GV914-7-FY-CO:
Research Design
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
06 April 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
GV915
This module consists of two parts: (1) introduction to the principles of scientific method in social sciences and politics; and (2) discussion of specific research designs for causal identification and their applications in the study of politics. In addition to these topics, each student will develop, present, and write a research paper that can be also used for their M.A. or Ph.D. Dissertation.
Class will meet once a week for 2 hours (120 min) during the Autumn and the Spring terms.
1. Transfer of ideas: students will be helped to follow, assess and conduct empirical research;
2. Improving independent learning and performance: Students will learn to address their own research topics in an framework with an eye towards scholarly publication;
3. Communication, interaction, and peer review: Classes involve not only questions from me but also group discussions;
4. Writing: Students learn how to theorize, generate empirically testable hypotheses, and plan empirical analyses.
By the end of the module students should achieve the following learning outcomes:
1. read, understand, and evaluate empirical analyses and scholarly work published in the leading journals;
2. understand evaluation methods for particular research questions, research designs, and variables;
3. understand evaluation methods with a particular emphasis on causal inference;
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered with a two-hour weekly seminar and will be made available to students off-campus.
-
Clark, T.
et al. (2021f)
Bryman’s social research methods. Sixth edition. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/974675.
-
Johnson, J.B., Reynolds, H.T. and Mycoff, J.D. (2019e)
Political Science Research Methods. 9th Revised edition. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Inc. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/650865.
-
Kellstedt, P.M. and Whitten, G.D. (2018a)
Fundamentals of Political Science Research. 3rd Revised edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing). Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/294544.
-
Angrist, J.D. and Pischke, J.-S. (2009)
Mostly harmless econometrics: an empiricist’s companion. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/168906.
-
Kellstedt, P.M. and Whitten, G.D. (2018b)
Fundamentals of Political Science Research. 3rd Revised edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing). Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/294544.
-
Adcock, R. and Collier, D. (2001) ‘Measurement Validity: A Shared Standard for Qualitative and Quantitative Research’,
American Political Science Review, 95(3), pp. 529–546. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055401003100.
-
Bourke, B. (2014) ‘Positionality: Reflecting on the Research Process’,
The Qualitative Report [Preprint]. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1026.
-
Pillow, W. (2003) ‘Confession, catharsis, or cure? Rethinking the uses of reflexivity as methodological power in qualitative research’,
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 16(2), pp. 175–196. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/0951839032000060635.
-
Glynos, J. and Howarth, D. (2008) ‘Critical Explanation in Social Science: A Logics Approach’, 34(1). Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328145174_Critical_Explanation_in_Social_Science_a_Logics_Approach.
-
Howarth, D. and Roussos, K. (2023) ‘Radical democracy, the commons and everyday struggles during the Greek crisis’,
The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 25(2), pp. 311–327. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/13691481211067147.
-
-
Kern, F. (2011) ‘Ideas, Institutions, and Interests: Explaining Policy Divergence in Fostering “System Innovations” towards Sustainability’,
Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 29(6), pp. 1116–1134. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1068/c1142.
-
Malik, R. (2023) ‘Lesser of Two Evils: Allocating Resources to Opposition Districts in Pakistan’, 48(2). Available at:
https://repository.essex.ac.uk/33311/.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Anna Getmansky, email: anna.getmansky@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Anna Getmansky
Dr Getmansky anna.getmansky@essex.ac.uk or Graduate Administrator: Alex West, awestb@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Damien Bol
King's College London
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 40 hours, 20 (50%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
20 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.