MVZ405 Research of International Relations

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Zinaida Bechná, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
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
Timetable
Mon 11:30–13:00 U35
Prerequisites
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 process tracing.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to: 1. independently and creatively specify and solve a complex problem of IR using appropriate qualitative methodologic apparatus of the field. 2. analyse key dimensions of international relations (security, economic, energetic, legal, and societal). 3. apply research qualitative methodology in the realm of international relations in expert activities. 4. deliver high quality master's thesis.
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. Process tracing I. 13. Process tracing II.
Literature
    required literature
  • NOVÁK, Miroslav and Lubomír BROKL. Úvod do studia politiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2011, 783 s. ISBN 9788074190520. 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
  • DRULÁK, Petr. Jak zkoumat politiku : kvalitativní metodologie v politologii a mezinárodních vztazích. Praha: Portál, 2008, 255 pp. ISBN 978-80-7367-385-7. info
  • PUNCH, Keith. Úspěšný návrh výzkumu. Translated by Jan Hendl. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 230 s. ISBN 9788073674687. info
  • GLASER, Barney G. and Anselm L. STRAUSS. The discovery of grounded theory : strategies for qualitative research. 1st pub. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1968, x, 271. info
    recommended literature
  • RAGIN, Charles C. Redesigning social inquiry : fuzzy sets and beyond. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008, viii, 225. ISBN 9780226702759. 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 pass 1 mid-term written test (success rate 50 %), hand over a collective research project and pass the final oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 3 hodiny týdně.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2018/MVZ405