MVPd0010 Methodological Debates VI

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Hubert Smekal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
Before enrolling in the course Methodological Debates VI, students should have read the following books: • DISMAN, Miroslav. Jak se vyrábí sociologická znalost. Karolinum Press, 2011. • DRULÁK, Petr, et al. Jak zkoumat politiku: kvalitativní metodologie v politologii a mezinárodních vztazích. Portál, 2008. • LUKER, Kristin. Salsa dancing into the social sciences: Research in an age of info-glut. Harvard University Press, 2008.
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 Methodological Debate aims to introduce doctoral students to the most important methodological social science debates, to mediate an understanding of their terminology and major trends, and to generally deepen their orientation and gain confidence in the methodology of social science research. At the same time, it will help doctoral students in writing their dissertation work, as they will discuss the benefits of the assigned literature in seminars (see Requirements for completion below) for their dissertation project. Indirectly, the course should help to improve the work of doctoral students in conducting bachelor's theses and in preparing opponents' assessments.
Learning outcomes
The course Methodological Debate aims to introduce doctoral students to the most important methodological social science debates, to mediate an understanding of their terminology and major trends, and to generally deepen their orientation and gain confidence in the methodology of social science research. At the same time, it will help doctoral students in writing their dissertation work, as they will discuss the benefits of the assigned literature in seminars (see Requirements for completion below) for their dissertation project. Indirectly, the course should help to improve the work of doctoral students in conducting bachelor's theses and in preparing opponents' assessments.
Syllabus
  • 1) What Is (and Is Not) Social Research? 2) The Goals of Social Research 3) The Process of Social Research: Ideas and Evidence 4) The Ethics of Social Research 5) Using Qualitative Methods to Study Commonalities 6) Using Comparative Methods to Study Diversity 7) Using Quantitative Methods to Study Covariation 8) Conclusion and The Promise of Social Research
Literature
    required literature
  • RAGIN, Charles C. and Lisa M. AMOROSO. Constructing social research : the unity and diversity of method. Third edition. Los Angeles: Sage, 2019, xii, 217. ISBN 9781483379302. info
Teaching methods
class discussion, presentations, application of the readings on the phd project
Assessment methods
participation at discussions, presentations
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
The course does not convey knowledge of any specific method, but draws attention to the possibilities and limits of individual approaches. The course is recommended especially for doctoral students of the 1st year of study, but it can also be beneficial for students of higher years. A total of eight meetings will take place over one book, each meeting will include three activities (see References below): 1) Debate on part of the book, explanation of ambiguities 2) Critical reflection of reading 3) Presentation of the contribution of a part of the book for one's own work
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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