POLn4003 Methodology in Research

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Roman Chytilek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petr Voda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Roman Chytilek, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 P22; and Wed 30. 3. 10:00–11:40 U32
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
With the research methodology discussion as a background, the course deals with the individualized preparation for the diploma thesis. His typical output is the design of a diploma thesis research, which students further develop with their supervisors.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students will be able: - to plan, design, and execute empirical research.
- to develop, apply, and test theories in both small- and large-N research designs.
- to select adequate methodologies in order to deal with their research problems and argue for the employment of specific methods.
- to prepare their own diploma thesis, but also to prepare whatever proposal they will need for their future carreers.
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. Doing a Literature Review
  • 7. Comparative Case studies
  • 8. Oparationasation and Measurment, Research validity
  • 9. Seminar – the debate of draft research proposals
  • 10. Statistical analysis
  • 11. Applied reserach in political science
  • 12. Writing the theses- basic and advanced strategie
  • 13. Course wrap-up
Literature
    required literature
  • Comparative politics. Edited by Daniele Caramani. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford university press, 2017, xl, 605. ISBN 9780198737421. info
  • PUNCH, Keith. Úspěšný návrh výzkumu. Translated by Jan Hendl. Vydání druhé. Praha: Portál, 2015, 230 stran. ISBN 9788026209805. info
  • O'LEARY, Zina. The essential guide to doing your research project. 2nd edition. Los Angeles: Sage, 2014, viii, 371. ISBN 9781446258972. info
  • KELLSTEDT, Paul M. and Guy D. WHITTEN. The fundamentals of political science research. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013, xxiv, 316. ISBN 9781107621664. info
  • EIBL, Otto, Roman CHYTILEK, Anna MATUŠKOVÁ, Barbora PETROVÁ, Radovan BRTNÍK, Miloš GREGOR, Lenka HRBKOVÁ, Silvia HUDÁČKOVÁ, Oto KÓŇA, Marcela KRÁLIKOVÁ, Alena MACKOVÁ, Eva PAVLOVÁ, Tomáš ŠKRHA and Michal ŽIŽLAVSKÝ. Teorie a metody politického marketingu (Theories and Methods of Political Marketing). 1st ed. Brno: CDK, 2012, 341 pp. mimo edici. ISBN 978-80-7325-281-6. info
  • Cambridge Handbook of Experimental Political Science. Edited by James N. Druckman. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011, xiv, 562. ISBN 9780521174558. info
  • BAGLIONE, Lisa A. Writing a research paper in political science : a practical guide to inquiry, structure, and methods. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011, xv, 192. ISBN 9781608719914. info
  • Approaches and methodologies in the social sciences : a pluralist perspective. Edited by Donatella Della Porta - Michael Keating. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, xv, 365. ISBN 9780521709668. info
  • The Oxford handbook of political methodology. Edited by Janet M. Box-Steffensmeier - Henry E. Brady - David Collier. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008, xiii, 880. ISBN 9780199585564. info
  • SHIVELY, W. Phillips. The craft of political research. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, xii, 176. ISBN 0131174401. 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
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars discussing students' draft research designs.
Assessment methods
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 ( 1 page long, 4 points max.). 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 (9 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. 4 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)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
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