey A.

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is aimed at guiding participants in development and improvement of research skills (analytical, heuristic, creative, etc.) and deepening their knowledge of social science methodology related to conducting, structuring and framing of a successful research and completing of a Master’s degree thesis in Asian Studies. A special attention is paid to advanced examination of social science research specificities, challenges, logic and the structure with a focus on their performance in Asian Studies. The course introduces cutting-edge trends in Asian Studies methodology and ways of their application to a Master’s research. The seminar implies a detailed critical analysis of the main components of the Master’s thesis in Asian Studies, exploring the key techniques of effective collecting and analyzing various data, as well as theoretical and practical support of the paper completion process. The course introduces cutting-edge trends in Asian Studies methodology and ways of their application to a Master’s research. The seminar implies a detailed critical analysis of the writing of the Course Work and Articles in Asian Studies, exploring the key techniques of effective collecting and analyzing various data, as well as theoretical and practical support of the paper completion process.

Learning Objectives

• To equip Master’s degree program students with theoretical and methodological instruments for conducting theoretical and applied research in Asian Studies
• To advance critical and independent thinking
• To evaluate students’ own standpoints on the research problem,
• To enhance the students’ competence in recognizing and creating the balanced structure and contents of the thesis in Asian Studies as well as in assessing own research as a holistic work, its place in the field of study and contribution to it, its perspectives and challenges

Expected Learning Outcomes

• 1. To define the basic principles, special features, challenges and key components of the contemporary research in Asian Studies
• 2. To identify and explain the classical and cutting-edge trends in the field of study and different theoretical approaches to exploring the chosen research subject in Asian Studies
• 3. To adequately use instruments of the contemporary social science methodology in conducting the Master’s degree research in Asian Studies
• 4. To do various types of research work in Asian Studies in compliance with the objectives and tasks of the study and formal requirements of the Master’s theses in the field
• 5. To identify and create a balanced structure of the Master’s thesis in Asian Studies (and in Asian Studies specifically)
• 6. To professionally work with literature and different types of information resources, to apply contemporary techniques of effective collecting and analyzing various data to own research work
• 7. To distinguish between incoherent explanation and well-ground argumentation, to identify and correct various types of errors in scientific inquiry and reasoning
• 8. To recognize and follow the main ideas and principles of scientific culture, to clothe thoughts on the subject of study in suitable scientific language
• 9. To critically assess own written works, oral presentations and explanations as well as research activity and performance of the colleagues, make references of the others’ work
• 10. To work effectively on the research project as both an individual researcher and a member of the expert group / team of the researchers

Course Contents

• Methodology Class 1. Introduction to Social Science and Humanities Research. Basics of Epistemology of Social Research. What is Reality, and How We Conduct Ordinary and Scientific Inquiry
• Methodology Class 2. The Nature of Theory in Social Research. Correlation Between Theory and Practice
• Outlining the Research Problem. The Objective Statement. Defining the key points of the Research Plan. Critical Analysis of the Students’ Current Research Frameworks
• Outlining the Research Problem. Critical Analysis of the Draft Research Plan. Presentation Day 1
• Outlining the Research Problem. Critical Analysis of the Draft Research Plan. Presentation Day 2
• Methodology Class 3. Social Science as a System of Logical and Empirical Knowledge. Types of Explanation in Social Research. Usage of Variables in Social Science. Application of Variables to Asian Studies
• Round Table Discussion
• Outlining the Research Problem. Critical Analysis of the Draft Research Plan. Presentation Day 3
• Methodology Class 4. Logic of Social Research. Inductive and Deductive Exploration in Asian Studies
• Outlining the Research Problem. Critical Analysis of the Draft Research Plan. Presentation Day 4
• Methodology Class 5. Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Social Research. Application to Asian Studies
• Methodology Class 6. Framing and Revising the Research Problem in Asian Studies. Proposing the Research Object, Subject, Goal and Tasks
• Methodology Class 7. Terminology and Language of the Research in Asian Studies. Defining Units of Analysis
• Methodology Class 8. Proposing and Formulating of Research Hypotheses. Types of Hypotheses. Common Errors in Formulating Research Hypotheses
• Methodology Class 9. Historiography of the Research. Choice and Critical Analysis of Literature. Work with the Sources of Information. How to Build a Solid and Quality Basis of Sources
• Panel Discussion
• Methodology Class 10. Methods of Study. How to make an Optimal Choice of the Method. Notions of the Method and Methodology of Social Science Research. Classification of Methods
• Methodology Class 10. Challenges in Application of the Traditional and Modern Methods of Social Research to Asian Studies
• Practical Activity (Interactive Off-Site Game «Critical Analysis of the Research Method»)
• Methodology Class 11. Building a Theoretical Foundation of the Research. The Key Theories of Contemporary Asian Studies. The Main Paradigms in Political Science and History
• Methodology Class 12. Building a Theoretical Foundation of the Research. The Key Theories of Contemporary Asian Studies. The Main Paradigms in Economics
• Methodology Class 13. Methodological Challenges of a Multidisciplinary Research: Theoretical and Empirical Implications. Usage of Formal and Informal Methods
• Methodology Class 14. Framing Conclusions to the Thesis. Integration of Data and Conclusions
• Finalizing the Thesis Structure. The Critical Analysis of the Full Structure
• Techniques of Writing the Main Part of the Thesis. Class 1
• Techniques of Writing the Main Part of the Thesis. Class 2
• Techniques of Writing the Main Part of the Thesis. Class 3
• Techniques of Writing the Main Part of the Thesis. Class 4
• Final Presentation of the Theses. Presentation Day 1
• Final Presentation of the Theses. Presentation Day 2
• Final Presentation of the Theses. Presentation Day 3
• Final Alignment Session

Assessment Elements

• Introductive presentation
  Module 1
• Written & oral assignments
• Final presentation
  Module 4. In this case, short-term and long-term violations of the Internet connection do not matter.
• Participation

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (4 module)
  0.2 * Final presentation + 0.1 * Introductive presentation + 0.4 * Participation + 0.3 * Written & oral assignments

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social Science Research : Principles, Methods, and Practices. Place of publication not identified: Global Text Project. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsotl&AN=edsotl.OTLid0000079
• Denscombe, M. (2010). Ground Rules for Social Research : Guidelines for Good Practice (Vol. 2nd ed). Maidenhead, Berkshire, England: McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=286583
• Hanauer, D. I., & Englander, K. (2013). Scientific Writing in a Second Language. Anderson. South Carolina: Parlor Press, LLC. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1002582
• Hegde, D. S. (2015). Essays on Research Methodology. New Delhi: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1001250
• Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology : Methods & Techniques (Vol. 2nd rev. ed). New Delhi: New Age International. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=277465
• Manchón, R. M., & Matsuda, P. K. (2016). Handbook of Second and Foreign Language Writing. Boston, MA: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1354412
• Wang, G. T., & Park, K. (2016). Student Research and Report Writing : From Topic Selection to the Complete Paper. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1108252

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Agresti, A., & Finlay, B. (2014). Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences: Pearson New International Edition (Vol. Pearson new international ed., 4. ed). Harlow England: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1418314
• Ethridge, M. E. (2015). The Political Research Experience: Readings and Analysis : Readings and Analysis (Vol. Third edition). London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=955843
• Kuada, J. E. (2012). Research Methodology : A Project Guide for University Students (Vol. 1st edition). Frederiksberg C [Denmark]: Samfundslitteratur Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=503632
• Lincoln, B. (2014). Discourse and the Construction of Society : Comparative Studies of Myth, Ritual, and Classification (Vol. Second edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1070425
• Perrin, D., & Jakobs, E.-M. (2014). Handbook of Writing and Text Production. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=753946