SDEb1007 Methods of Research in Contemporary History

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2025

The course is not taught in Autumn 2025

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Denisa Nečasová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jakub Šedo, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course introduces qualitative research in contemporary history. It combines perspectives from the humanities and social sciences and introduces the general basis of the principles of scientific inquiry, the role of sources and literature, and theories and methods in formulating research proposals in contemporary history. Attention is also paid to the practical aspects of developing one’s research proposal, which will be gradually built in the seminar course.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student can apply basic principles of scientific inquiry in the humanities and social sciences, formulate a research question and operationalize it, and use basic qualitative research methods.
Syllabus
  • 1. Contemporary history, humanities and social sciences 2. Epistemology, ontology, methodology 3. Sources, literature, theories, concepts 4. Qualitative and quantitative research and their operationalization 5. Case studies 6. Comparative research 7. Content and discourse analysis of contemporary history sources 8. Oral history 9. Seminar: selection of topics, theories, concepts and formulation of research questions Seminar 10: Choosing methods of data collection and analysis and operationalizing research questions Seminar 11: Final presentation of the research proposal
Literature
    required literature
  • Jak se píšou dějiny : teorie a praxe. Edited by Stefan Berger - Heiko Feldner - Kevin Passmore, Translated by Tomáš. 1. vydání. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2016, 444 stran. ISBN 9788073253981. info
  • VANĚK, Miroslav and Pavel MÜCKE. Třetí strana trojúhelníku : teorie a praxe orální historie. 2., přepracované a doplně. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2015, 326 stran. ISBN 9788087398623. info
  • STORCHOVÁ, Lucie. Koncepty a dějiny : proměny pojmů v současné historické vědě. Vydání první. V Praze: Scriptorium, 2014, 449 stran. ISBN 9788087271872. info
  • DRULÁK, Petr. Jak zkoumat politiku : kvalitativní metodologie v politologii a mezinárodních vztazích. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 255 s. ISBN 9788073673857. info
  • HENDL, Jan. Kvalitativní výzkum : základní metody a aplikace. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2005, 407 s. ISBN 8073670402. info
  • O'CONNOR, Maura and Deborah COHEN. Comparison and history : Europe in cross-national perspective. New York: Routledge, 2004, xxiv, 207. ISBN 0415944430. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars, term paper, and class presentation
Assessment methods
Term paper and class presentation (50 %), attendance (10 %), oral exam (40 %)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
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