400006 SE SE Methods for Doctoral Candidates (2014S)

This course discusses and contrasts the advantages and potential drawbacks of quantitative analysis and of small-N comparisons in social science research. It is intended to introduce students to fundamental issues in the design of research in the social sciences and, therefore and to assist students in the development of their own research generally. The course is structured to deal with an interconnected set of issues facing researchers in the choice of methods - qualitative or quantitative - that match the research question, such as causality, generalizability or internal validity. At the end of this course, (1) you have a broad overview of various approaches of qualitative and quantitative research within the social sciences, (2) you are able to critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches, and (3) you have explored ways in which both qualitative and quantitative approaches can be integrated in your own research design.