ESS418 Research Methods in Social Science

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zinaida Bechná, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kateřina Fridrichová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lukáš Lehotský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Petr Ocelík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Jan Osička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Filip Černoch, 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
each odd Friday 9:45–13:00 M117
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course. This course is open to all students without any prior conditions.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course introduces students to various research methods applicable both in academia and commercial sector. The first part of the course deals with basic methodology issues such as different research logics/practices, research question formulation, research design construction, operationalization, data handling etc. The following part consists from teaching blocs dedicated to particular methods such as case study, policy analysis, prediction methods, scenario analysis, network analysis and others. Each bloc includes lecture which introduces theoretical background and “mechanics” of a given method and labs where students apply the method on a model problem. Some of the labs will be done with the use of analytical software (will be specified later). Students are obliged to submit assignments for particular blocs as well as final project (formulation of research design). Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to set-up research design, specify appropriate research methods and rigorously use them. The emphasis will be put on practical use of this knowledge.
Syllabus
  • Course structure (will be specified in the syllabus)
Literature
  • GERRING, John. Case study research : principles and practices. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007, x, 265. ISBN 9780521676564. info
  • VAN EVERA, Stephen. Guide to methods for students of political science. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1997, vi, 136. ISBN 080148457X. 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
Teaching methods
lectures and workshops
Assessment methods
final project
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2015/ESS418