210112 UE M2: Research Methods for Political Science (2019S)

The course provides students with the knowledge of quantitative research approaches and methods that are necessary for researching and writing an MA thesis. This course is important because you will learn how to conduct research, particularly within the social science field.
The course deals with the development of a research design. For this purpose all key concepts and steps of the research design are discussed: formulation of a research question, literature review, theory, hypothesis definition and testing, concept definitions and operationalization, case selection and empirical verification. Some of the questions that will be discussed include the following: How do I find a research question? How to formulate a research question? What elements should a quantitative research design include? How can a research question be adequately justified theoretically? The seminar also discusses statistical methods that are useful for answering the research question and to verify the hypotheses formulated. The empirical analyses are carried out using Stata in the computer room.
Learning Outcomes
Assuming that you have read the material and participated regularly in class, the seminar will:
- sharpen your ability to produce original research in social science while developing skills in designing and conducting research studies, collecting and analysing data, drawing appropriate conclusions based on statistical results, and writing up scientific reports;
- help you choosing your MA thesis research question, collecting data and evidence, drawing conclusions and writing up your thesis;
- help you in analysing quantitative data and interpreting your results using Stata, a common statistical analysis programme used in the social sciences;
- develop your capacity for critically evaluating “scientific evidence” that is communicated in academic journals, the popular press, and other outlets such as reports from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations.