MVZn4015 Qualitative methods in international relations

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Zinaida Bechná, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Mgr. Adriana Ilavská, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
! MVZn4005 Qualitative methods in IR && !NOW( MVZn4005 Qualitative methods in IR )
Knowledge of IR methodology on the bachelor level and higher.
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
The course deals with methods of data collection and qualitative methods of data analysis. It aims to provide students with tools for elaborating their master's thesis in high quality. Students will learn how to code data, apply single-case study, comparative study, crisp set QCA and rewise the basics of academic writing.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to: Independently specify and solve complex problems of IR using appropriate theoretical, conceptual and methodologic apparatus. Analyse key dimensions of international relations (security, economic, energetic, legal, and societal). Apply research methodology in the realm of international relations in expert activities both in public and corporate spheres.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction into the course (requirements, outputs, literature) and special compulsory literature. A brief overview of the IR research and the basic terms (science, hypothesis, paradigm etc.), introduction into philosophy of science 2. Developing effective research proposals 3. Text analysis and coding 4. Case study research I. 5. Case study research II. 6. Introduction into the comparative methodology, sets theory and Boolean algebra. Mid-term test I. 7. Introduction into QCA, variants of QCA 8. Crisp set QCA step by step 9. QCA exercise. Treating contradictory rows and logical reminders 10. QCA exercise. Using collective study data 11. QCA exercise. Using collective study data 12.QCA exercise. Using collective study data 13. Academic writing.
Literature
    required literature
  • Beneš, V. - Drulák, P. (2019) Metodologie výzkumu politiky. Praha: Slon.
  • Marek Loužek (ed.) John Stuart Mill. Dvě stě let od narození. Praha: CEP, 43-54.
  • DVOŘÁK, Tomáš, Lukáš FASORA, Bronislav CHOCHOLÁČ, Tomáš MALÝ, Denisa NEČASOVÁ, Zdeňka STOKLÁSKOVÁ and Martin WIHODA. Úvod do studia dějepisu 1 (Introduction to history 1). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 164 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7012-7. Digitální knihovna FF MU info
  • SEDLÁKOVÁ, Renáta. Výzkum médií : nejužívanejší metody a techniky. Vydání 1. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2014, 539 stran. ISBN 9788024735689. URL info
  • TALEB, Nassim. Černá labuť : následky vysoce nepravděpodobných událostí. Translated by Jan Hořínek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2011, 478 s. ISBN 9788074321283. info
  • Configurational comparative methods : qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) and related techniques. Edited by Benoît Rihoux - Charles C. Ragin. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2009, xxv, 209. ISBN 9781412942355. info
  • PUNCH, Keith. Úspěšný návrh výzkumu. Translated by Jan Hendl. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 230 s. ISBN 9788073674687. info
  • POPPER, Karl R. Logika vědeckého bádání. Translated by Jiří Fiala. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1997, 617 s. ISBN 80-86005. info
  • FAJKUS, Břetislav. Současná filosofie a metodologie vědy. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 1997, 135 s. ISBN 80-7007. info
Teaching methods
Lectures serve exclusively only as an introduction into the issue of the course. It is assumed that the main part of the subject matter will be managed through self-studying of the special literature. Practical exercise serve to improve the ability of students to use the given methods and computer software in research.
Assessment methods
During the course students have to pass 1 mid-written test from lessons 1-13 (success rate 51 %), and pass the final oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Určeno výhradně pro studenty imatrikulačního ročníku 2023/2024 a dále
Teacher's information
Requirements for students: The course is based on the assumption that students have mastered the basics of philosophy and methodology of science at the level of Bachelor's degree in International Relations as it is standardly taught at KMVES FSS MU (see Osička, J. (2015) Basics of Research and Methodology of International Relations. In Pšeja, P et al. Power and interests in the international system. Brno: CDK, pp. 326-348). For a study reference on this topic that originated outside MU (Olecká, I. - Ivanová, K. 2010. Methodology of scientific research. Olomouc) can be found in the compulsory literature folder and it is advisable to study this reference thoroughly before starting the course. The lectures serve consistently only as an introduction to the subject. It is assumed that students will master a substantial part of the material through self-study of the required literature. Lectures will be taught in a problem-based learning format and all students are expected to come to class prepared, that is, having read the required readings for the class. In this course, it is indeed essential to have the required readings read before the class for which they are intended! Credits will be awarded based on: 1. the results of a midterm review via IS of the required literature; 2. a collective paper submitted to IS (April 29, 2022); and 3. an oral examination where the subject matter will be the theory and practical application of QCA (topics 7-12). The mark for the oral examination will be counted twice in the assessment. Learners who are enrolled in MVZ405 will not participate in teamwork! Their course has a lower credit value. Special Requirements: The course assumes that everyone has access to a PC or laptop and is IT literate at the level of a decent high school graduate. Mastery of the material will be made immensely easier if students install the fsQCA 3.0 software on their laptops (or other suitable zevlopoids), which is freely available at http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~cragin/fsQCA/software.shtml The program manual is available at http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~cragin/fsQCA/download/fsQCAManual.pdf In the experience of the course sponsor, the program runs reasonably reliably on IBM compatible PC platforms :) with the Windows operating virus and its clones. The course sponsor has no experience with zevlopoids running on Apple platforms. According to students' experience from previous runs, they work as standard.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/MVZn4015