Introduction
Maya Hadar
OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR
To develop an overview of
concepts, methods and
applications of Internet
based research
(experimental + big data)
01
Applying theoretic
knowledge in designing and
conducing your own online
surveys
02
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
•STUDENTS WOULD ACQUIRE SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF CONCEPTS CENTRAL TO THE FIELD OF
INTERNET-BASED RESEARCH.
•STUDENTS WOULD GET AN OVERVIEW OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED INDICES IN THE FIELDS OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATION AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.
•STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE ONLINE INDICES IN THEIR OWN RESEARCH.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
•STUDENTS SHOULD BE BALE TO DESIGN AND CARRY OUT A BASIC ONLINE SURVEY/EXPERIMENT.
•STUDENTS WOULD POSSESS BASIC SKILLS AND COMPETENCES TO DESIGN, CONDUCT AND
ANALYSE DATA ORIGINATED IN THE WEB.
TACKLED QUESTIONS
How can online sources be used for academic research?
How can I make sure that the sources i‘m using are reliable?
How do i make sense of big data (online)?
I‘m interested in researching …, does it make sense to design & carry out an online
survey/experiment?
I know nothing about codes and logarithms, can i still design & carry out surveys/experiments
online?
How do I ‘get’ people to participate in my research?
What are the most common indices, used in my fields of study?
STRUCTURE
Theoretical understanding of core concepts of
internet-based research
Students will design and execute their own
online surveys
Online indices as data sources in academic
research conducted in political science and
international relations would be discussed
COURSE STRUCTURE
Feb 21 1. Introduction to the seminar
Feb 28 2. Introduction to internet-based research and online data
March 7 3. Early history & methodology of Internet-based research- reading week
March 14 4. Mining Big Data, Amazon’s mechanical Turk, Survey Data
March 21 5. Internet research in political science
March 28 6. Internet research in political science
April 4 7. Internet-based research: students’ presentations
April 11 8. Practical session- How to create your own web experiment/survey
April 18 9. Introduction to using online indices in conducting academic research
April 25 10. Common Indices in Poli-sci and IR: students’ presentations
May 2 11. Practical Session- work on your own survey (in class)
May 9 12. Practical Session- work on your own survey (at home)
May 16 13. The ethics of internet research, summary and conclusion, feedback
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
• PASS/FAIL
• WEEKLY READINGS
• 2 PRESENTATION (ONE PAPER + ONE INDEX)
• CARRY OUT A SIMPLE ONLINE SURVEY/EXPERIMENT
• FINAL PAPER: YOUR SURVEY/EXPERIMENT => QUESTION, PROCES, OUTCOMES
• ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE MANDATORY FOR A SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE SEMINAR
PRESENTATIONS
One research paper, one online index
• Author, journal, research question, methodology, findings,
conclusion and later literature citing the paper
• Original input (concerning future research, critical feedback
etc.)
• 10-20 minutes
Research paper =>
• Basic information about the research centre/institute which
is heading the index, description of the goal of the index, the
methodology used, the system of scaling/scores, highlight
from the most current index and an example of how the data
was used in contemporary academic research
• 10-20 minutes
On line index=>
FINAL PAPER
Based on
your own
online
survey
You choose
the topic!
Topic
should be
communica
ted to the
lecture via
email by
14.03
Focus on
the
research
question
and work
process,
less on
findings
2,000-2,500
words (6-7
pages)
Submission
deadline
June 1st,
2019 at
9:00 (can
submit
before)
Basic
structure
and writing
guidelines
will be
provided
FURTHER INFORMATION
• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET
• SET A GOOGLE ACCOUNT (TO GAIN ACCESS TO GOOGLE FORMS)
• THINK OF POTENTIAL IDEAS FOR YOUR SURVEY/EXPERIMENT (KEEP IT SIMPLE!)
• AN INTERESTING RESEARCH QUESTION THAT HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS,
REACTIONS, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
• ”STUDENTS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE EXPRESS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CONTEMPORARY POLITICS”
• “PEOPLE FIND INFORMATION MORE CONVINCING WHEN THEY READ IT IN HARDCOPY RATHER THAN
ONLINE/MITIGATED BY AGE?”
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
• SURVEY TOPIC => SESSION 3
• ASSIGNMENT OF PRESENTATIONS => SESSION 2
• SUBMISSION OF THE FINAL PAPER => JUNE 1ST (EARLIER SUBMISSION IS POSSIBLE)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• WILL THE PRESENTATIONS BE UPLOADED TO IS? YES
• WHERE CAN I FIND THE READINGS? IN IS
• IS LECTURE ATTENDANCE MANDATORY? YES
• DO I NEED ANY PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH/DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF
COMPUTERS? NO
• WHAT IF I NEED FURTHER SUPPORT? EMAIL ME 
• WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS SEMINAR? RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY, KNOWLEDGE CAN EASILY BE
IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER COURSES