49002 - Research Problems and Methods

Learning outcomes

Student is expected to be equipped with practical skills for conducting social science research; identifying, organising and reviewing relevant literature; structuring, writing up and referencing academic work (such as course essays and MA theses); and publishing articles in peer reviewed academic journals and chapters in edited volumes.

Course contents

1 The Structure of a good research (paper)

2 Research strategies and research questions

3 Mapping the field: secondary sources and literature reviews

4 Primary sources

5 Fieldwork and Interviews

6 Students presentations.

7 Students presentations.

8 Students presentations

9 Students presentations

10 Doing field-work and archival work (Russia, Eastern Europe and beyond) (guest speakers TBC)

Readings/Bibliography

Hancké, B. (2009). Intelligent research design: a guide for beginning researchers in the social sciences. Oxford University Press. (ch.5+ appendix)

Gustafsson, Karl & Linus Hagstrom (2017). “What is the point? Teaching Graduate Students how to Construct Political Science Research Puzzles.” European Political Science, pp. 1‐15 (first online, 31 July 2017).

Sartori, G. (1991). Comparing and miscomparing. Journal of theoretical politics, 3(3), 243-257.

Mosley, Layna. 2013. “Introduction. ‘Just Talk to People’? Interviews in Contemporary in Political Science.” In Interview Research in Political Science, edited by Layna Mosley, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1–30.

Teaching methods

Frontal classes, seminars, students' presentations.

Assessment methods

20% Class Participation

30% paper Presentation

20% Discussion other students’ papers

30% Final Assignment.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Dian