POL494 Concepts and Methodology in Political Science

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Ing. Ondřej Císař, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Roman Chytilek, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Kateřina Vráblíková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Otto Eibl, Ph.D. (assistant)
doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Anna Shavit, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Jakub Šedo, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ing. Ondřej Císař, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 exP52
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course the students will be able to plan, design, and execute empirical research. They will be able to develop, apply, and test theories in both small- and large-N research. The students will be able to select adequate methodologies in order to deal with their research problems and argue for the employment of specific methods. They will be able not only to prepare their own dissertation proposals, but to also prepare whatever proposal they will need in their future carriers.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Philosophical and epistemological foundations of the social sciences
  • 3. Research starts with a question
  • 4. Theory, argument, logics of explanation
  • 5. From theories to empirical research, conceptualization, operationalization, case selection
  • 6. The key elements of research and grant proposals
  • 7. Reading week
  • 8. Mechanisms and processes
  • 9. Seminar – the debate of draft research proposals
  • 10. Statistical analysis
  • 11. Case study and comparative design
  • 12. From words to numbers and metaphors
  • 13. Course wrap-up
Literature
  • DRULÁK, Petr. Jak zkoumat politiku : kvalitativní metodologie v politologii a mezinárodních vztazích. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 255 s. ISBN 9788073673857. info
  • CÍSAŘ, Ondřej. Politický aktivismus v České republice: Sociální hnutí a občanská společnost v období transformace a evropeizace (Political Activism in the Czech Republic: Social Movements and Civil Society in the Eras of Transformation and Europeanization). Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2008, 187 pp. Politologická řada, sv. č. 28. ISBN 978-80-7325-168-0. URL info
  • GEORGE, Alexander L. and Andrew BENNETT. Case studies and theory development in the social sciences. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2005, xv, 331. ISBN 0262572222. info
  • HENDL, Jan. Kvalitativní výzkum : základní metody a aplikace. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2005, 407 s. ISBN 8073670402. info
  • WINCH, Peter. Idea sociální vědy a její vztah k filosofii. Translated by Tomáš Suchomel. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2004, 134 s. ISBN 8073250357. info
  • HOLLIS, Martin and Steve SMITH. Mezinárodní vztahy: výklad a porozumění. Translated by Pavel Pšeja. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2000, 248 s. ISBN 808595964X. info
  • VAN EVERA, Stephen. Guide to methods for students of political science. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1997, vi, 136. ISBN 080148457X. info
  • KING, Gary, Sidney VERBA and Robert O. KEOHANE. Designing social inquiry :scientific inference in qualitative research. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994, xi, 247 s. ISBN 0-691-03471-0. info
  • SKOCPOL, Theda. States and social revolutions : a comparative analysis of France, Russia, and China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979, xvii, 407. ISBN 0521294991. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars discussing students' draft research designs.
Assessment methods
1. In the course, students are expected to write up a model research proposal, and submit it as their final paper. They are required to work on their proposals continually throughout the semester. First, they must submit their draft proposals in the middle of the course (at least 4 pages long). The selected proposals will be discussed in the seminar (see the syllabus of the course). It is compulsory to attend the seminar. Next, students must submit the final version of their proposals by the end of the semester (10 pages; you can get up to 20 points for the proposal). The exact deadlines will be announced in the beginning of the semester.
2. There will be a final in-class written exam, consisting of four questions (max. 5 points for each question) based on the required readings and the discussions in class.
The grade will be calculated on the basis of the number of points collected. In order to complete the course, students must collect at least 24 points. Evaluation:
A 40 – 38 points
B 37 – 34 points
C 33 – 30 points
D 29 – 27 points
E 26 – 24 points
F 23 and less points
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
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