Methods in Political Research

What makes science ‘scientific’? What makes a good political scientist? Apart from demonstrating a broad knowledge relating to various empirical data, an advanced research in the field of politics cannot be pursued without a solid understanding of the methodological foundations of political sciences. Furthermore, such knowledge is required in order to be able to critically evaluate the research of others. For this reason, students should become well aware of the main aspects of political sciences research methodology and be able to apply it with confidence in their own research in relation to MA theses.

What makes science ‘scientific’? What makes a good political scientist? Apart from demonstrating a broad knowledge relating to various empirical data, an advanced research in the field of politics cannot be pursued without a solid understanding of the methodological foundations of political sciences. Furthermore, such knowledge is required in order to be able to critically evaluate the research of others. For this reason, students should become well aware of the main aspects of political sciences research methodology and be able to apply it with confidence in their own research in relation to MA thesis.

Such perspective builds the rationale for the course Methods in Political Research. Its aim is to introduce the main terms of political science research methodology, and equip students with basic knowledge and skills in research methods. This course is directly linked and builds foundations that will be developed during the Master’s proseminar in the spring term.

The course will consist of 14 classes:

1. Kick-off meeting - Political Research in Context of Personal Research Experience

2. Foundations of Empirical Research - the role of paradigms and theories

3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Methods

4. Case study research

5. Comparative research

6. Measurement

7. Sampling

8. Research design basics - from conceptualization to operationalization and data sampling

9. Research design basics - from field work to analysis strategies

10. Designing a research process - conceptualization

11. Designing a research process - operationalization and data sampling

12. Designing a research process - fieldwork strategy

13. Designing a research process - data analysis strategy

14. Presentations of group projects

15. Summary

1. Silverman, David. 2013. Doing Qualitative Research. Fourth Edition. Sage Publications Ltd.

2. Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava, and David Nachmias. 2014. Research Methods in the Social Sciences. 8th ed. New York: Worth Publishers.

3. Marsh, David, and Gerry Stoker, eds. 2010. Theory and Methods in Political Science. 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

4. Halperin, Sandra, and Oliver Heath. 2016. Political Research. Methods and Practical Skills. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

5. Marchant-Shapiro, Theresa. 2015. Statistics for Political Analysis. Understanding the Numbers. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

6. Buttolph Johnson, Janet, H. T Reynolds, and Jason D. Mycoff. 2015. Political Science Research Methods. 8th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE

K_W01 Can indicate in a comprehensive way the political science research methods and techniques

K_W09 Can define and characterise the research paradigms in political science

SKILLS

K_U03 Can use the selected theoretical approaches to explain during research the political phenomena

K_U05 Can combine the theoretical approaches and methods connected with them to diagnose and predict the political processes

K_U11 Is able to collect, categorise and use in a proper way the research sources

K_U13 Has foreign language skills in political science according to requirements for B2+ level of the European Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

SOCIAL COMPETENCES

K_K03 Is ready to work in research teams carrying out research projects

K_K06 Is ready to be a research project coordinator.

K_K07 Is able to develop the research skills, taking into consideration the research approaches from similar research fields

The course assessment will consist of group work (50%) and the final examination (50%).