BSSn4405 Methodology in the Research of Security

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jakub Drmola, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Peter Spáč, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Kleiner, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Pavol Kosnáč (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Patricie Sušovská (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Peter Spáč, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 14:00–15:40 exP21
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! BSS405 Methodology && !NOW( BSS405 Methodology )
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
At the end of the course the students will be able to plan, design, and execute empirical research. They will be able to develop, apply, and test theories in both small- and large-N research. The students will be able to select adequate methodologies in order to deal with their research problems and argue for the employment of specific methods. They will be able not only to prepare their own dissertation proposals, but to also prepare whatever proposal they will need in their future carriers.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to: - plan and realize their own research plan - use knowledge of individual methods and techniques in practice - orientate in qualitative and quantitative research principles
Syllabus
  • - Security as a research topic
  • - Strategy and planning
  • - Research design
  • - Surveys
  • - Interview and content analysis
  • - Quantitative analysis
  • - Content and discourse analysis
  • - Complex social systems and simulations
  • - Seminars
Literature
    required literature
  • PEOPLES, Colomba and VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS, Nick. Critical Security Studies: An introduction. Routledge. 2010.
  • GILLHAM, Bill. Small-Scale Social Survey Methods. Continuum. 2008.
  • HÁJEK, Martin. Čtenář a stroj : vybrané metody sociálněvědní analýzy textů. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2014, 226 stran. ISBN 9788074191619. info
  • CIOFFI-REVILLA, Claudio A. Introduction to computational social science : principles and applications. London: Springer, 2014, xxxiii, 32. ISBN 9781447156604. info
  • CIOFFI-REVILLA, Claudio A. Introduction to computational social science : principles and applications. London: Springer, 2014, xxxiii, 32. ISBN 9781447156604. info
  • Interview research in political science. Edited by Layna Mosley. First published. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2013, x, 301. ISBN 9780801478635. info
  • BRINKMANN, Svend. Qualitative interviewing. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, ix, 177. ISBN 9780199861392. info
  • BRINKMANN, Svend. Qualitative interviewing. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, ix, 177. ISBN 9780199861392. info
  • GOERTZ, Gary and James MAHONEY. A tale of two cultures : qualitative and quantitative research in the social sciences. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2012, viii, 238. ISBN 9780691149714. info
  • ROBSON, Colin. Real world research : a resource for users of social research methods in applied settings. 3rd ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, xxi, 586. ISBN 9781405182409. info
  • FIELD, Andy P. Discovering statistics using SPSS : (and sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll). 3rd ed. Los Angeles: Sage, 2009, xxxiii, 82. ISBN 9781847879073. info
  • BURNHAM, Peter. Research methods in politics. 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, xii, 370. ISBN 9780230019850. info
  • PUNCH, Keith. Úspěšný návrh výzkumu. Translated by Jan Hendl. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 230 s. ISBN 9788073674687. info
  • BERG, Bruce L. Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. 4th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001, xv, 304 s. ISBN 0-205-31847-9. 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
  • DISMAN, Miroslav. Jak se vyrábí sociologická znalost. Praha: Karolinum, 1993, 374 s. ISBN 80-7066-822-9. info
  • RICHARDSON, George P. Feedback thought in social science and systems theory. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania press, 1991, x, 374. ISBN 0812213327. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars discussing students' draft research designs.
Assessment methods
The overall evaluation consists of 4 parts:
- research proposal (13 points)
- pilot studies (questionnaires or interviews) (13 points)
- final written exam (16 points)
- seminar assignments (2 x 4 points)

It is necessary to obtain at least 60% of the total maximum of 50 points to pass and at least 5 points from the final test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Fraudulent fulfillment of study obligations: Teaching at FSS MU presupposes that students know the study regulations and that they do not commit fraudulent fulfillment of study obligations, especially copying at exams and plagiarism, i.e. publishing other people's ideas and taking over the ideas of other authors without mentioning authorship. Plagiarism is one of the most serious ethical offenses in the academic environment, it denies the mission of the university and the meaning of study. From a legal point of view, plagiarism is the theft of someone else's intellectual property. Under no circumstances can fraudulent fulfillment of study obligations be tolerated at FSS. Any case of fraudulent behavior will be punished by the most severe sanctions, namely unconditional expulsion from the study. We encourage students to become as thorough as possible about the problem of plagiarism and the ways to avoid it.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
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